|
Introduction | FAQs | Recruitment
Schedule | Recruitment Rules |
| Recruitment Registration Form | Greek
Lingo | Recruitment Counselors | Costs
|
| Concerns about Greek Life |
Introduction
Welcome to Whitman
College! You are about to begin a four year adventure that will surely
be filled with new people and new experiences that we affectionately
refer to as the "Whitman experience." For many women, their "Whitman
experience" includes membership in one of our three sororities. We believe
that becoming a member of a Greek organization provides you with a number
of opportunities that assist in making your college years as educational
and fulfilling as possible.
Membership in a
sorority provides you with academic support, leadership development
opportunities, community service involvement, networking, mentoring
and life-long friendships. It also provides women with an opportunity
to belong to a group whose sole purpose is to support and encourage
the growth and development of women. There are few other organizations
that offer such comparable goals to maturing women. Together, the three
sororities represent the largest women's organization on the Whitman
campus.
Sorority membership
recruitment is a wonderful opportunity for new students to take a close
look at the three sororities at Whitman College and to ask questions
regarding sorority life. Formal membership recruitment consists of three
days of activities spread out over two weekends. Even though we refer
to it as formal, membership recruitment at Whitman is actually very
casual and relaxed. This is an opportunity for you to meet the sorority
women and for them to meet you. If you are unsure about going Greek,
membership recruitment is an excellent opportunity to view Greek life
while meeting upperclassmen and fellow classmates. During formal membership
recruitment there will be several optional activities sponsored by the
Greek system, which everyone is welcome to attend.
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Frequently
Asked Questions
1. What sororities
are available on the Whitman campus?
There are three
national sororities with chapters on the Whitman campus including
Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta and Kappa Kappa
Gamma.
2. How much does
sorority membership cost?
Sorority members
must pay dues to their chapter each semester. The money is used for
chapter programming (faculty lunches, academic desserts, social events,
study breaks, community service projects, chapter retreats) as well
as national dues and facility fees. Although money is budgeted for
social events, it is never used to purchase alcohol. Please refer
to the section on costs for information on sorority dues.
3. What do the
members enjoy about being in a sorority?
Most women appreciate
the friendships they share with a group of supportive, caring women.
There are also wonderful opportunities for academic assistance, leadership,
community service and networking. The friendships you create within
your sorority will last a lifetime!
4. How is the
sorority system at Whitman different from other sorority systems?
The sororities
at Whitman do not have their own houses. Instead, they live together
in Prentiss Hall where each group maintains their own section, chapter
room and TV room. This allows the sororities to work together, to
share study breaks and develop close intersorority relations.
5. Do Greek women
have friends outside their individual sororities?
Absolutely! Since
the Greek women are housed in Prentiss, they have many opportunities
to interact with each other. Also, since Greek women do not move into
Prentiss until their sophomore year, they make strong friendships
with the women who live in their first-year section. Due to the small
size of Whitman, it is easy (and encouraged) to maintain a diversity
of friendships and keep in contact with friends.
6. Do I need
letters of recommendation to participate in membership recruitment?
No, it is not
the responsibility of potential new members to secure letters of recommendation.
If you have family or friends who want to send a letter of recommendation
they are free to do so but letters of recommendation are not required
to participate in the recruitment process.
7. Do I need
special clothes to participate in membership recruitment?
No, the clothes
you already own are very appropriate for membership recruitment. The
first two days of recruitment are casual. Keep in mind you will be
outdoors and the weather is often very warm at this time of year.
The final day usually involves a dress, a skirt or nice pants.
8. What is the
time commitment to a sorority during the fist semester?
During your first
semester, you will have weekly meetings with the other new members
to learn sorority history, songs, traditions and meet the upper-class
members. New members are invited to participate in scholarship programs,
philanthropy projects and social events. The Greek women understand
that the first semester at college is an enormous adjustment and they
are here to support you. Keep in mind that academics are always the
top priority of the sororities and no sorority meeting or activity
comes before academic commitments.
9. What about
drinking?
In each sorority,
there are women who drink and women who do not drink. This is a personal
choice and you will not be pressured in either direction.
10. What about
hazing?
The College, the
Panhellenic Association and each of the three sororities strictly forbid
hazing activities.
11. What is the
attitude after formal membership recruitment?
Due to the small
size of Whitman, it is likely that the Greek women will remember you
after formal membership recruitment concludes. Whether you join a
sorority or remain unaffiliated, the Greek women will still be excited
to get to know you.
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2006
Recruitment Schedule
Sunday, September
3rd
11:00 am - Noon
Sorority Orientation Meeting
Olin 130
If you are planning
to participate in sorority recruitment or would like to learn more
about Greek life, please attend this meeting.
Monday, September
4th to Friday, September 8th
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Recruitment Sign-Ups
Reid Campus Center
Panhellenic will
have a sign-up table in the Reid Campus Center foyer from 11:30 AM
to 1:00 PM during the week to register interested women for the recruitment
process. The registration process includes completing a recruitment
information form.
