Growing Greek Interest Worries Sororities

Growing Greek Interest Worries Sororities

By Lee Ann Davis

Greek organizations at High Point University have always been popular on campus, but with today’s growing class size comes a greater number of students interested in Greek Life.

For girls interested in sororities, big changes are underway as the number of prospective pledges continues to increase as rush week approaches.

Sorority Life
A sorority, from the Latin word meaning “sister,” is a social organization for undergraduate students at colleges and universities. Sororities provide great opportunities to make lasting friendships, build smaller communities within university settings, and allow numerous opportunities for leadership and service work.

High Point University offers 13 Greek organizations, four of which are National Panhellenic Council sororities.

Jean Morrow, a sorority member at High Point University suggests that everyone go Greek. "The Greeks are the most involved people on campus; they host or sponsor a lot of school events and do a ton of philanthropy work on campus," the sophomore says.

A big part of sorority life is being involved. From the Zeta Tau Alpha event "Big Man on Campus," a sponsered male pageant show to raise money for their philanthropy to Kappa Delta's "Dance Your Pants Off," a 12 hour dance competetion where all proceeds go to Prevent Child Abuse America, sororities work hard to get students involved in supporting their national philanthropies.

Ms. Morrow enforces joining a sorority because it provides many opportunities to learn and grow as a leader, friend, and person. "No excuses, Greek is great!"

However, many changes await the sororites with the coming of recruitment 2009. For Zeta Tau Alpha, Kappa Delta, Phi Mu, and Alpha Gamma Delta, significant changes are being implemented in order to support the drastic number of girls interested in Greek Life.





Significant Changes
Spring recruitment 2009 is going to be an interesting process. With the number of rushees signed up for recruitment, the concern for accomodating the large amount of girls has swept across Greek Life, from one sorority to the next.

This years girls who have signed up for recruitment have nearly double the amount of girls who went through rush last year. Where a record number of approximately 129 girls signed up last year, approximately 230 girls will be going through recruitment in 2009.

Greek Life Coordinator, Meredith McCrea says, "It is excting, the amount of girls interested in Greek Life." Though it is going to be a challenge, Meredith sees the positive in the expansion of each sorority.

Two years ago, 13 girls were admitted to each sorority; this year, it is estimated that 45 girls will be added to each sorority. The extravagant amount of girls interested in Greek Life is intimidating to most sorority members.

Amanda Anderson, the newly appointed president of her sorority is more excited than nervous. "I believe that they will be a huge asset to our chapter, and it is exciting to see so many women interested in Greek Life."

Ms. Anderson says her chapter has never had a class quite as big as the anticipated number of girls. "We would like to think we are ready, but we won't know that for sure until they are here!"

In regards to preparation of the new girls, Ms. Anderson says her sorority has made many mandatory recruitment workshops to familiarize every sister with the process of rush. She also stated that her girls are learning the importance of the new member period and the role current girls will be taking among the 45 new girls.

Many other things are being done in regards to the future new girls. Both the Greek Life Coordinator and Panhellenic Council are working hard to accomodate every sororities needs.

Accomodating the Changes
With each growing class at High Point, Meredith McCrea says she has been expecting some changes to be made for recruitment.

The initial schedule for recruitment set in July has been changed significantly several times. The number of parties each potential new sorority member must attend has doubled this year in order to accomodate each new girl and each sorority.

Kerri Noppenberger, the current secretary/treasurer for Panhellenic Council said they have been working closely with each sorority to make sure every need is met.

Ms. Noppenberger says they are continuously thinking of ways to help each chapter adjust to instantly doubling their chapters. By shortening the length of parties and adding more parties throughout the week, making sure Rho Chis are not overwhelmed, and working closely with recruitment chairs, recruitment will run as smoothly as possible.

"I suggest that each sorority be patient," she says. "We are still thinking of ways and things we can do to help."


Related Sources:

How Sororities Work
Sorority Recruitment

Meredith McCrea

Greek Life Coordinator and Resident Director Meredith McCrea has been working hard to ensure a smooth running spring recruitment for sororities. As Greek Life Coordinator, McCrea oversees all aspects of Greek Life, including Greek Week, new member recruitment, and philanthropy. She is also the adviser for the Inter-Fraternity and Panhellenic Councils – the governing bodies for fraternities and sororities. McCrea is a native of Lynchburg, VA and graduated from Wake Forest University with a B.A. in English and a concentration in Psychology. McCrea can be contacted by phone at 336-841-9059.