With the Panhellenic Council’s fall sorority recruitment season over, chapters across campus are celebrating their new pledge classes. Panhellenic sorority recruitment, often referred to as “rush,” typically takes place in September, when sororities host events to meet potential new members. Formal recruitment is a multi-day process that involves visiting chapters, attending events and touring sorority houses in hopes of finding the right fit and receiving a bid. 

This year, various sororities found success by highlighting their core values, focusing on everything from philanthropic causes to the bonds of sisterhood to bring in new members.

Alpha Sigma Alpha

Alpha Sigma Alpha focused its recruitment on showcasing a fun and lighthearted sisterhood.

The chapter used a recruitment video to represent their community, an approach that helped welcome 18 new members.

“Something I really value about Alpha Sigma Alpha is the genuine girls in the chapter, the girls that go above and beyond to push this chapter further than it has ever gone,” said Payton Lehor, vice president of recruitment.

The chapter will be hosting its “Do It For The Crowd” dance competition in the spring, a philanthropy event benefitting the Special Olympics.

Delta Zeta

Delta Zeta found recruitment success this year by integrating one of their philosophies, speech and hearing directly into rush. 

The chapter, now 54 members strong after welcoming 18 new sisters this fall, focused on activities like teaching several sign language phrases and decorating hearing aids to attract new members.

For chapter president Rachael Johnson, the experience goes beyond events, focusing on a genuine bond between sisters.

“When I joined, I thought that I would find friends. I didn’t know that I would find actual sisters,” Johnson said, emphasizing the deep sense of community that defines their chapter.

Their next event is their “Heart for Hearing” dodgeball competition on Nov. 19.

Sigma Sigma Sigma

For the sisters of Sigma Sigma Sigma, rush was centered on creating a genuine bond and strong sisterhood. The chapter welcomed 20 new sisters, its largest class in years. 

Kallie Dougherty, director of chapter growth, said this genuine bond is what makes their sorority special.

“I feel like I could talk to any girl in the house about anything, and it’s never like, ‘oh, we’re in the same organization,’ it’s like, ‘no, that’s my friend and that’s my sister,’” Dougherty said. 

Now, the chapter is focused on getting new members initiated and increasing their community service efforts around DeKalb.

Delta Gamma

Delta Gamma recruited 11 new members this rush season.

They declined to interview about the rushing process.

Alpha Phi

Alpha Phi welcomed 24 new members this rush season.

For those interested in joining sorority life, follow @niufsl and @niupanhellenic on Instagram for more information about rush events and the schedules for spring rush.