Greek life is more than just constant partying and celebrating; it’s an opportunity to help the community as well as create life-long friendships.
For example, Phi Sigma Sigma, a sorority currently in the Iota Omicron Chapter, has 66 members. The women value philanthropy and service, which will likely be a focus for them in the upcoming months.
“I’m surrounded by intelligent and driven women who are always pushing the chapter to be the best version of itself,” Annie Denbrock, current archon, or president, of the sorority, said.
At this point in the semester, formal recruitment has come and gone. However, informal recruitment will be in the spring, after winter break.
“The Panhellenic Association here on campus is in charge of recruitment and putting it on, and they are the best people to go to for questions,” Denbrock said.
However, students interested can also go directly to the organizations themselves if they have any questions.
“The president and recruitment chair of organizations are also great resources to go to if you have questions! We are always willing to answer any questions someone may have [about recruitment],” Denbrock said. “All we want to do is shower [new members] with love and acceptance.”
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a national sorority with members at Capital, is a city-wide organization. With only nine total members in this particular chapter, Pi Gamma, four attend Capital. They have other women from Otterbein, Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, and Ohio Dominican.
“We don’t do a typical ‘recruitment,’ and we don’t take new members every semester, or even every year,” Brianna Charles, the sorority’s vice president, said. “Interested students can come out to our events, and ask current members about any questions they may have.”
According to their website, Alpha Kappa Alpha’s mission is “to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life, and to be of ‘Service to All Mankind.’”
Phi Beta, a professional arts co-ed fraternity, has 36 active members at the moment.
Madison Smith, the fraternity president, said, “we have two open public recruitment parties … after the second recruitment party, our members vote to send out invitations to our third recruitment party … there’s a little bit of ritual that happens … then we have another voting session where we decide the bids.”
Fall recruitment has already passed, but those interested should stay on the lookout for news about spring recruitment and everything that it will entail.
“You don’t have to be a major in the arts to join,” Smith said. “We have education majors, nursing majors … you [just] have to have an appreciation for art.”
But art doesn’t necessarily mean studio art. Phi Beta reaches writers, actors, filmmakers, and so forth.
Students interested either in joining or more information can email President Madison Smith at msmith14@capital.edu or Recruitment Chair Danny Kuder at dkuder@capital.edu.
Another sorority on campus is Alpha Sigma Alpha. With 17 new recruits after formal recruitment last month, the national organization’s Tau Theta chapter at Capital is growing in both numbers and purpose.
“The purpose of Alpha Sigma Alpha is to foster close friendships between women and to develop women of poise and purpose. This drives all that we do,” Taylor Collett, the sorority’s president, said.
The women of Alpha Sigma Alpha focus on eight core values: generosity, enjoyment, integrity, growth, balance, relationships, learning, and responsibility. “We always aim to stress these values to our new members and to the women during recruitment,” Collett said.
Upcoming service events include the state Special Olympics bowling tournament, and Girls on the Run, which promotes body positivity, fitness, and friendship.
“Alpha Sigma Alpha thrives on the relationship and development of its members,” Collett said. “I have never met a more amazing group of girls who not only seeks to improve themselves, but seek to push their sisters to their fullest potential simultaneously.”
