A glimpse at "Formal Recruitment"

Coming from a school were the Panhellenic sororities merely just got together in one room early in the fall and introduced themselves to all of the women who were interested in joining, this is a completely different, magical, decorated, spirited, world and a long long way from North Jersey. Yesterday was the beginning of formal recruitment where 9 sororities set up ballrooms in the local Hilton hotel and Potential New Members (people interested in joining a sorority) came over from the campus in buses to meet everyone and see what its all about.

Preparations for Open House day begin long before, ordering matching t-shirts, coordinating that everyone will be wearing the same t-shirt (turquoise with black and white polka dot letters) with black shorts, black wedge heels and silver jewelry. During the Open House everyone will also be wearing a name tag shaped like a sailboat. In the room were posters with photos, Carrie Underwood poster, picture frames, wooden knick nacs with Sigma letters or a sailboat, filling tables. It was amazing, like nothing I had ever seen before.

Today is Open House day. Preparations were taken last night to make sure that every ones things were unpacked, that the rooms looked lived in even though it is before classes start and that the rooms are presentable with Sigma insignia incorporated into each room (something purple, or a sailboat, or with letters, or pictures). Today everyone looks stunning in a blue strapless dress with tan heels (wedges were preferred) and gold jewelry.

All of this reminds me of a Broadway show, everything is exact, they have costume requirements, entrances, and who they are they are supposed to speak with, its amazing how much organization and planning go into these few days to make it look seamless. Its great to watch from the outside to see how everything is coming together, and surprising that more sorority women dont own event planning firms after their experience with recruitment!