Greeks looking for new recruits

by Jenny Wilkins
THE POST

Ohio University’s fraternities and greek officials are preparing for the formal recruitment tradition that takes place Fall Quarter.

Recruitment events will start with an orientation meeting at 2 p.m. Saturday in 201 Morton Hall, where participants will learn about the recruitment process .

"We tell them what to wear on what days, what group they are in, and things like that," said Scott Copley , assistant director of student affairs for sororities and fraternities.

At the meeting, Interfraternity Council members will assign two to three Rho Chis, or recruitment counselors, to groups of about 20 recruitment participants, he said. The Rho Chis lead the recruits on chapter tours.

Participants will meet with their groups at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at the top of Morton Hill. The groups will visit about half of the 17 OU fraternity chapters Sunday and the rest on Monday, Copley said.

"Formal rush is a two-day process, so the guys can really have a chance to look at all the chapters," he said.

Each potential recruit will stay at the chapter location for roughly 15 minutes and listen to a presentation of each chapter’s history and rituals given by the fraternity’s members, Copley said. Fraternity members also will spell out the qualities they will seek in potential members.

"Each chapter has its own personality and style on how they present things. It is really up to them," he said.

On Tuesday and Wednesday evening, potential recruits can return to the chapter locations to talk to the fraternities’ members in a more relaxed environment.

"We are planning on having dinner set and using our basketball court in the back," said Patrick Kelley, president of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. "We just want to have fun but also talk with potential members."

Thursday is bid day for the Interfraternity Council. Current fraternity members vote to decide which potential recruits they wish to offer bids, Kelley said. Then they invite the selected recruits to join their chapter when the recruitment participants return to their fraternity location of choice.

Potential pledges can hold their bid until they decide whether to join, Copley said.

The Interfraternity Council is considering using an application system in the future, said Graham Blackwell, vice president of recruitment for the Interfraternity Council. This would allow the council to gauge the number of students interesting in joining fraternities and better plan for the process.

Blackwell said the council hopes to see increased participation.

"We are hoping to see a great turn out this year," he said. "Our numbers have been low, so we have been trying different things to recruit."

Formal rush for OU women starts Oct. 5.