Recruitment occurs every fall and spring and provides students with the chance to meet members of the fraternities and sororities on campus. Through scheduled events, first-year students get a chance to interact with upperclassmen and acquaint themselves with greek life.

Even students who are not planning on rushing often enjoy the preliminary lunches.

“It was great going to lunch and just talking to the guys,” said Michael Rogers, a first-year. “They didn’t pressure me at all about rushing, so it was just a great opportunity for me as a freshman to talk to some upperclassmen.”

Although it seems pretty informal, there are some rules and regulations that have to be followed. Among them is strict silence, a rule which spans from the beginning of rush to bid night, when the sororities and fraternities give potential new members an invitation to join their group.

“At the informational meeting we were warned that the sorority girls wouldn’t be allowed to talk to us in fear of giving us false hopes, which is understandable,” said Justis Phillips, a first-year resident of Jewett Hall.

“Freshmen also aren’t allowed to come over to the houses for the first few weeks,” said Matt Macquivey, a TKE, “and for obvious reasons no alcohol can be consumed when a potential new member is present.”

Fraternities and sororities have to deal with the stereotypes and preconceptions of being a part of greek life, but fewer people believe that they are like those represented in Hollywood.

“I’ve heard that Whitman sororities and fraternities are atypical compared to other schools,” said first-year Lauren McCullough.

“I was little skeptical at first with the fraternities and their reputations like in ‘Animal House’,” said first-year Mark Glasionov, “but I’ve been hanging out with the guys, gone out to lunch, and they told me about the frat. Since then I’ve gotten to go to the dinners and see the houses, and it wasn’t at all what I’ve expected, so I’m actually pretty excited.”

“I think the pledge class is going to be really great this year because both the boys and the girls have such unique personalities and overall they’re just a diverse class,” said Katie Barich, a sophomore Delta Gamma. “In general, the student participation in greek life is expanding right now.”