Below
are some of the most frequently asked questions about sorority recruitment.
If you have other questions, please feel free to contact Ashley Spahn, Recruitment Coordinator; Caitlyn Galjour, Assistant Recruitment Coordinator; or Liz
Schafer, Director of Greek Life.
We'll post your question here if it's something we think all the Potential
New Members might want to know about.
What
is the value of being in a sorority?
UNO has over 12,000 students, and coming into an institution of that size
can be very intimidating. By joining a sorority, you have a tight-knit group
of friends who can help you to become acclimated easily. Sororities expect
all members to maintain an above-average GPA. Along with helping members with
academics, the Greek community is made up of the most active individuals on
campus and can help you "network" on campus. In addition to giving
you networking skills, sorority life will improve your time management skills
and your leadership skills, both of which are very important in the "real
world."
How
much does it cost to be in a sorority at UNO?
Each sorority charges dues every semester in order to pay for their activities
and programs. Dues for UNO sororities average about $50 per month. However,
your first semester of sorority membership will be more expensive. In addition
to paying dues, you will also pay a new member fee, initiation fee, and badge
fee; these total approximately $200 - $250. Most sororities allow members
to establish a payment plan so they do not have to pay everything at once,
and some also offer financial assistance. Optional items like t-shirts and
party favors cost $25 - $50 per semester.
Do
I have to maintain a certain GPA to be in a sorority?
Yes. While the university only requires students to have a 2.0 to be active
in a student organization, each sorority has higher requirements. In order
to join and remain a member you must obtain the following GPA: Alpha Xi Delta
- 2.75, Delta Zeta - 2.6, Sigma Kappa - 2.75, Zeta Tau Alpha - 2.5. The sororities
want you to excel academically, so all maintain scholarship programs that
include study groups and tutoring.
Do
sororities at UNO haze their new members?
Absolutely not. Hazing is illegal, and it is a violation of university policy
and each national sorority's policy. None of UNO's sororities participate
in or condone any type of hazing because the safety of their members is of
utmost importance. The Director of Greek Life works closely with the Associate
Dean for Judicial and Student Assistance to deal with any suspected incidents
of hazing.
What
will be required of me as a new member?
Each chapter has a new member program, which lasts from 6-8 weeks. During
this time you will learn about the sorority's history and values and get to
know the women in the chapter and your new member class much better. You will
attend chapter meetings and/or new member meetings, study sessions and study
breaks, community service activities, and social events. Be sure to ask specifics
about each group's new member program during Recruitment.
What
is the time commitment involved with joining a sorority?
Generally, you can expect to devote 10-15 hours a week to a sorority as
a new member. All the sororities at UNO meet on Sunday evenings (usually from
about 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.), and they hold other events throughout the week
-- both during the day and in the evening. The longer you are in a chapter,
the more likely you are to become more involved on a committee or as an officer.
The time commitment will increase as your level of participation and responsibility
increases. Remember, the more you put into the sorority, the more you will
get out of it.
Can
I still work and be in a sorority?
Absolutely! Most of the women in UNO's sorority work at least part-time.
But it is important to realize that your sisters will expect you to make your
sorority obligations a priority. Every sorority has mandatory events, and
you will be given advance notice of them so you can schedule time off from
work.
Do
the sororities hang out with guys from one particular fraternity?
No. None of the sororities has a "brother" fraternity. Instead,
the sororities plan functions and activities with all of the fraternities.
Can
I still be friends with my high school friends if they join another sorority?
Yes! Although you will spend a lot of time with the women in the sorority
you join, you will still have time for friends in other sororities and, of
course, non-Greek friends too. The women in UNO's sororities are all part
of the Panhellenic Association, which encourages everyone to maintain strong
friendships with people in other sororities. Panhellenic sponsors programs
and social activities for all sorority women.
Is
Recruitment only for freshman women?
Not at all! Sorority life has many wonderful opportunities to offer to all
college women. There is no reason for you to miss out on the experience because
you are not a freshman. All college women are encouraged to participate in
Recruitment regardless of their year in college. Panhellenic offers everyone
the opportunity to experience the many benefits of sorority life.
