So, if you didn't already know, like if you don't have Facebook, I am now a pledge of Delta Zeta Sorority, Kappa Alpha Chapter. Basically, I have 98 new sisters. :) Oh, and our colors are rose and green, so expect a lot more pink and green from me, now. :)
Starting last Wednesday, I went through sorority recruitment for Delta Zeta, Phi Mu, and Sigma Sigma Sigma sororities. Each night was a different topic, and as the week went on each night got fancier and fancier. The week went like this:
Wednesday night - Greek 101. Basically, the 12 recruitment counselors (Four of each of the three sororities. The recruitment counselors had to be disaffiliated from their sororities starting June 1st until Bid Day. They weren't allowed to tell us which sorority they belonged to.) walked us through what it meant to be Greek, and what to expect over the next few nights.
Thursday night - Philanthropy Night. That night all of the girls (PNMs, Potential New Members) were divided into 5 groups. Each group went to all three sororities' parties. In each sorority's party the PNMs learned about the philanthropic organizations that each sorority worked with. It was also a time for the PNMs and active sorority members to get to know each other, and feel out who would be a good fit for each sorority. That night each PNM filled out a preference card and ranked the 3 sororities in the order they liked them.
Friday night - Slideshow Night. That night each PNM could have been invited to 1, 2, or all 3 sororities' parties. In the parties that night, the sororities showed slideshows of all of the events they held and attended the previous year. After the slideshow, the PNMs and actives had more time to talk and ask questions and try and get a feel for each other, again trying to find out who would be a good fit for each sorority. (I went to all 3 sororities' parties, and I am told that that is unusual. But hey, it's me, so who would expect anything less?? lol)
Saturday Afternoon - Preference Night. (I know, it was in the afternoon, but it's called Pref Night, and who am I to argue? lol) On Pref Night, a PNM could go to a max of 2 parties. Some only went to one. I know of some girls who weren't invited back to any, and it's sad, but that's just the way it works. Anyway, Pref Night was the most serious. I can't speak for all of the sororities, and I'll explain why in a minute, but I am told that the Pref Night parties are similar. Pref Night is the night (afternoon...) when everything finally comes to a decision. The actives talk to the PNMs one last time before bids go out. Pref Night is where the actives tell/show what their sisterhood means to them, and what their sisterhood is all about. Now, I only went to one Pref party, Delta Zeta, and I am told that that is also unusual, and again it's fitting, is it not? My current roommate, Amanda, requested to lead me through DZ's Pref party, and let me just say, it was very emotional. Delta Zeta's way of displaying their sisterhood felt so real and genuine. There literally wasn't a dry eye in the room. By the end, I knew I wanted Delta Zeta.
Strict Silence - Saturday night through Sunday morning. This was a period of time where actives and PNMs could not have any form of contact with each other. I don't know the specific reasons why, but there were consequences for contact and that was reason enough for everyone. I guess I can also put in here that if you were not going to receive a bid from a sorority, you were going to get a call sometime after 7 pm Saturday night saying that you didn't have to come Sunday morning.
Sunday Morning/Afternoon - Bid Day. First, a bid is an invitation to a PNM from a sorority. Each PNM could only receive 1 bid, and that bid had to come from a sorority whose party you attended on Saturday. Sunday morning all of the PNMs waited patiently to find out which sorority had given them a bid. (If the PNM was like me and only went to one party on Saturday, then Sunday morning, they already knew which sorority had given them a bid.) Each PNM that made it through to Sunday morning received an envelope which contained a bid. Each PNM went into a room, opened their bid, and either accepted or declined. (I know of at least one girl who declined. :/ ) If you accepted, like I did, we went to meet the other PNMs who were now our sisters. We each got a Bid Day shirt with our sorority letters on it. ΔΖ :) After all of the PNMs were sorted into their respective sororities, the recruitment counselors finally got to reveal which sorority they were in, and rejoin their sisters. Then the PNMs headed to meet their active sisters. Each PNM had a Bid Day buddy, and Amanda was mine. :) Then we all headed out to our sorority's pool party! :) (I got sunburt, of course. lol) Had lots of fun at DZ's '90s themed pool party.
All of the DZs in front of a banner that says, "Delta Zeta is All That!" You know like the '90s show...yeah...lol
Monday Night - Pledging In. Tonight was Pledge Night. All of the new DZs pledged into Delta Zeta sorority. I cannot tell you what happened because it's a DZ secret. But, it was an amazing night. We all went out to Cane's after the Pledging In ceremony. Talk about loud. :)
So, anyway, if you have a Facebook, you probably noticed that I have added over 90 new friends since Wednesday, and they were mostly yesterday. Yeah, those are all my sisters. :)
And this last picture is my pledge class, all of the girls who went through recruitment with me and became Delta Zetas. :)
Well, I know this was a long post (and my first one with pictures!!), so I'm done for now. :)
<3 Amber Marie ΔΖ
