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This past weekend from Jan. 29 - 31 marked the annual tradition where Greek organizations gave out bids to their prospective new Greek members to start the pledging process of their new member classes.
Seton Hall’s Greek organizations have shown growth in recruitment within the student body this semester in comparison to last year, according to Rebecca Bell, assistant director of Student Leadership.
About 460 undergraduates filled out the potential new member eligibility form this year or registered under their desired council.
Bell said that she did not have an exact number from last years’ recruitment but definitely agreed that it was “a little bit less” than this year.
Each year in the fall, students receive an annual email informing them of different organizations they can potentially join. Students are prompted to choose between the four different councils for Greek organizations which include the Panhellenic Council (CPC) for social sororities, the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), the Interfraternity Council (IFC) for social fraternities, and several non-council organizations.
Bell addressed her excitement toward this year’s increase with student interest in Greek Life.
“I will like to continue to see the commitment of interest from our undergrads,” Bell said. “I just like to see students who are joining for all of the right reasons.”
These reasons include values, giving back to the community through service, focusing on academics and becoming a better version of themselves.
Recruitment has picked up with the additions of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority in fall 2014 and other Greek organizations who recently landed a spot on Seton Hall campus.
Pi Kappa Phi, an IFC fraternity installed in fall 2015, have seen some student interest in joining their organization at events, such as Meet the Greeks in early January.
“We have been really trying to get our name out there, especially at several events,” Cody Laska, the president of Pi Kappa Phi said.
However, not all organizations have experienced an increase in student interest in Greek life.
Some Multicultural Greek Councils have experienced a drop in overall numbers of students who are interested in pledging but have seen an increase since last semester.
“Interest has not gone up for most of our multicultural Greek organizations,” Joli Doñé, president of Mu Sigma Upsilon sorority said about the decline of students interest. “In the past, there has been more interest in going Greek than there is now.”
Doñé said students who are interested in the MGC should come out to events and get to know the organizations.
“Greek Life gives you opportunities you wouldn’t get anywhere else,” Doñé said. “It gives you a network of people who have the same mindset as you and who can essentially help you in the future.”
Sedria Thomas can be reached at sedria.thomas@student.shu.edu
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