SORORITY FRIEND EADERSHIPHONOR ST SISTERHOOD TR ATURITY SERVICE CHARACTER COMM panhellenic MAT ITY recruitment CITIZENSHIP HONO RESPECT COMMITM LEARNING EXCELL SOCIALSCHOLARS VALUES HISTORY CT PHILANTHROPY Panhellenic Recruitment Handbook
Joining a Sorority
Welcome to Panhellenic Recruitment 2013! I am so excited that you have decided to pursue membership in a Panhellenic sorority. Here at Northwestern approximately 35% of women join one of the 12 Panhellenic sororities. All of our chapters are unique, creating a diverse and vibrant community of women. During Panhellenic Recruitment, you will have the opportunity to learn about each of these 12 chapters. Please keep an open mind as you discover where you feel most comfortable and determine which chapter has the most to offer YOU! This is the beginning of an incredible college experience at Northwestern, so follow your instincts and always remember that above all, this is your personal decision. Please do not hesitate to use your Recruitment Counselor and the Panhellenic Recruitment Team as resources—they’re here to make this the best possible experience for you! Now relax, be yourself, and most importantly—have fun!! Go Cats, and Go Greek!
Sophie Friedman Vice President of Membership Panhellenic Association
Register for Recruitment To participate in Formal Recruitment 2013 you need to: 1. Be a full-time student for Winter Quarter 2013. 2. Register online at www.northwesternpha.com. Registration opens October 14th and closes January 8th. 3. Pay the registration fee of $50. Fee includes the 2013 Panhellenic Recruitment t-shirt and all Recruitment materials.
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Scholarship:
Ideals of Greek Life
Greek organizations were founded on the principle of successful scholarship. The academic performance of the Northwestern Panhellenic women is consistently higher than the all-undergraduate women’s GPA. All chapters individually hold grade requirements for their members and help each other achieve academic distinction. There are also opportunities for membership in national Greek honor societies. The NU Panhellenic Association currently holds the highest GPA in the Big 10 Conference - 3.52 in Spring 2012.
Leadership: Greek women are leaders throughout the Northwestern campus, especially in their chapters. After joining a Panhellenic sorority, there are many leadership opportunities that will be offered to you, such as chairing an event or serving on a chapter’s executive board. There are also a number of leadership opportunities at the Council level, ranging from New Member Panhellenic (a board of representatives from all 12 New Member classes) to serving on the Panhellenic Executive Board. Panhellenic women also find themselves becoming involved in leadership positions in campus organizations through the recommendation of a sister.
Service + Philanthropy: The dedication to service and philanthropy for Panhellenic women goes beyond the limits of the NU campus. Sororities not only participate in events on campus, but also sponsor a variety of activities each year to impact the local community and raise funds for their national philanthropies. Each chapter has a unique cause that they continually support throughout the year. Last year Northwestern’s Panhellenic community raised approximately $78,218.00 and completed 23,223 hours of community service.
Sisterhood: Joining the Panhellenic community at NU can provide you with a home away from home. Whether at formals, philanthropies, or sisterhood activities, sisters are constantly strengthening their bonds of friendship. Sisterhood means so much more than events and wearing letters. It is a sense of belonging and understading. It is being yourself and being respected for who you really are. It is sharing a bond with women who hold the same values as you do. It is knowing that no matter what, your sisters will always be there for you—not just for your four years at Northwester, but for your lifetime!
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Greek Glossary Active: A woman who has been initiated into lifelong sorority membership. Bid: A formal invitation given to a PNM to join a sorority. Chapter: The local group of a national sorority. Disaffiliation : When a woman distances herself from her chapter in order fi
to provide complete and unbiased advice and assistance to PNMs during Formal Recruitment. All members of PRT and all RCs are disaffiliated from their chapters, meaning they cannot wear letters or identification of their affiliation during fall quarter.
House: The physical structure that chapter women live in. Initiation: A formal ceremony through which new members become active members of a chapter.
New Member: A woman who has accepted a bid for membership, but has not yet been initiated.
Panhellenic Association:
The inter-sorority governing and programming body made up of women from all different organizations.
Panhellenic Recruitment Team (PRT):
The team of disaffiliated women responsible for planning and executing Recruitment. The Panhellenic Executive Board makes up PRT.
Potential New Member (PNM): Recruitment.
A woman who is participating in
Recruitment Headquarters: Recruitment HQ is a place where PNMs can relax between parties, meet with Recruitment Counselors, or talk to members of PRT.
Recruitment Counselor:
An active sorority member who leads a group of PNMs through the Recruitment process. She is unbiased and willing to honestly answer any questions about chapters and Recruitment.
