The University of Ottawa’s guide to… Sorority Recruitment.
At the beginning of the semester, members of many Greek-letter organizations are spreading the word about RUSH – and they’re not referring to the Canadian rock band. They’re talking about the period of time where sororities and fraternities seek new membership. Recruitment, also referred to as “rush”, is a period that lasts anywhere between one and four weeks. Each organization hosts informational sessions for potential new members (PNMs) to find out more about them and their members. These events vary in nature, from academic to athletic events, from philanthropy events to socials. Each organization has something for everyone.
This may seem overwhelming at first, but each sorority makes an effort to help you as a PNM find your place in the Greek community. As a sorority sister, I have been asked many questions about what to expect during recruitment and onward. Before you rush into the recruitment process, here are a few things you should know:
1. Sorority life is not the same as it is depicted in many popular TV shows and movies. Don’t let popular culture distort your opinion of Greek life before you experience it for yourself.
2. You can rush multiple organizations. In fact, it is encouraged to do so! This experience is not only for sororities to find new women who they believe are the best fit for their organization, but also for you to find which organization is the perfect fit for you!
3. Be yourself! When engaging in conversations with sorority sisters, allow them to get to know you. Doing so will help give you an idea of whether or not you connect with the sisters and whether or not they connect with you as well.
4. Attend as many events as you can. No need to skip classes or other commitments, but do make a conscious effort to make it out to as many events as possible! The more events you attend, the better your chances of figuring out which organization is the best fit for you.
5. Sororities are active leaders on campus and in the community; volunteering with various clubs, associations, and services on campus as well as promoting, planning and executing many philanthropy events to raise money for their respective local or national causes.
Each sorority has different core values that represent their organization, which may vary from one sorority to another. Here are a few of the similar values that are recognized between organizations: philanthropy, service, leadership, social development, academics, etc. These values are very important to each sorority and are key elements that are often referred to by sorority members. These core values also unite members of each organization as they are representative of the chapter membership.
The University of Ottawa Greek Council (UOGC) acts as a forum for all sororities and fraternities to share information about their respective organizations and also provides various other leadership opportunities for members who want to get involved with Greek life on a larger scale. UOGC organizes a yearly Greek Week, which serves as an opportunity for potential new members to find out more about UOGC and every organization, as well as to participate in various activities with multiple organizations. The University of Ottawa has 9 sororities actively rushing during the fall 2013 semester.
Speaking as a woman who’s been through the rush process for one semester as a potential new member and now entering my fourth semester as a sorority sister, the best advice I can give to any interested young women is to get to know as many people as possible during the rush period. Whether you’re in first or fourth year, from Ottawa or abroad, the most rewarding part of recruitment is getting to meet new people with similar interests. The most important thing to keep in mind is to always maintain a positive attitude and an open mind.
For more information on rush at the University of Ottawa and each of the sororities on campus, click the links below:
Photo credits:
http://www.yoursororitysister.com/2013/08/should-you-join-sorority.html
http://parents.wfu.edu/files/2011/01/chi-o-rush.jpg