“No matter the letter, we are all Greek together” is the spirit as formal recruitment begins for on-campus fraternities and sororities.

Formal recruitment for sororities will begin tonight with an informational meeting and will continue until Sunday ending with bid night.

For the first time, fraternities also are conducting formal recruitment starting tonight and running through Sunday, unlike previous years where men recruited gradually year-round.

“The Greek advisers decided it’s a better process,” said Gil Lizalde, vice president of recruitment of the Interfraternity Council.

Formal recruitment is an event for those who are interested, said Christopher Juhl, activities adviser for Greek affairs. It is an educational process and a chance to prove who we are and what we are.

“Being Greek is a great opportunity to meet people,” said Panhellenic Council President Janine Gyorke. “We have a lot of scholarships, achievements and networks.”

This year there are eight sororities participating in this year’s formal recruitment, while there are 11 fraternities participating. During recruitment, students will be able to visit each house. Throughout the weekend, students will be able to meet fraternity and sorority members and learn more about any particular house.

“You have to figure out what is important,” Juhl said. “Ask lots of questions. Find out what is expected of members. Are there mentors, scholarships, required community service?”

Alpha Phi member Sarah Schlosser, a junior special education major, said just to be yourself.

“The girls should be themselves and not to be nervous,” Schlosser said.

Be open to all the fraternities and pick the house that you feel the most comfortable in, Lizalde said.

It’s estimated that over 200 students will go through recruitment this year. For women, a quota is set for each house, while the men can recruit as many as they want, Juhl said. Formal

recruitment also offers a better structured environment to find out more about the chapters, in comparison to an informal recruitment.

“Being Greek is a social outlet, and you get to meet more people,” Lizalde said. “You also get to be involved with the university and the community.”