Ashland University’s Greek Life wrapped up their four-day-long fall formal recruitment this past weekend, inducting roughly 13 to 16 new members into each chapter.

Leading up to formal recruitment, Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) and Panhellenic Council hold several events that allow the new members to meet active members, get to know what each chapter values and their philanthropy, and understand how FSL works as a whole.

Sarah Rayman, a senior Alpha Phi member explained the Formal recruitment process that women go through to be in FSL. This process is their chance to get to know women from each chapter, see if a chapters’ values align with theirs and determine what chapter they feel they belong to.

During this time, the chapter is also looking at the pledge members to see who would be a good fit in their chapter.

“Each night (of recruitment) the women going through will visit the chapters, have in-depth conversations about themselves and the sororities and learn about what it means to be a sorority woman,” Rayman said. “The first night is Values Night, the second is Philanthropy Night, the third is Preference Round and the fourth day is Bid Day.”

During the first night of recruitment the incoming women will attend each sorority’s party and from there they will select only three chapters they would like to visit the next day. The second day, they will select two chapters. On the third day, they will make their final decision on what chapter they would like to be a part of.

“Recruitment for Ashland is a ‘mutual selection process’, so while girls are choosing chapters they want, chapters are also choosing the girls they would like to ask back the next night. Some girls get to go to the chapters they picked, while some may only go to one or two chapters the second day,” Rayman said. “Recruitment relies heavily on statistics, numbers and how girls pair with chapters. It can be a very complicated process, but the purpose is to make sure each woman is in the chapter she belongs to, and the chapters have the women they think will be the best fit for them.”

Although Rayman admits recruitment can be stressful for active members, seeing as how it is their busiest times of the year, she says it is still a great time for the chapter to bond and get excited about new incoming members.

“Fraternity and Sorority Life means being a part of something much bigger than yourself,” Rayman said. “It sounds so cliche to say, but you truly are part of a family and a group that requires many different kinds of people from different backgrounds to work together. I have personally experienced so much growth being in my chapter, Alpha Phi. I have become a leader and role model to others, I have learned to be a better friend and a better human, and I have realized the potential for success. Without my sisters and the rest of the Greek community, I would not be the person I am today.”

For more information on Greek Life, spring formal recruitment, or upcoming FSL events, visit Fraternity and Sorority Life under the student affairs tab on the Ashland University website.