Greek recruitment going well

In what has been a big week for sororities and fraternities, many Greek organizations have already started recruiting, and so far, have been quite successful.

So far, about 440 women have joined sororities up from 380 women last year. Many fraternities will hold rushes this week.

In addition, recruitment efforts have been getting more attention from students. About 600 people attended a barbecue on Wednesday, Sept. 1 up from 400 who attended the event last year. This year, members from every sorority and fraternity attended.

Jeremy D'Amico, a 7th-semester kinesiology major, and president of Zeta Beta Tau, is hopeful for the incoming freshman class.

"The incoming class has been statistically rated as the university's brightest academic class thus far," D'Amico said. "I can only hope that this leads to a larger amount of students who strive for academic excellence rushing fraternities or going through formal sorority recruitment."

Recruitment tactics depend on each organization. Tables at the UConn dining halls, the "Get on the Ball" fundraising event, work by The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life as well as simple word of mouth are all helping to raise awareness for sororities and fraternities.

Although fraternities and different intrafraternity organizations plan their own events, some up coming rush activities include sporting events, sit down meet and greets and dinners with sorority women. Alcohol is strictly forbidden as a recruitment tool.

In addition, fraternities and sororities are making use of new resources to recruit and keep track of potential recruits. All new members sign up on a website. Candidates leave as much information as they want when they are registered. This allows different fraternities and sororities to view information about recruits and send information to any potential recruits that they like. This is the first year all recruits have to do this.

When asked what they would say to a freshman or upperclassman who is thinking about joining Greek life, the leaders of the Greek community all urged people to try it.

"There are many ways to be Greek at UConn," said Todd Sullivan, director of fraternity and sorority life. "We have a diverse group of fraternities and sororities that has a lot to offer any student."

Greek leaders were adamant that students don't join an organization that makes them feel uncomfortable or makes unreasonable demands during the rush period.

"I would never recommend joining an organization that asks one to ‘prove oneself or worth' to a group of people that claim to be their ‘brother/sister' when it is over," D'Amico said.

So what is next for UConn Greek life? When asked about the future, Sullivan is optimistic.

"I see fraternities and sororities reclaiming their role as the leaders on campus," Sullivan said.