Potential sorority sisters 'Jump' to their new houses
Many sorority sisters found themselves jumping for joy as each group welcomed potential new members with open arms Friday afternoon.
More than 260 girls participated in "Jump," a sorority recruitment event, near parking lot 8, where potential new sorority sisters announced what group they will be pledging for the upcoming semester. Sorority recruitment this semester had some of the biggest numbers in years, giving each sorority 23 or 24 potential new members.
Woodhaven junior Jessica Torok said she decided to go Greek because many of her close friends are involved in sororities. Torok discovered Phi Sigma Sigma would be her sorority after a long week of meeting sisters in all 11 sororities for recruitment.
"(Recruitment) is kind of intimidating a little bit, because there are so many girls and a lot of them are so extroverted," Torok said. "I'm a junior, so seeing (Greek life) for so long and finally being a part of it is really cool."
Sororities also welcomed back the Gamma Chi sorority members who help guide the potential new members through recruitment to their respective groups. For over four weeks, the Gamma Chis have hidden their sorority from potential new members and avoided contact with their sisters to create unbiased decisions for those looking to join a sorority.
Kalamazoo senior Stephanie Glidden was in charge of the Gamma Chis this year, ensuring potential new members stayed in the recruitment process. Glidden said being away from some of her closest friends in her sorority for so long was lonely, but the Gamma Chi experience was great.
"At first, it's really exciting, because it's such a new experience," Glidden said. "Then, you start missing your friends and what we're used to in our houses, and you have no idea what's going on in your sorority."
Glidden said she was excited to see such a large number of girls participate at "Jump" and to see Greek life continue to grow.
"This was one of the largest recruitments we've had in about five years," Glidden said. "I was just hoping we trained the Gamma Chis well enough to keep girls in the recruitment process and jumping houses."
Clinton Township senior Danielle Ternullo said she was also excited to see such high numbers for sorority recruitment this semester. Ternullo, a former Gamma Chi, was happy to be able to welcome the new Sigma Sigma Sigma recruits to her chapter with her sisters.
"It's totally different being a Gamma Chi than it is being back with your chapter," Ternullo said. "It was lonely in the sense that I was away from my best friends but you have the Gamma Chi's"
