As the Spring Semester begins, Greek Life recruitment events are once again beginning to show up all over campus. Gustavus is home to 11 fraternities and sororities that compete for the attention of potential new members each year. At Gustavus, students typically join Greek Life in their sophomore year, so Greek organizations are working hard to get noticed by first-year students during the spring.
Recruitment events play a large part in Greek organizations’ efforts to achieve that recognition. Past years’ recruitment activities have included everything from Cereal Night and Buffalo Wild Wings trips to spa nights and ice cream socials. Most Greek organizations recruit between 10 and 20 new members each year.
Fraternity and sorority members benefit from a long list of Greek alumni connections, as well as the opportunity to gain leadership experience. Each chapter has a different philanthropy, but they share four core values: brotherhood/sisterhod, diversity, faith, and personal development.
Sophomore and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Member Alex Gunderson shared a testament common to many members of Greek life.
“I never really expected to join Greek life coming into Gustavus, but I was really blown away by the work they were doing, and I decided I wanted to be a part of it,” Gunderson said.
Claire Duhaime, recruitment director for Alpha Sigma Tau, reiterated the importance of recruitment events.
“I remember going to some of the recruitment events and meeting the girls, and I felt like my personality really clicked right away with anyone I spoke with,” Duhaime said.
Many fraternities and sororities on campus make it their mission to discredit many of the stereotypes that go along with Greek life.
“With SAE, it was made clear that there was no pressure involved,” Gunderson said. “It was just a really great group of guys, and I saw myself fitting in, I never felt as though I had to do anything I didn’t want to do.”
Senior Sam Hoppe, vice president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, encourages interested students to take a close look at the unique personality of each fraternity or sorority before choosing.
“It’s a good time to get to know every single fraternity, because all of them do attract a certain person, and I do believe everyone should have the opportunity to be a Greek,” Hoppe said.
Most, if not all, Greek organizations will have tables at the involvement fair on Wednesday, Feb. 19, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. to talk with students interested in pursuing Greek life.