Saturday, September
9th
Noon - 4:00 pm
Activity Day
Various Locations
The first day
of membership recruitment is Activity Day on Saturday, September 9th.
You will visit all three of the sororities on this day. The functions
will be held outdoors at a location on campus, in a nearby park or
at an alumna's house. Walla Walla is often very warm at this time
of year so come prepared. Wear comfortable shoes, dress casually,
relax and have fun getting acquainted with the four sororities.
Saturday, September
16th
Noon - 4:00 pm
Philanthropy Day
Various Locations
The second day
of membership recruitment is Philanthropy Day on Saturday, September
16th. You will be attending the three sorority functions to learn more about
the philanthropic organizations and service projects that the groups
support both locally and nationally. Again, wear comfortable shoes
and dress casually.
Sunday, September
17th
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Closing Day
Alumnae Homes
Closing Day is
the final and most formal event of the recruitment process. You will
be attending up to two of the closing day functions. The day is spent
being entertained by sorority history, music, food and great conversations.
This day is very special to the sorority women and they look forward
to sharing themselves and their chapters with you. The usual attire
for this day is a dress, skirt or nice pants.
Tuesday, September
19th
7:30 PM
Bid Night
Memorial Building
Bid night is the
time when the individual sororities distribute invitations to membership.
The sorority members meet their new members in front of Memorial Building
and then escort the new members to bid night functions. These functions
are focused on having the new members get acquainted with each other
as well as their older sorority sisters. The night is filled with
laughter, conversation, food and song.
Monday, September
11th to Thursday, September 14th
Noon to 1:00 PM and 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Alternative Recruitment
Various Locations
Students sometimes
have a conflict with the recruitment schedule, especially if they
participate in fall athletics. In order to provide an opportunity
for these students to take a closer look at the sororities, we have
created an alternative recruitment process. Each day during the noon
hour, one of the three sororities hosts a lunch. Each day from 7:30
PM to 8:30 PM, one of the sororities hosts an evening activity. It
is expected that women participating in recruitment will attend as
many of the scheduled recruitment events as possible. Dress is casual
for the lunches and the evening activities.
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Recruitment
Rules
1. If you cannot
attend a membership recruitment activity on a certain day, you must
notify your Recruitment Counselor, or a Panhellenic Officer at least
24 hours before the scheduled activity.
2. You must attend
alternative recruitment for those sororities you miss on Activity Day.
Failure to do so will result in your being dropped from the recruitment
process.
3. You must attend
activities to which you have accepted invitations.
4. At no time may
an active sorority member be in a first-year living section or room
unless there is a special circumstance for which permission was obtained
from the Panhellenic Membership Recruitment Coordinator.
5. Sorority women
may not drive potential new members to recruitment parties or any other
recruitment affiliated activities in personal vehicles due to liability.
If you are late to the closing day function, you may not be transported
via personal vehicles.
6. If
issued invitations, you will be required to attend the maximum number
of functions allowed for each day i.e. three functions on Activity Day,
three functions on Philanthropy Day and two functions on Closing Day.
After the Closing Day function, you may list zero to three preferences.
If you are matched to a group listed on your preference card and you
decline their bid or break your pledgeship, you are ineligible to participate
in membership recruitment for one year.
Alcohol Policies:
- No alcohol shall
be served to any potential new member by actives or alumnae of any
sorority.
- No alcohol is
to be present at any membership recruitment functions.
- No active sorority
members may be present anywhere with potential new members where alcohol
is being served.
- No active sorority
member shall be intoxicated in the presence of potential new members.
· If there is alcohol at an off-campus party where first-year women
are, the sorority members must leave.
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Recruitment
Registration Form
Click here
to access and print the Recruitment Registration Form. When complete,
turn in the form to the Panhellenic representatives in the Reid Campus
Center on Monday, September 6th through Friday, September 10th from
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. There is a $10 registration fee payable by cash
or check, which is due when the form is turned in.
After printing the
form, use your browser's back button to return to this page.