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Formal Recruitment Potential New Member (PNM) Forums: November 11; January 8 & 9 2013
These are introductory events before the start of Recruitment. In November, if you choose to go to Recruitment Preview, you will meet your Recruitment Counselor and learn more about Preview day. In January, you will learn more about the recruitment process and will meet with your Recruitment Counselor. Attendance at one of the January forums is required.
Recruitment Preview: November 11th, 2012 (11:00-5:00 PM)
This is an opportunity for you to visit all 12 chapters and get a sneak peek at what Formal Recruitment will be like and learn about each chapter.
Set I: January 10 & 11, 2013 (7:00-11:00 PM)
Over the course of two days, you will visit all 12 chapters; six each day. These parties are designed to familiarize you with the Panhellenic community and the benefits of “Going Greek.” Set I consists of 30-minute parties.
Set II: January 12, 2013 (1:00-8:30 PM)
During Set II, you will visit up to 9 chapters; more than likely you will visit 6 to 8 chapters. You will see some familiar faces, and probably meet a few new members during these 35-minute parties. Sorority members will present more information about sorority life as well as each respective chapter’s national philanthropy, as well as a video and/or slideshow. This round will give you a peek inside the personality of each sorority.
Set III: January 13, 2013 (1:00-8:00 PM)
During Set III, you will visit up to 6 chapters; more than likely you will visit 4 to 5 chapters. This is a fun and exciting day in which chapters will perform skits to teach you more about their values. These 50-minute parties are less structured than the previous parties. Be prepared for a fun day!
Preference Night: January 14, 2013 (6:30-10:30 PM)
The last day of events, you will visit up to three sororities. These events are more formal and usually have a more serious tone. Through speeches, songs, and ceremonies, chapters will show you their sisterhood and memories of their time in their chapters.
Bid Night: January 15, 2013 (6:00 PM)
You’ll receive your bid from your Recruitment Counselor, meet your new sorority sisters, and travel back to your new chapter! Get ready for a night of fun and celebration, as you will attend your first sisterhood event!!
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What to Wear Please wear comfortable shoes! We strongly advise you not to wear a brand new pair of shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking, sitting, and standing; you will want to be comfortable! Evanston will be cold in January, so keep this in mind when you are deciding what to wear. You will be able to ‘check’ your coat at each chapter, so layering is highly recommended. To give you a better idea of what to expect, we have outlined some of the types of outfits we generally see throughout the week of Formal Recruitment.
What to Wear: Preview Round: Your Panhellenic Recruitment t-shirt, and something casual and comfortable. What you wear to preview should be comparable to what you wear during Set I. T-shirts will be distributed on the day of Preview. Set I will involve visiting all 12 chapters over the span of two days, so you will want to wear something comfortable. You are required to wear your Panhellenic Recruitment t-shirt, and we would recommend wearing something casual, such as nice jeans or pants and comfortable shoes or boots. Set II attire is similar to Set I, except you do not have to wear your Panhellenic t-shirt! You can’t go wrong with a casual top and jeans, or a skirt and leggings. Definitely still keep those comfortable shoes, as Set II is likely to be your longest day of Formal Recruitment! Set III is just about the same as Set II. Wear a casual top, jeans, skirt, leggings… you are likely to be sitting on the floor at some point in time to watch the skit, so keep that in mind! Preference Night is the most formal night of the week, and both PNMs and sorority women will dress up. Typically, women wear a nice cocktail dress or dressy skirt. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to wear black! We’d recommend bringing a bag with sweatpants and boots to wear between houses. Your legs and toes will get cold! Bid Night is casual. You will most likely be receiving a new t-shirt from your new chapter!
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Recruitment Counselors
The Formal Recruitment process can be exciting and overwhelming. However, the Panhellenic Association has chosen some very special sorority women to guide you through the process. Recruitment Counselors, or RCs, are active sorority members who have disaffiliated from their chapter leading up to and during recruitment so they can maintain an objective outlook. The Recruitment Counselors undergo extensive training during the Spring and Fall prior to Recruitment so they can provide a less stressful atmosphere for you during Recruitment Preview and the week of Formal Recruitment. Their main objective is to help make your recruitment experience the best it can be! Disaffiliation enables RCs to answer questions and guide PNMs without bias or preference to a particular chapter. You will be divided into groups with several other women going through Recruitment, and each group will be assigned an RC. Your RC will provide information about the process, accompany you to Recruitment events, and provide a listening ear as you make decisions concerning sorority membership. PRT chooses RCs based on their enthusiasm for NU and Panhellenic life, objectivity, and dependability. Take advantage of your RC, because she can offer valuable information regarding sorority life, academic classes, leadership roles, and other opportunities at Northwestern. Her job during Formal Recruitment is to help you and to make the process easier for you in any way she can!
