The excitement of Panhellenic recruitment rushes through campus before classes begin. It was true even this fall during the COVID-19 pandemic. Things may have looked very different than in past years, but the pandemic did not diminish the experience for those taking part.
Starling Ledbetter
Young women, the potential new members, who participate in this process are guided by their Recruitment Counselors, or Gamma Chi’s, to learn more about the Greek community at the University of Arkansas.
The recruitment process enables participants to learn what each sorority has to offer and how Greek life can be a rewarding experience. Getting involved on campus, regardless of going Greek, is extremely valuable both while in school and beyond college.
Due to COVID-19, recruitment was moved fully online. Each round was held through Zoom where potential new members could talk with recruiters, often from the comfort of their own residence hall.
Starling Ledbetter, a freshman majoring in Apparel Studies, says her recruitment experience was out of the ordinary, yet rewarding.
“Plans changed frequently throughout the week so there were a lot of unknowns,” Ledbetter said. “I had a lot of really great conversations that I probably wouldn’t have gotten if it weren’t for ‘rush’ being through Zoom! I feel as if being one on one in a zoom with someone is a lot more personal than I had thought it would be. I made deeper connections with every person I spoke to.”
Taylor Stevenson, Madeline Holman, Sarah Nance
Taylor Stevenson, a junior studying Hospitality and a sister of Delta Gamma, explains how this year’s recruitment was very different from the process in 2019.
“Last year, we were able to be within inches of the potential new members, so the pandemic put a hold on that type of interaction,” Stevenson said. “We, of course, had to wear masks all day except while eating or drinking. There were social distancing precautions taken in every room and there was no chanting or in-person conversations. We communicated through Zoom on over 50 computers.”
Bid Day was broadcast live with virtual bids being distributed through e-mail. Chapters hosted small, staggered, in person gatherings on their lawns for only new members, as opposed to large gatherings with alumni, parents, children, etc.
All of Ledbetter’s hard work paid off when Bid Day rolled around, and she ran ‘home’ to the Chi Omega house.
“After countless hours of stressing, running to my new home will be a memory I cherish for the rest of my life,” the new Chi Omega sister, Ledbetter said. “I have gotten everything I could’ve ever wished for, a sisterhood with a really amazing and diverse group of girls. I will be forever grateful that I chose to go through this process.”
Greek Life welcomed 1,402 new members to the Panhellenic Chapters this fall.
You can view a video of this year’s Bid Day broadcast on the Greek Life Facebook page.