Who
do I talk to if I have a question during Recruitment about which sorority
to join, whether I'll be able to afford it, whether sororities are right for
me, etc.?
The officers of the Panhellenic Council, which represents our 4 sororities,
will serve as Sigma Rho Chis (Sorority Recruitment Counselors) during Recruitment
Week. Although they are active members of their sororities, the Sigma Rho
Chis will disaffiliate from their chapters during the recruitment events in
order to help and advise Potential New Members in an objective manner. They
don't want your feelings about them as individuals to influence your decisions
about a particular sorority. The Sigma Rho Chis are trustworthy listeners
who can answer your questions in an unbiased way. Everything you talk with
them about will remain confidential.
What
should I wear to each round of Recruitment?
Click here to see pictures of the Sigma Rho Chis modeling outfits that are appropriate for each round of Recruitment.
What
do I do if I can't come to one of the Recruitment events?
We have tried to schedule Recruitment events so that most students will
be finished with classes for the day and can attend. However, we understand that you may still have
to miss an event or come late. If that is the case, please let your
Sorority Recruitment Counselor know as soon as possible. In order to receive an invitation to Saturday's Preference Events and have the chance to receive a bid, you MUST attend at least two events for each sorority. One of those two must be during either the Philanthropy Round or the Sorority Values Round.
Does
going through Recruitment guarantee me a bid?
Although the Panhellenic Association would love to be able to guarantee every
prospective member a place in a chapter, there is no guarantee. Recruitment
is based on mutual selection. The chapters will vote on whom they would like
to extend invitations to while you are deciding which chapters you would like
to eliminate. Movies and television have made recruitment seem like a vicious
process, but as long as you follow your heart, you should find the sorority
for you. In the past five years, fewer than 1% of women who attended the Preference
round did not receive a bid.
Does
being a legacy guarantee me a bid?
No. Contrary to popular myths, being a legacy -- meaning that your mother,
sister, or grandmother is a member of a certain sorority -- does not guarantee
that a PNM will be offered membership in her family member's organization.
Most organizations will extend special courtesy to legacies, but they are
not obligated to invite them into membership.
What
is a Recommendation (Rec)?
If you have a sorority member in your family, this is probably a familiar
term to you. But if you're like the majority of Potential New Members, the
concept of a "recommendation" is probably new to you. A recommendation
is a personal reference provided by an alumna of a sorority to her organization's
chapter at UNO. In the recommendation, she will write about your talents and
skills that would contribute to the sorority. The purpose of a rec is to give
a sorority chapter the chance to learn more about you before Recruitment.
It is a personal introduction in addition to their copy of your Recruitment
registration form.
Is
a rec necessary?
No. It is just a way sorority members can be introduced to you before Recruitment
begins. Recs are optional. Don't worry about securing recs; you will not
be penalized if you do not have them. It is the sorority's responsibility
to obtain a recommendation on you if they need it.
If
someone I know wants to send a rec for me, where can she send it?
Recommendations may be sent to the following address:
Sorority Name
Attn: Recommendations Chair
c/o Office of Greek Life
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA 70148
Will
having a rec ensure that I will get a bid?
No. A recommendation does not guarantee a bid.
I'm
not sure I can go through Recruitment in September. What are the dates when
it is going to be in the spring?
The Panhellenic Council does not sponsor or organize a spring recruitment.
Some chapters continue to recruit and extend bids to women throughout the
school year. Events are organized and scheduled at each chapter's convenience.
If you want the opportunity to interact with all of our sororities before
making your sorority choice, and if you want the best chance of being able
to join a sorority, you should participate in Recruitment this fall.
Are
the sororities that participate in Panhellenic Recruitment the only ones at
UNO?
No. Panhellenic Recruitment is only one way to become a member of the Greek
community at UNO. The university also has 4 historically black sororities
affiliated with the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). You can learn more
about NPHC and its member sororities by clicking here.
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