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Attendance:
PNMs should submit any academic, athletic, or work-related conflicts to their Recruitment Counselor by January 8rd at 10 PM. PNMs should also call their Recruitment Counselor as soon as possible in case of illness or a family emergency that would force them to miss some part of Recruitment. During all sets, Potential New Members will have to miss parties they cannot attend entirely. Panhellenic encourages chapters to invite back PNMs who must miss parties due to conflicts, but there is no guarantee that a chapter will invite you back if you have to miss its party
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PNM Bill of Rights As a PNM in Recruitment 2013, I have the right to: 1. Be treated as an individual throughout the Recruitment process. 2. Be fully informed about the Recruitment process. 3. Ask questions and receive true and objective answers from the Recruitment Counselors and active chapter members. 4. Express opinions and have inviolable confidentiality when sharing information with Recruitment Counselors and members of the Panhellenic Recruitment Team. 5. Make informed choices without undue pressure from active members or anyone else involeved in the Recruitment process. 6. Not be subjected to competitive recruitment related conversations or situations (i.e., “dirty rushing�) with active chapter members at any time. 7.Make my decision and accept full responsibility for the results of that decision. 8. Never be left alone in a one-on-one situation with an active chapter member throughout the Recruitment process. 9. Never receive gifts, favors, or letters from active chapter members. 10. Have a positive, safe, and enriching Recruitment and New Member experience.
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Academic and Financial Info Every chapter has a GPA requirement when considering a person for membership. Each chapter sets its own standard. If your GPA falls below a chapter’s standard, the chapter may not be able to consider you for membership. Your Recruitment Counselor will consult with you if your GPA falls at or below a 2.8. If you have extenuating circumstances as to why your GPA is below a 2.8 (ex: you had an incomplete in a class), you will have the opportunity to share this information with the chapters. Every woman who participates in Formal Recruitment must sign a grade release form. Please talk to your RC or PRT if you have any questions or concerns! Alpha Chi Omega - 2.5
Gamma Phi Beta - 2.8
Alpha Phi - 2.8
Kappa Alpha Theta - 2.9
Chi Omega - 2.7
Kappa Delta - 2.7
Delta Delta Delta - 2.5
Kappa Kappa Gamma - 2.7
Delta Gamma - 2.5
Pi Beta Phi - 2.71
Delta Zeta - 2.7
Zeta Tau Alpha - 2.5
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Financial Information:
Chapters may have different names for the same fees. Some chapters use a payas-you-go system, while others include all costs in their quarterly dues. Likewise, some chapters bill their dues directly through Northwestern, while others require payment to their chapter treasurer. Most chapters require that dues and New Member fees are paid in full before you can be initiated. Averages for Chapter Fees: Initiation Fee $320 Quarterly Fee $531 Live-in (Room/Board) $4,065 Dues are spent on philanthropic events, social events, scholarship programming, membership recruitment, chapter house renovations, administrative costs, and many other things. Room and board costs for many of the chapters is less than or equal to that of University Residence Halls. Please note: many sororities have payment plans and scholarships to help their members meet their financial obligation. More specific information about each chapter’s dues and fees is given to your RC, so contact them if you have any questions!
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Frequently Asked Questions How much time does a sorority take? Will I have time for school? You can commit as much time to your chapter as you wish. As a general rule, most chapters have Monday night meetings and other philanthropic, sisterhood, and social events throughout the week. Most Panhellenic women are able to balance school, work, other organizations, and their sorority quite easily.
Does it cost a lot to be in a sorority? Financial commitment comes with many benefits. Most chapters offer payment plans that allow you to spread payments throughout the quarter and only pay for the merchandise and social events that you want.
Will being in a sorority affect my grades? The all-female Greek GPA is consistently above the all-female undergraduate GPA. Each chapter offers academic programs and incentives to help their members achieve scholastic excellence.
Do I need references (Letters of Recommendation) from alumnae? Recommendations are not required for NU’s Panhellenic Recruitment, and most PNMs do not submit letters of recommendation. If you have an alumnae who would like to submit a recommendation on your behalf, please direct them to the chapter’s Membership Chair. All chapter addresses are available at: www.northwestern.edu/gogreek
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Ten Tips for Successful Recruitment
1. Be relaxed, be yourself, and have fun! 2. Focus on the conversations you have with individual women! Avoid making decisions based on material items such as clothes or house structure. 3. Keep in mind that Recruitment occurs during January…dress appropriately, and wear layers! 4. Disregard rumors that you hear from other women, unaffiliated friends, guys, and any other sources. Make decisions based on your own feelings and experiences you have during recruitment. 5. Don’t be pressured to join a particular chapter because of a parent, sibling, friend, boyfriend, or companion. 6. Stay hydrated!! 7. Write down as much as possible…keeping notes will help you make the best choices throughout the week. 8. Have personal down time and don’t let yourself get burned out too quickly! Recruitment is a long week, and you should give yourself time for basics such as sleeping, eating, homework, and recuperating! 9. Keep your opinions about recruitment and specific chapters to yourself. 10. Rely on your Recruitment Counselor! Don’t be intimidated by your RC or anyone on the Panhellenic Recruitment Team, they are here to help you and make your recruitment week the best week possible!
