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PITTSBURG —
Friday morning was an exciting day for the more than 200 sorority members who will be attending Pittsburg State University this fall. It was Bid Day at PSU, and the current sorority members and “Potential New Members” found out who their new sisters would be during a 10 a.m. ceremony on the Oval.
The young women looking to get into a house spent this week, a.k.a. Rush Week, touring each of the three houses —Alpha Gamma Delta, Sigma Sigma Sigma and Alpha Sigma Alpha — learning about house values and which charity they support, and deciding which sorority they thought they would fit into best. Conversely, the sororities interviewed candidates and have the candidates participate in bonding activities. Once they’ve decided, the results are tabulated by a computer, which then decides who will go where.
“This day is exciting for them,” said Meagan Smedjir, Greek advisor and program co-ordinator for campus activities. “The chapters have welcoming activities today, and tomorrow they’ll come to the fraternal leadership summit. Then they’ll attend ‘pledge class’ for the next few weeks and learn about the history and values of their organization.”
Wichita native and pharmacy major Shayla Sisk said she was excited to become a part of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority.
“It’s definitely an honor, and it’s a really good sorority,” Sisk said. “I love their philanthropy, too. It’s the Special Olympics.”
Sisk said she’s looking forward to experiencing the sisterhood that comes with being a sorority member, making bonds with her sisters and meeting new people.
“I’m really looking forward to the involvement with the community,” she said.
New Alpha Gamma Delta sister Lindsay Bruner, a graphic design major who came to PSU from Overland Park, was excited because a lot of her friends got into her sorority. She said she’s looking forward to meeting everyone in the house and making new friends.
“It’s good to be a part of something at Pitt State,” Bruner said.
Bruner said rush week was busy and intense.
“We had a lot of questions and we had to be ready to talk a lot and keep a smiling face,” Bruner said, adding that she can’t wait to jump into Alpha Gamma Delta life. “It wasn’t awkward here at all, and I think that’s what it was like for most of the girls.”
The experience is a little different for the Rho Gammas, the sorority sisters who act as recruitment counselors for the PNMs. The “Rho Gams” must disaffiliate themselves from their sororities at the end of the school year in order to maintain the appearance of neutrality. If they have Greek letters on their cars they have to remove them, and they can’t wear any clothing that bears their house letters.
“Bid day really makes you appreciate your chapter because you get to say to everyone ‘Yeah! I’m in this chapter,’” said Rho Gam and Alpha Sigma Alpha member Kerra Tener, a technology management senior from Kansas City, Mo. “You see a lot of tears, but they’re tears of joy. It’s overwhelming. We’ve been away so long and haven’t been able to show our letters or show what house we’re from. It’s freedom.”
Friday morning was an exciting day for the more than 200 sorority members who will be attending Pittsburg State University this fall. It was Bid Day at PSU, and the current sorority members and “Potential New Members” found out who their new sisters would be during a 10 a.m. ceremony on the Oval.
The young women looking to get into a house spent this week, a.k.a. Rush Week, touring each of the three houses —Alpha Gamma Delta, Sigma Sigma Sigma and Alpha Sigma Alpha — learning about house values and which charity they support, and deciding which sorority they thought they would fit into best. Conversely, the sororities interviewed candidates and have the candidates participate in bonding activities. Once they’ve decided, the results are tabulated by a computer, which then decides who will go where.
“This day is exciting for them,” said Meagan Smedjir, Greek advisor and program co-ordinator for campus activities. “The chapters have welcoming activities today, and tomorrow they’ll come to the fraternal leadership summit. Then they’ll attend ‘pledge class’ for the next few weeks and learn about the history and values of their organization.”
Wichita native and pharmacy major Shayla Sisk said she was excited to become a part of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority.
“It’s definitely an honor, and it’s a really good sorority,” Sisk said. “I love their philanthropy, too. It’s the Special Olympics.”
Sisk said she’s looking forward to experiencing the sisterhood that comes with being a sorority member, making bonds with her sisters and meeting new people.
“I’m really looking forward to the involvement with the community,” she said.
New Alpha Gamma Delta sister Lindsay Bruner, a graphic design major who came to PSU from Overland Park, was excited because a lot of her friends got into her sorority. She said she’s looking forward to meeting everyone in the house and making new friends.
“It’s good to be a part of something at Pitt State,” Bruner said.
Bruner said rush week was busy and intense.
“We had a lot of questions and we had to be ready to talk a lot and keep a smiling face,” Bruner said, adding that she can’t wait to jump into Alpha Gamma Delta life. “It wasn’t awkward here at all, and I think that’s what it was like for most of the girls.”
The experience is a little different for the Rho Gammas, the sorority sisters who act as recruitment counselors for the PNMs. The “Rho Gams” must disaffiliate themselves from their sororities at the end of the school year in order to maintain the appearance of neutrality. If they have Greek letters on their cars they have to remove them, and they can’t wear any clothing that bears their house letters.
“Bid day really makes you appreciate your chapter because you get to say to everyone ‘Yeah! I’m in this chapter,’” said Rho Gam and Alpha Sigma Alpha member Kerra Tener, a technology management senior from Kansas City, Mo. “You see a lot of tears, but they’re tears of joy. It’s overwhelming. We’ve been away so long and haven’t been able to show our letters or show what house we’re from. It’s freedom.”