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Greek
Lingo
ACTIVE MEMBER: someone
who has been initiated into her chapter
ALTERNATIVE MEMBERSHIP
RECRUTIMENT: lunchtime and evening activities for interested women who
have schedule conflicts with formal membership recruitment
ALUMNA: any initiated
member of a sorority who has graduated from college or left college
prior to graduation
ALUMNAE: the plural
form of alumna
BID: an official,
binding invitation extended from a sorority to a potential new member
to join the sorority
CHAPTER: group of
collegians, officially chartered and recognized at a given college or
university
CONTINUOUS OPEN
BIDDING: process of issuing invitations to join a sorority anytime after
formal membership recruitment ends
FORMAL MEMBERSHIP
RECRUITMENT: two successive weekends in September where the four Whitman
sororities recruit new members
FOUNDER: one who
originates or establishes a fraternity or sorority
GREEK: term applied
to all sororities and fraternities
HAZING: an activity
of physical or psychological abuse that is degrading or humiliating
to another person. Hazing does not encourage respect for others and
is prohibited by Whitman College, the Panhellenic Association and the
sorority chapters
INITIATE: a woman
who has undergone the initiation ceremony into a sorority
INTER-FRATERNITY
COUNCIL: the governing body of fraternities
LEGACY: a daughter,
sister, or granddaughter of an initiated member of a sorority
NEW MEMBER: a woman
who accepts a bid from a sorority
PANHELLENIC ASSOCIATION:
an organization consisting of 4 nationally recognized sororities established
to promote the Greek system and maintain relations among the sororities
PHILANTHROPY: active
efforts to promote human welfare in a variety of ways
PREFERENCES: a system
by which a potential new member ranks the four sororities as her 1st,
2nd, 3rd and 4th choices
POTENTIAL NEW MEMBER:
a woman not affiliated with any sorority participating in formal membership
recruitment
QUOTA: the number
of pledges any chapter may pledge during a specific rush period
RECRUITMENT COUNSELOR:
a sorority woman chosen by Panhellenic to be disaffiliated from her
group during the formal recruitment process to help answer potential
new member's questions
RITUAL: the ceremonies
celebrated and conducted by every chapter; the secret rites to membership
SECTION: a sorority's
living facility in Prentiss Hall
SNAP BID: a 24 hour
period after bid matching is completed where sororities who have not
reached quota may extend a bid to any woman who has not received a bid
from another sorority
STRICT SILENCE:
the period of time between final preferencing and bid night, in which
there is to be no communication between active sorority women and potential
new members.
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Recruitment
Counselors
One of the first
sorority women you will meet and get to know at Whitman will be your
Recruitment Counselor. A Recruitment Counselor is a Greek woman who
has been selected by the Panhellenic Executive Officers to assist, support
and counsel the women participating in membership recruitment. Their
role, in essence, is very much like a resident assistant (R.A.), except
their focus is on all aspects of membership recruitment. Recruitment
Counselors are disaffiliated from their particular sororities during
membership recruitment so they can concentrate their time and attention
on you. Their goal is to ensure that women participating in membership
recruitment have a positive and fulfilling experience. Each Recruitment
Counselor will be assigned to work with a small group of women during
the entire recruitment period and will be available to answer your questions
at any time. The Recruitment Counselors have been working hard to prepare
for your arrival and look forward to meeting you in the very near future.
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Sorority
Costs
Each semester, sorority
members pay dues to their chapter. These fees pay for the programming
that the sorority chapter does over the academic year and includes things
like faculty lunches, academic desserts, social events, study breaks,
community service projects and chapter retreats. Part of the dues also
goes to pay national dues, Panhellenic dues and facility fees. Although
money is budgeted for social events, it is never used to purchase alcohol.
The first year of
sorority membership is the most expensive. The reason for this is that
new members are required to pay several one-time fees such as a new
member fee and an initiation fee. Listed below is the range of membership
costs by semester. During the recruitment process, you will want to
ask specific questions of each group about their dues and the payment
plan options that they offer.
| New member
fall semester: |
$195 - $375 |
| New member
spring semester: |
$200 - $385 |
| |
|
| Active member
fall semester: |
$205 - $250 |
| Active member
spring semester: |
$150 - $180 |
Please realize that
over the course of the first year, each sorority charges new members
approximately the same amount of money. Some groups have a higher first
semester charge with a lower spring semester charge while other groups
reverse this and have a lower fall semester charge with a higher spring
semester charge. If you add the fall and spring semester charges together
for each sorority the cost range is as follows:
| New
member fall and spring semesters: |
$514
- $615 |
| Active
member fall and spring semesters: |
$355
- $430 |
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Addressing
Concerns About Being Greek
Take a moment and
think about what you "know" regarding Greek life and your source for
knowing it. Is it primarily from watching movies like "Legally Blonde"
or "Revenge of the Nerds?" Is it from a family member or friend who
has gone through "rush" at a large university? Is it from some of the
people you have met on the Whitman campus who have filled you in on
the "stereotype" of each fraternity and sorority?
Whitman College
sets very high expectations for the Greek organizations on campus and
even if we had any desire to be like Animal House (which we do not),
the College would not tolerate it. The Student Handbook outlines the
College's expectations for Fraternities
and Sororities - check it out! We are about academics, leadership,
involvement, community service, sisterhood and having active social
lives.
The recruitment
process at Whitman is unlike large universities and perhaps even unlike
other small colleges. You do not have to buy a new wardrobe or provide
letters of recommendation. You do not have to look a certain way, dress
a certain way or act a certain way to become a member of a sorority.
You just have to be yourself, participate in the recruitment process,
enjoy meeting lots of new people and be open to each of the four sororities.
Not everyone on
the Whitman campus is a fan of the Greek system. Most students not affiliated
with the Greek system chose not to join a group because Greek life did
not fit their lifestyle. They are not against the Greek system; it is
just not for them. A small minority of students actually dislikes the
Greek system and is sometimes very vocal in denouncing it to new students.
Our hope is that you will form your own opinion of the Greek system
based on your experience with it and not be swayed by either the positive
or negative opinions of other students. Greek life may be an excellent
choice for you and we encourage you to participate in the recruitment
process.
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