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Alpha Chi Omega
AXO “Alpha Chi” 637 University Place Minimum GPA: 2.5 New Member Dues: $809 Current Member Dues: $327
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Alpha Phi
AI “A Phi” 701 University Place Minimum GPA: 2.8 New Member Dues: $700 Current Member Dues: $425
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Chi Omega
XO “Chi O” 1870 Orrington Ave Minimum GPA: 2.7 New Member Dues: $810 Current Member Dues: $425
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Delta Delta Delta
AAA “Tri-Delta� 625 University Place Minimum GPA: 2.5 New Member Dues: $964 Current Member Dues: $719
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Delta Gamma
Af “DG” 618 Emerson Street Minimum GPA: 2.5 New Member Dues: $1,065 Current Member Dues: $633
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Delta Zeta
AZ “DZ” 717 University Place Minimum GPA: 2.7 New Member Dues: $838 Current Member Dues: $568
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Gamma Phi Beta
fIB “Gamma Phi”, “G Phi” 640 Emerson Street Minimum GPA: 2.8 New Member Dues: $944 Current Member Dues: $477
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Kappa Alpha Theta
KAo “Theta” 619 University Place Minimum GPA: 2.9 New Member Dues: $655 Current Member Dues: $452
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Kappa Delta
KA “KD” 711 University Place Minimum GPA: 2.7 New Member Dues: $550 Current Member Dues: $415
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Kappa Kappa Gamma
KKf “Kappa” 1871 Orrington Ave Minimum GPA: 2.7 New Member Dues: $937 Current Member Dues: $577
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Pi Beta Phi
nBi “Pi Phi” 636 Emerson Street Minimum GPA: 2.71 New Member Dues: $1,068 Current Member Dues: $724
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Zeta Tau Alpha
ZTA “Zeta” 710 Emerson Street Minimum GPA: 2.5 New Member Dues: $847 Current Member Dues: $627
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sherman ave 1. Alpha Chi Omega (Alpha Chi) Northwestern Founding: 1890, Gamma Chapter Colors: Scarlet Red & Olive Green Symbol: The Lyre National Philanthropy: Domestic Violence Awareness
university place
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3. Chi Omega (Chi O) Northwestern Founding: 1901, Xi Chapter Colors: Cardinal & Straw Symbol: The Owl National Philanthropy: Make-A-Wish Foundation 4. Delta Delta Delta (TriDelta) Northwestern Founding: 1895, Upsilon Chapter Colors: Silver, Gold & Cerulean Blue Symbol: Trident & Dolphin National Philanthropy: St. Jude Children’s Hospital 5. Delta Gamma (DG) Northwestern Founding: 1882, Sigma Chapter Colors: Bronze, Pink & Blue Symbol: The Anchor National Philanthropy: Service for Sight 6. Delta Zeta (DZ) Northwestern Founding: 1920, Alpha Alpha Chapter Colors: Rose & Green Symbol: Turtle National Philanthropy: Speech & Hearing 7. Gamma Phi Beta (Gamma Phi) Northwestern Founding: 1881, Epsilon Chapter Colors: Brown & Mode Symbol: Crescent Moon National Philanthropy: Campfire USA, Girls on the Run 8. Kappa Alpha Theta (Theta) Northwestern Founding: 1887, Tau Chapter Colors: Black & Gold Symbol: Kite National Philanthropy: Court Appointed Special Advocates 9. Kappa Delta (KD) Northwestern Founding: 1907, Lambda Chapter Colors: Olive Green & Pearl White Symbol: Dagger National Philanthropy: Confidence Coalition, Girls Scouts of the USA
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2. Alpha Phi (A Phi) Northwestern Founding: 1881, Beta Chapter Colors: Bordeaux & Silver Symbol: Ivy Leaf National Philanthropy: Women’s Heart Health
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10. Kappa Kappa Gamma (Kappa) Northwestern Founding: 1882, Upsilon Chapter Colors: Dark Blue & Light Blue Symbol: Key National Philanthropy: Reading is Fundamental 11. Pi Beta Phi (Pi Phi) Northwestern Founding: 1894, Epsilon Chapter Colors: Wine & Silver Blue Symbol: Arrow National Philanthropy: Read Across America 12. Zeta Tau Alpha (Zeta) Northwestern Founding: 1923, Alpha Phi Chapter Colors: Steel Gray & Turquoise Blue Symbol: Five-pointed Crown National Philanthropy: Breast Cancer Awareness and Education