Fifty years of sisterhood is more than one might expect to find from a sorority at NIU.

This year marks exactly that for the ladies of Alpha Omicron Pi. Members of the sorority are celebrating the anniversary, having been a part of NIU since May 1954.

One original chapter member, Lois Merwin, said she believes the success and continuity of the organization largely is because of the sisterhood between the girls generation after generation.

“It’s always been a support system,” Merwin said.

Merwin recalls being closer in general with other sororities because there was less of a separation between different Greek organizations.

“It’s different than it is now in some respects,” Merwin said. “We all lived together in dorms. We didn’t have houses back then.”

Merwin mentioned two of her chapter’s AOPi advisers who became quite well-known - Ethel Holmes and Ethel Watson.

“You have the Holmes Student Center, and you have Watson Hall now,” Merwin said.

Members today share the anniversary.

“We’re having a really big celebration,” AOPi member Sara Katz said.

The official anniversary celebration will be held at noon on March 27 at Carls Fargo Restaurant, 355 W. State St., Sycamore.

Alumni from all over the state and country are expected to attend, as well as other collegiate chapters, Katz said.

The promotion of NIU’s Greek informal rush begins with fliers posted in campus hallways and newspaper advertisements.

Member selection of new fraternity and sorority members in each of the three councils begins Jan. 26 and continues through Feb. 1.

Chris Juhl, director of Greek activities, said fraternities and sororities hold events for students to attend throughout the week. The events will help students decide if they want to join and which house is right for them.

While the last week of January is designated for informal membership selection, it happens year-round, Juhl said. Informal events are organized and promoted by the chapters and have less structure than formal rush activities, which are done only in the fall, he said.

Unlike informal member selection, formal rush requires potential members to visit every house at least once, said Steven Vaserman and Dave Pickel, recruitment chairmen for Phi Sigma Kappa.

One to three nights a week, current members will take time to get to know students who are interested in their chapter by showing them a good time. It may include taking them out to dinner, a movie or a round of miniature golf, Juhl said. The number of students taken out by an organization could range from two to 10, he said.

“However, a basic rule for all forms of membership selection is that alcohol is never to be involved during any event with potential new members,” Juhl said.

During the activities, chapter presidents may look at a number of different qualities within the individual. Being academically focused, for example, can be an important attribute taken into consideration when choosing new members.

“Potential members are chosen based on their character, grades and social abilities,” Vaserman said.

Most importantly, both the organization and the student should think about whether they’ve made a connection with the other, Juhl said.

If the student has made a good impression, the organization then can offer the student a membership by extending a bid, he said. If the student accepts the invitation, he or she will go through a five- to six-week program and learn about the chapter in detail, including its history and policies, Juhl said.

For students to determine which organization is right for them, it’s important to know the difference between each council, Juhl said. He also suggested meeting with five to 10 different organizations to open up all opportunities available.

“Make sure you’re getting into an organization that’s right for you,” Juhl said. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t limit yourself.”