By Matthew Sotlar / The Jambar
Youngstown State University recently changed the recruitment process for Panhellenic Council sororities. The Panhellenic Council consists of Alpha Xi Delta, Delta Zeta and Zeta Tau Alpha.
In the past month, multiple events were held for students to learn about Greek Life, including at least two events to meet the members and officials of YSU’s Greek organizations.
Associate Director of Student Activities Carrie Anderson said that while the recruitment process has not changed, the events schedule has been expanded for accessibility.
“Our primary fall recruitment is usually the time we tend to have a lot more people go through recruitment,” Anderson said. “What we’ve [changed is] how many activities and days that there are opportunities to go through the process so that it fits more with a student’s schedule.”
YSU’s Panhellenic Council is a part of the National Panhellenic Conference, a 26-sorority organization across the United States and Canada.
Anderson said by adding more activities, students have the chance to explore their options.
“One of the main things that we want to make sure that everyone does is know all their options,” Anderson said. “So meet each one of our chapters, get to know them a little bit better, and then that way they have more information about what they want to do from there.”
The recruitment process is done through Greek Life. Students interested in joining a sorority were encouraged to attend three separate info sessions Aug. 28, Sept. 4 and 10. Following these sessions, three open houses were held for each Panhellenic Council sorority.
Anderson encouraged students in the recruitment process to meet each of the chapters before deciding on a specific sorority.
“What we’re only asking of them is that they at least meet all three of our chapters once,” Anderson said. “They could go to all events that they wanted to because sometimes that works for their schedule, and it’s great.”
Anderson added that each of the Panhellenic chapters held events for students in the recruitment process.
“Each one of our chapters has a meet event just to sit down and talk. They might do crafts during it for their philanthropy to donate, or they might just talk about what it means to be a sister, and what kind of time commitments come with that,” Anderson said.
Delta Zeta held its meeting event Sept. 19 in the Training Room in Kilcawley Center, while Alpha Xi Delta on Sept. 24 in the Presidential Suite in Kilcawley and Zeta Tau Alpha rounded out the meeting events Sept. 25 in the Rossi Room.
With an expanded schedule, Anderson said students have more time to decide whether or not Greek Life is right for them.
“I think it’s kind of neat and kind of just expands it to just focus on the student that’s looking at whether membership is a good thing for them or not. But at the same time, they can go to as much or as little as possible,” Anderson said.
The sorority recruitment open houses were held in the Chestnut Room on Sept. 17, 23 and 26. Students interested in learning more about the Panhellenic Council can visit ysu.edu/greek-life.
Editor’s note: Managing Editor Raeghan Hilton is involved with Delta Zeta. She had no editorial input.