What Just Happened on Campus This Weekend? The Inside Scoop on Sorority Recruitment at BU
By Keira Shannon
Boston University’s campus was full of energy this past weekend as hundreds of students participated in sorority recruitment, a four-day process that offers Potential New Members (PNMs) the opportunity to join one of BU’s 10 sororities. With a schedule packed with conversations, decisions, and emotional moments, recruitment is a significant event for both PNMs and active members. Here’s a closer look at the process from start to finish.
Recruitment began Friday afternoon with Zoom Day, where PNMs attended 15-minute Zoom parties with each of the 10 sororities from 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. While brief, these conversations helped PNMs form their first impressions as they prepared for in-person rounds.
Saturday’s Philanthropy Round took place across campus at the Photonics Center, The Castle, BU Hillel House, Questrom School of Business, and the George Sherman Union (GSU). PNMs could visit up to eight sororities, spending 30 minutes at each to learn about their philanthropic causes. Rooms were decorated to reflect each chapter’s mission, and conversations gave PNMs a deeper understanding of their potential future homes. By the end of the day, PNMs ranked their top five sororities.
Sunday’s Sisterhood Day offered a closer look at the bonds within each sorority. PNMs attended up to five 45-minute parties, where sororities highlighted traditions like big/little pairings, sisterhood retreats, and shared experiences. Each chapter switched up its room theme, and members dressed in semi-formal attire, creating an atmosphere that was both welcoming and emotional. By night’s end, PNMs faced the challenge of selecting their top two sororities for the final round.
Monday’s Preference Round was the most formal and sentimental part of the process. PNMs wore dresses, while sorority members wore long gowns, adding to the day’s significance. Each PNM attended up to two one-hour parties featuring ceremonies, senior speeches, and heartfelt conversations with members they’d connected with throughout the weekend. Afterward, PNMs ranked their final two choices and signed the MARAMA agreement, committing to accept a bid from either house.
Finally, Tuesday’s Bid Night brought the moment everyone had been waiting for. At 7 p.m., PNMs gathered in the GSU, their envelopes in hand as anticipation filled the room. Seniors from each sorority, dressed in themed outfits like F1 racing, Candyland, and all-American red, white, and blue, held up their Greek letters as they waited to welcome their new sisters. After a countdown, the room erupted as PNMs tore open their envelopes and discovered their bids. Cheers, tears, and hugs quickly followed as the newest members rushed to their sorority’s section of the GSU, where Pi Chis—recruitment guides who had temporarily disaffiliated from their sororities—were finally able to rejoin their chapters.
The celebration didn’t stop there. New members then ran across campus to join the rest of their sorority for themed Bid Day parties filled with music, dancing, and photo ops. It was a night of excitement and new beginnings—one that marked the start of friendships and experiences that will last long after the weekend's whirlwind comes to an end.
댓글