I know you’ve heard it. I know you’re tired of hearing it. “Unprecedented times.” “Unforeseen circumstances.” Pandemic. Coronavirus. COVID-19. The list goes on. We are all well aware of the impact COVID-19 has had on every aspect of life: school, fun, work, and overall mental and physical health (obviously). What I never anticipated as a freshman entering college this year, was to go through sorority recruitment, let alone a virtual version of it. My experience going through sorority recruitment this past month was fantastic and simple, to say the least.
Recruitment included one long weekend of video calls with the 8 chapters at UMass Amherst and my Rho Gamma, a woman who herself had gone through recruitment but disaffiliated from her sorority in order to help potential new members (PNM’s). We watched mini videos that each of the 8 chapters made and ranked them based on where we would see ourselves fit in. The goal was to match our rankings to the chapter’s rankings of us based on videos we had all made over the summer explaining why we would like to join a sorority. The next day we met with 3 sororities and learned about their ideals and philanthropy, as well as met with at least two sisters individually in breakout rooms during our allotted time. We then went through another round of ranking, made our final two choices, signed a long contract about accepting or declining a “bid” from one or two chapters, and then Sunday received a certificate from the chapter that accepted us.
In the end, I came home to Alpha Chi Omega, and after only two weeks of being in the chapter (although not formally initiated), I already feel as though I have met my friends for life. Yes, it’s cheesy, but trust me, that’s the way it works out. All 30+ new members and I feel driven by the pandemic to make the most out of our virtual experiences. We schedule Zoom meetings outside of chapter and are planning times to meet each other in person (with masks and social distancing, of course). We’ve had yoga nights, Zoom charades, and study hours, to name a few of my favorite times so far.
While COVID-19 has drastically changed the way I experience my freshman year of college, I am so thankful that the Panhellenic Council at UMass had such a strong and reinforced method to make sure new members could join a sorority, and I know I will look back on this time happily as I grow as an AXO sister :). If I could give any advice to incoming women-identifying freshman, it’s that joining a sorority is one of the best ways to be involved in campus activities, especially now that we are not able to physically be together.
