Penn State sorority hopefuls filled the Heritage Hall on Tuesday night, waiting to receive their final bids and join their new members during the annual Bid Day.
Bid Day, the last formal day of sorority recruitment, finalized the entire rushing process, and the Penn State Panhellenic Council officers could not be more pleased with the recruitment process this 2012 year.
“I think recruitment went smoothly as a whole,” Vice President for Membership Development Olivia Wilson said. “It also went a lot quicker than previous years, considering we had eight consecutive days this year that we didn’t have last year.”
President of the PHC Julianne Robbins said that she also could not be happier with the results of this year’s recruitment process.
“I think everything turned out great,” Robbins (senior-biology) said. “We’ve definitely been improving the processes, for not only the Panhellenic Council, but for also all of the new girls coming through.”
The social media also played a large role in the successfulness of the Panhellenic Council’s recruitment strategies.
“We advertised a lot through Facebook and other social media,” Vice President for Membership Lauren Green (senior-science) said. “Our mission was to help get the message out there for women to go Greek, as well as unite the community.”
Before the potential members entered the doors of Heritage Hall, Robbins shared her excitement for the event, and for the new members of the Greek community.
“I can not wait for them to come in. They get so excited, and it makes me look back to where I started,” Robbins said. “These girls all have the potential to be great in not just Greek Life, but also in the Penn State community.”
However, not all girls will be invited to join the sorority of their exact first choice, and Wilson said that either way, the girls will end up pleased where they are.
“It’s more of a shock at first, when girls find out if they didn’t get in their preference,” Wilson (senior-communication sciences and disorders) said. “Once they see all of the celebrations, and all of their sisters waiting for them, the shock wears off and they will begin to picture themselves in that chapter.”
At 8 p.m., the doors of the Heritage Hall were opened, and hundreds of girls were seated to await their fate, hidden inside envelopes being passed around the room.
“It’s been a long-hard week, but I know it will be rewarding,” Aidan Rinehart (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said. “I’m happy with my first choice and my second choice, too, so I know I’ll end up wherever I belong.”
And with the sound of screams filling the room, the event continued to the HUB-Robeson lawn, where all of the different sororities were lined outside with indicating signs and chants, welcoming the members to their new home.
“I’m so excited and overwhelmed,” Mary Pendergast (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said. “I was going to quit earlier, but now it’s all worth it. I’m right where I’m supposed to be, and I couldn’t be happier.”
To email reporter: klg5434@psu.edu
