Higher rush numbers put a spring in sororities’ steps

Sororities’ spring recruitment kicked off Monday ­— with more than triple the amount of women signing up to rush than in 2012.

“Last year we had about 30 girls register, and about 50 girls come through the kickoff event,” Panhellenic Council President Rachel Brown said.

“This year our registration has jumped by a ton.”

But not everyone who registered for spring recruitment attended the first event.

Durr said approximately 56 women came to the kickoff.

Spring recruitment is also typically more relaxed than” fall recruitment”:http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2012/08/a-new-recruitment-stronger-rules.

“It is more laid back and less hectic,” said Caitlin Durr, Panhellenic Council vice president for recruitment.

“You kind of get a smaller version of fall recruitment, which is nice.”

Spring recruitment gives women the opportunity to rush second semester, which supporters say comes with a lot of personal benefits.

With fewer people signing up than in the fall, the spring recruits are able to get to know the sororities on a more personal level.

Spring recruitment will last the whole semester, which gives sororities the freedom to set their own schedules, Durr said.

“It gives people who are unsure if they are able to handle it a semester to get settled, think about things, and meet some people first,” Durr said.

More than 700 signed up for fall recruitment, and 100 signed up for spring recruitment this school year, Durr said.

All sororities on campus are represented at the kickoff event for spring recruitment, but there is no guarantee they will all hand out bids.

This is the second year spring recruitment is mandatory for all sororities to attend, even those who have already reached capacity.

Before the mandate, only sororities that were actively seeking new members would attend kickoff.

“Spring rush still occurred last year, it just wasn’t as well organized,” Durr said. “It is now more controlled by the Panhellenic Council.

“After the mandate, we started having a formal kickoff and requiring all chapters to come and bring four members from their organization. They come to the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life and everyone has their own office.”

But the mandate still has not changed the relaxed atmosphere of spring recruitment.

The sororities are still free from certain restrictions that are in place during fall recruitment, Durr said.

“All of the chapters have access to all of the potential new members and they plan events at their own desire,” Durr said.

Sophomore Claire Mayes participated in fall recruitment for Kappa Delta, but she said there are benefits of waiting until the spring.

“You can really get to know the sororities,” Mayes said.

“It is kind of like rushing as a sophomore, because you get to know the people first.”

Contact the desk editor at university@dailytarheel.com