Recruitment is an intensive four-day series of structured events that you will attend in order to meet and converse with sorority members. The first three days of Recruitment take place on-campus, while the last night's events are held at the Sheraton in Palo Alto. As Recruitment progress, the events become fewer and the time spent at each sorority becomes longer. Through a process of mutual selection, we hope you will return to the sororities where you feel most comfortable and with those that are interested in having you as a member.
?TopRecruitment begins with an important informational meeting where Recruitment procedures are explained and materials are distributed. You will also break into your groups and meet your two Rho Chis (sorority members that assist potential new members through the Recruitment process). Absences for formal recruitment will be confirmed with Rho Chis at this meeting.
The first day of Recruitment is composed of Open Houses, when you are given the opportunity to meet with all 5 sororities. The Open House is geared toward exposing you to each group to provide you with information regarding each sorority's activities and personality. You, as the Prospective Member, are given the responsibility to distinguish between sororities as their presentations and conversations carve out their identities. You are expected to attend all 5 parties of Open House.
Each day of the two Invitational parties begins with invitations being handed out prior to the parties. Through a process of mutual selection, you will choose which invitations to accept, and hence, which parties to attend. It is highly recommended that you attend all the parties to which you are invited, up to the maximum number of parties allowed for that day. This allows you to learn more about the chapter, meet more members and ensures that you keep all of your options open. The Invitationals give sororities a chance to show off their personalities through more conversations, themes, songs, and skits. You may begin to recognize members of different sororities, and you will be able to have longer conversations with them in addition to meeting other chapter members. Recruitment is a great opportunity to meet new people. Just be yourself and enjoy the Invitationals!
Preference tends to be a more formal affair. Sorority members often reflect on what their sorority means to them. The ceremony may be more important to sorority members, and therefore more emotional. You will most likely be seated and spend most of the time talking to one or two people that you have spoken with at an earlier Recruitment event. An invitation to Preference indicates that a sorority is definitely interested in you as a future member. However, being invited to Preference does not guarantee that you will receive a bid from each sorority.
That night after attending your Preference parties (2 maximum), you will list the names of the sororities, in preferential order, from which you are willing to accept a bid of membership. Signing an electronic preference card binds you to your choice of sorority, so take your time. You are strongly encouraged to list all of the sororities whose parties you attend in order to keep as many of your options open as possible.ight after attending your Preference parties (2 maximum), you will list the names of the sororities, in preferential order, from which you are willing to accept a bid of membership. Signing a preference card binds you to your choice of sorority, so take your time. You are strongly encouraged to list all of the sororities whose parties you attend in order to keep as many of your options open as possible.
Soon after accepting your bid, formal new membership ceremonies take place for each of the sororities. New membership programs typically last one or two quarters and are full of fun, exciting, and energetic activities. New membership is intended to be a time when you "try out" your sorority, but it is a commitment. In general, we trust that you will find your new membership period filled with fun and exciting activities geared towards bringing together new members and integrating them into the sorority as a whole.
Freshman are not the only Stanford women involved in the Recruitment process. Sophomores, juniors, and transfer potential members are also encouraged to participate in Recruitment.
If you were recruited and/or became a member of a sorority at another College or University, please contact the ISC Recruitment Chairs (iscrecruitmentchairs@lists.stanford.edu) before Recruitment begins.
Recruitment is a time to replace graduating seniors with new members. Sororities are looking to rejuvenate their chapters and to fill to the maximum of 75 members to insure their continued success. They have to adhere to both ISC and national regulations. Recruitment preparations and Recruitment weekend itself bring members of a sorority together as they work toward providing information for and being fair in the selection of a new membership class. Just remember, sorority members were also Prospective Members at one time.
In the effort to make Recruitment fair, sorority members are prohibited to speak with Prospective Members outside of Recruitment during the Formal Recruitment period. Hence, do not be surprised or dismayed if someone you met during Recruitment seems to ignore you in White Plaza the next day. On the flip side, if a sorority member approaches you (in person or via the phone) and talks about Recruitment, please tell a Rho Chi. This is “Dirty Recruitment,” and sororities are not permitted to contact you in this way. This is a serious violation because it is not fair for a Prospective Member to feel pressured in any way. If you report a dirty recruitment infraction you will be guaranteed confidentiality and the matter will be investigated without implicating you.
Attendance is probably your most important responsibility during Recruitment. In order to coordinate over 200 Prospective Members, ISC mandates that you must give a formal written excuse with your application or you can be dropped from a sorority if you must miss their party. Attendance is taken by your Rho Chis, with whom your Recruitment group will meet before actual Recruitment events begin. If you are not there without having given an excuse, it will be assumed that you have dropped out of Recruitment, and the sororities will not longer consider you for membership. If you know that you will have standing conflicts with certain Recruitment dated times (i.e. classes or sporting events), please submit a formal written excuse to the ISC Recruitment Chairs (iscrecruitmentchairs@lists.stanford.edu) as soon as possible. Absentee Recruitment will be held on Wednesday, April 11 from 6:30 - 11:10 PM. Class is always considered a priority over Recruitment events.
If you will not be able to attend part or all of a Recruitment event due to a sudden serious conflict, you must notify your Rho Chi immediately and send an email to the ISC Recruitment Chairs (iscrecruitmentchairs@lists.stanford.edu). You will NOT be penalized for absence in Recruitment if you have a suitable excuse that has been given as explained above. If you do not follow the guidelines, it will be assumed that you have dropped out of Recruitment.
Recruitment will be held on campus, with Preference night at the Sheraton in Palo Alto. ISC will be running shuttles to and from the Sheraton to the Tresidder Union parking lot at the circle bus drive. The shuttles will be free. Your Rho Chis will be at Tresidder and will meet you again at the Sheraton. If you choose to drive yourself to the Sheraton on Preference night, please be aware that it is incumbent on the driver to have her own insurance. ISC insurance does not cover individual drivers, only those who utilize the provided shuttles.
