Over the course of September weekends, students looking to get involved in Greek life will move through a series of formal rounds, with the intention of receiving a bid from one of the University of Rhode Island’s 11 sororities or 17 fraternities.
Fraternity rushing ended Sunday, with over 400 bids given out, according to Greek Affairs Coordinator Collin Binkley.
“Interest has been pretty rigorous, and for our member groups, they’re pretty excited,” Assistant Dean of Students Stephen Simo said.
These numbers mark a growing interest in Greek life participation, Simo said, with total student membership across all undergraduates crawling toward 4,000 people. In terms of sorority rush, nearly 1,000 women were looking at the Panhellenic community.
Although fraternities and sororities both host “formal” recruitment, the process for fraternities is more laidback than their female counterparts, Binkley said. Formal recruitment differs from informal recruitment in that there are more rounds, the conversations held during each round are shorter and students in the pledge and member classes are guaranteed to receive a bid from a chapter.
“[Fraternities] will typically host a series of drop-in style events over the first few weeks of the semester,” Binkley said.
After the drop-in style events conclude, chapters invite those rushing back to the houses for more conversation to assure they align with chapter values and can develop a real brotherhood bond, Binkley explained.
“We talk about brotherhood as being like friendship, but to a new level where it’s supporting one another, being accountable to one another, being the best version of yourself,” Binkley said .
Sororities make their rounds through a mutual selection process, according to Binkley. Potential new members whittle down their top houses each round, while the chapters themselves do the same. These preferences and choices are then put through a software that attempts to pair potential new members with the houses that want to invite them back for additional rounds.
“It’s almost like a college application, Binkley said. “We’re trying to match as many people as possible.”
Sororities will give their bids to potential new members at the end of September.
All Greek life organizations on campus, including multicultural chapters, are expected to uphold and maintain four commonly shared values – fellowship, scholarship, leadership and community service – according to Simo.
“If a fraternity and sorority are living their mission and doing what they’re intended to do, it’s one of the best experiences you can have as an undergraduate,” Simo said.
This focus on living the values comes as many chapters have their probations lifted from previous semesters, according to Simo. As of Wednesday, all sororities are in good standing and five of the 17 fraternities are on probation: Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi, Theta Chi and Theta Delta Chi.
Entering fall formal recruitment, all chapters are expected to adhere to student guidelines and maintain a safe and smooth process, Simo said.
“Something I admired in how our fraternities approached recruitment was that they were committed to having a dry recruitment process; that alcohol is not a recruitment tool,” Binkley said.
As members from sororities and fraternities accept their bids and head into the coming months, they will undergo training and orientation that more specifically outlines hazing dangers, especially with regard to alcohol abuse.
“We never want to see the mix of the two, because that’s when it’s critically dangerous,” Simo said. “That’s our biggest concern.”
Heading into the upcoming school year, Simo and Binkley said they hope that the students rushing, along with current Greek life members, continue to find a sense of community on campus.
Simo especially wants Greek life members to continue living their four commonly shared values.
“The fraternity and sorority life is a really positive experience, and it’s an experience of excellence when those values are being met,” Simo said.
