Fifty-four more girls registered for sorority recruitment this spring than in spring 2011, according to Student Activities’ Panhellenic recruitment records.
A total of 289 women registered this year, said Curtis Burrill, coordinator of fraternity and sorority life.
Formal recruitment numbers have consistently been above 200 since 2009, Burrill said. Sorority recruitment increased by 74 girls between 2008 and 2009, the largest spike in recruitment at AU.
“I’m not surprised due to the tremendous work of our Panhellenic recruitment team,” Burrill said in an email.
He credited the increase in sorority recruitment to Student Activities’ greek life marketing and information sessions during the fall and spring semesters.
“As far as I know, every chapter ended up with a larger new member class than years past, which is a result of pure increase in overall numbers,” said Lisa Gabrielson, president of Sigma Delta Tau.
This stood true across all of the sororities that call AU home.
“I think the increased number of girls is great,” said Alexandra France, a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi. “Increasing interest in going greek means more possibilities for involvement in campus-wide activities, which can help foster a greater sense of belonging within the AU community.”
AU’s Panhellenic Association hosted recruitment from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23 for the seven University-recognized sororities: Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, Phi Mu, Phi Sigma Sigma and Sigma Delta Tau.
Jackie Breuer, a freshman in the School of International Service, said she had a positive recruitment experience but acknowledged there was tough competition for bids because of the increased amount of girls this year.
“It didn’t stress me out and it didn’t worry me, but, then again, I’m a people person,” Breuer said. “I put my trust in the girls picking me.”
Other girls said their sorority experiences were not quite as uplifting.
“The first day, I was really nervous, but also excited because they promised that everyone would get into a sorority, but after the first day I was only invited back to my last choice,” said Eliza Hughes, a freshman in the Kogod School of Business.
Hughes said her recruitment experiences were tumultuous, and she ultimately decided to pull herself out of the running before bid night.
