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Monday, February 24, 2025

Longwood Women Find their New Home through Sorority Recruitment

Longwood University’s College Panhellenic Council Sorority Recruitment began on Thursday, Jan. 9 and ended on Sunday, Jan. 12. During recruitment, women have the opportunity to meet with members of the different social sororities on campus. Then, at the conclusion of recruitment, a walk is held for all of the women who received bids from sororities. The new members then “walk,” but usually run, to their new sororities.

According to Andrea Martinez, associate director for Fraternity and Sorority Life, the sororities offered 186 bids at Sorority Walk. There were 18 open bids in the days that followed. All nine sororities met the set quota of 20, including Alpha Delta Pi and Sigma Kappa with 21 and Alpha Gamma Delta and Zeta Tau Alpha with 22.

“Recruitment was long and tiring but was a wonderful experience. There was no loss going through recruitment,” said sophomore Hannah Miller. “I made lots of new friends by going through recruitment with other girls and found my home in the process.”

On the first day, girls going through recruitment wore a shirt given to them by CPC, along with a pair of jeans; however, they were encouraged to share a little bit of their personality with the chance to wear whatever accessories they desired. Parties started at 1 p.m. and most of them finished up close to 10:30 p.m.

The girls met with all the sororities and were able to receive invites back to a number of parties held by the sororities. Recruitment is not just a one- way street. Young women get the chance to choose the sorority they like, but they also have to reciprocate. If they do, they will invite you back. The girls also had to rate the sororities based on the ones they liked the best and the ones they liked the least. 

On day two, each girl had their own individual schedule. Some girls may have been invited to six parties, whereas others may have only been invited to one or two. This day was mostly focused on trying to get to know the sorority sisters on a more personal level.

“I liked day two, especially because the sororities did games and crafts to exemplify their philanthropies,” Miller said.

Day three is the last chance girls have to make an impression on the sisters. At the same time, though, the sororities also want to make a good impression on the girls going through recruitment and tell them why they should choose to become a part of their organization.

“You just know which sorority is your home on the third day because you get a feeling, a feeling of belonging and a feeling that you just found the girls who will forever be your sister, through thick and thin,” said junior Rachel Barefoot.

Miller said, “My emotions were all over the place. I was excited, anxious and nervous to see what was going to happen. I was excited to find my home.”

Bid Walk is what takes place after the recruitment process is over. This year's walk was held at 5:30 p.m. behind the Lankford Student Union. The women who accepted bids from their sororities were then decorated by the recruitment counselors in their sorority’s colors, in which they then are lined up and take turns running to the sorority they have chosen to join. The women are eagerly welcomed by their new sisters.

Sorority recruitment may not hold the same experience to every woman who goes through it, but it is definitely an opportunity for women to form new bonds and friendships and find a place they can call home on campus.

**Additional reporting by Stephanie Mendoza and Becca Lundberg