The Central Michigan University chapters of Beta Theta Pi and Sigma Kappa hosted a Senior Prom at the facility, 1945 Churchill Blvd., to entertain and socialize with residents of the nursing home.

Fraternity brothers, sorority sisters and residents dressed up for the event and mingled at tables set up throughout the main room. Attendees danced to classic and modern hits before residents elected two of their peers as king and queen of the night.

Maplewood residents Marie Krenski and Jack Anson were voted as king and queen and crowned by Homecoming Gold Ambassador and Clarkston senior Meredith Clark. After receiving the crown, Anson kissed his 99-year-old queen on the cheek.

“On behalf of the nursing home, I’d like to thank the sorority and the fraternity for putting this event together because this truly is community service,” Anson said.

Residents Doris Himebaugh and Lucile Moor said they were flattered by the fraternity brothers after they escorted them from their rooms and presented them roses.

“The boys were very nice,” Himebaugh said. “They brought us out to the table and seated us and acted very gentlemanly.”

Both Moor and Himebaugh said CMU students’ continued involvement with the nursing home is appreciated by the residents.

“We always enjoy the students’ company,” Moor said. “They’re always very polite with us and helpful if someone needs assistance.”

Riverview sophomore Dan Milligan, a current pledge of Beta Theta Pi, said he helped plan the event to give back to the Mount Pleasant community and interact with the senior citizens.

“It’s a great way to show that Greek Life is here for Mount Pleasant and CMU as a whole,” Milligan said.

Sigma Kappa member Kali Walther, a Howell senior, said the event was rewarding for members of the sorority to host.Walther said the sorority used to host a senior prom in years past and decided to bring the event back.

“We usually come here every Thursday night to play bingo with the residents, but we thought the prom would be a fun idea to bring back,” Walther said. “It’s always fun for everyone to get dressed up and socialize.”

Then, the Lapeer junior made a decision that changed all of that — she decided to go Greek.

Each fall the 11 sororities and 10 fraternities at CMU hold a week of formal recruitment where students hoping to go Greek decide which chapter they wish to pledge to. For Courser, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, it is a life-changing experience.

“I always have my sisters to fall back on. If I’m stressed out about something I always have someone to talk to — they’re always there for me,” Courser said. “I’m very glad I went Greek.”

Formal recruitment this year will be held Sept. 11‑17. While men and women may be rushing at the same time, the process is still quite different.

Sorority recruitment

Women going through sorority recruitment are placed into a group with a Gamma Chi, a member of Greek Life whose chapter remains anonymous until the last day of the week.

With the Gamma Chi group, ladies will start the week by visiting all 11 chapters and rate which chapters they would and wouldn’t like to visit again. At the same time, each sorority rates the girls based on who they would most like to see back.

“When you join a group, most people think that all of the girls are the same, but every girl is unique in her own way,” said Harper Woods senior Alex Cheolas, president of Phi Sigma Sigma. “I joined because it’s a great way to meet people and you get to experience things you never get to if you’re not Greek.”

Fraternity recruitment

The process for fraternity recruitment is less structured. During formal recruitment week, each fraternity will offer approved events open for any interested male student to attend.

While it is not required for men to look at every fraternity, Alpha Chi Rho president Fred Bartolomei recommends looking at more than one.

“I would recommend they see lots of houses,” the Sterling Heights senior said. “You might like one house, but you might like another house more.”

Following the week of formal recruitment, Bartolomei said most fraternities have a week of informal recruitment where men can continue to get to know the members and decide which house is right for them. At the end of the week, most chapters hand out their bids.

Bartolomei said the best way to find the times and dates of Greek events is through Facebook and flyers. Sign-up for sorority recruitment is available online.

Like many fraternities during rush week, Lambda Chi Alpha placed its sign on the front lawn of the Bovee University Center at Central Michigan University. It went missing today and fraternity members are searching for it or anyone who knows of its whereabouts.

“We have no idea who took our rush sign,” said Michael Houlihan, President of Lambda Chi Alpha. “It’s a big sign. I don’t know where it could have gone.”

The Office of Student Life also has no idea where the sign is, whether it was taken down by another Lambda Chi Alpha member, another registered student organization or has disappeared as a practical joke.

Student Life Assistant Director Tom Idema said the sign was approved for placement in front of the UC between Sept. 16 and Sept. 23. The sign was still on the lawn Monday, he said, but he does not know who removed it. Any registered organization can post signs on the lawn between the UC and Preston Street for one full week.

Idema said University Services will remove signs if groups do not take the signs down. University Services, he said, did not take down the sign though.

“At the moment, we really don’t think it was stolen, but rather that the fraternity doesn’t know where it is,” Idema said. “It’s one of those oddball, nobody knows type of a story. I am curious myself to find out what happened to it.”

Idema said if the sign is found to be stolen, Lambda Chi Alpha can chose to report it to CMU Police. He said if another RSO is found to have taken the sign, the fraternity can report the group to the Office of Student Life.

“That would all really be up to the members of Lambda Chi Alpha,” Idema said.

Houlihan said if anyone has any leads to please inform a Lambda Chi Alpha member. He said whoever has the sign can return it to their fraternity house in front of Deerfield Village on Deerfield Road.

“It’s just a rush sign, but it lets us get our name out there and get students to know who were are. This helps students get familiar with our letters,” Houlihan said. “We just want our sign back.”

SAE’s Poker and Wings Night from CMLifeVideo on Vimeo.

Fraternities will recruit today until Friday, said Interfraternity Council Recruitment Chairmen Pierre Banks.

“Recruitment has been going on since school started, but formal recruitment starts (today),” the Zeeland junior said.

Many fraternities are hosting events to allow potential recruits to get know the group.

Kalamazoo senior and Lambda Chi recruitment chairman Chad Murphy said the beginning of the week will involve some sports activities. The fraternity will host a screening of Monday Night Football, then a basement hockey game Tuesday.

Murphy said both events are at 7 p.m. at the Lambda Chi house, 3400 E. Deerfield Road, Apt. C.

Sports and movies

Phi Kappa Tau recruitment vice president Joey Dombrowski said the group has been looking for new members since MAINstage.

Dombrowski, a Macomb Township junior, said Phi Kappa Tau already started holding events with potential new members.

“We played softball with some new guys, frisbee and football. For formal recruitment, we will have Phi Tau flicks, which is where we are going to have a big projector movie, similar to drive-in style,” Dombrowski said.

He said the movie is from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday at the Phi Kappa Tau house, 906 S. Main St.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon recruitment chairman Steve Lambert said the fraternity is not holding a normal mixer.

“Wednesday, we will be having one-on-ones, which basically gives the potential new members a chance to get to know the active members on a deeper level,” the Grand Rapids junior said.

Other fraternities will have themed recruitment events, said Sigma Tau Gamma recruitment chairman Josh Lee.

“Wednesday at 7 p.m. in one of the U.C. rooms, we will have it decorated casino style. Whoever cashes in the most chips at the end will win a prize,” the Troy sophomore said.

Detroit freshman Justin Newberry said he is looking forward to joining a fraternity this year.

“Being in a fraternity helps you in the long run with connections,” Newberry said. “It looks really good on a resume. Anything that can help me with job placement would be great.”