By Rose Sopko and Jackie LeBlanc

Some 130 Northeastern students turned out in hopes of receiving bids from their choice sororities during Greek Recruitment week 2003 on Sept. 21 to 26. By the end of the week, 75 girls received bids for at least one of Northeastern’s five sororities. Each sorority was accepting about 15 new pledges.

Sunday night kicked off the week’s activities with an informational meeting that introduced the girls to the Greek system and prepared them for the week to come. Potential new members were set up with recruitment councilors, neutral sorority members who disaffiliate themselves for the week to serve as a guide during the recruitment process.

The girls met with their councilors and then in groups with each sorority for 20 minutes on Monday and 30 minutes on Tuesday. Following the events on Tuesday, each girl picked her top three choices and the sororities extended their invitations. The girls that were chosen spent 45 minutes with their top three sororities on Wednesday.

Thursday night, preference night, was more intimate; girls spent one hour with each of their top two sorority choices. Afterwards, each girl signed a preference card, naming the sorority that she hoped to receive a bid from.

The girls were only able to accept bids from the sororities they listed. Each sorority then made their final cuts and decided which girls to extend bids to. A short ceremony was held Friday night to welcome the new members.

New members must spend four to 10 weeks in initiation, learning about the chapter.

When asked what qualities the sororities look for when putting out their bids, Rachel Haigler, Vice President of Recruitment for the Panhellenic Council, said, “girls that can open up during the week who show loyalty, friendship, sisterhood, leadership and involvement.”

“We are really proud of ourselves and we think that each of the chapters did a great job. We have a lot of great new women,” Assistant Vice President of Recruitment Lauren Taylor said

Freshman Jessica Tooley participated in the rush process, but did not receive a bid

“I had a lot of fun meeting people, but I thought it could have been a little more personal. I thought the groups were too large to really get to know anyone,” Tooley said.

Each of the sororities at Northeastern focuses on a certain philanthropy and takes part in community service events, such as Delta Phi Epsilon’s Take Back The Night, for domestic violence awareness. They also sponsor educational programs which are open to everyone. Other sorority activities include a formal, which is generally chapter exclusive or by invite only, at an area hotel. Greek Week takes place in the spring with events such as pie-eating contests and Greek Olympics. The groups are very active in supporting Northeastern events.

Sororities meet weekly in the Curry Student Center where they discuss business and community service. They have representatives in the Panhellenic Council and Greek Council. The dues that each sorority requires support the chapter and the national affiliation. Part of the money supports each philanthropy and the Panhellenic Council.

In the spring, a second recruitment will be taking place for those sororities that have 55 members or less.