Taylor Hutton
Staff Writer
Cameron’s Greek organizations are in the middle of their annual rush festivities – some have completed and some are just getting started.
Leslie Cothren is the Greek life adviser at Cameron, and she actively works to support the Greek organizations on campus. Right now, each organization holds their own rush events independently, and they have been taking place throughout the semester.
“Currently we don’t have a formalized recruitment process for either the men or the women,” Cothren said. “We are looking at adding that in either the fall or the spring.”
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority will hold their rush on Sept. 21. feoluwa Egbeyemi, a senior Biology major, and the president of Alpha Kappa Alpha is optimistic for the new members they are planning to take in.
“Our goal for our new members is making them understand what Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is about,” Egbeyemi said, “and motivating them to become successful women in the future.”
The fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, does not set their own rush dates: the Alpha Phi Alpha national office does. Senior Information Technology major, and president of Alpha Phi Alpha, Dare Ayansola said their rush process is a little different from others on campus.
“IMDP, or the Intake Membership Development process, is where interested candidates that have a minimum GPA of 2.5 learn about Alpha Phi Alpha,” Ayansola said. “We have a smoker where we interview candidates and select to proceed to the intake process.”
Women’s fraternity Alpha Phi recently held their rush events from Sept. 10 to Sept. 15. The chapter handed out 7 bids. Senior Criminal Justice major, and Alpha Phi’s Vice President of Membership Recruitment, Yolanda Matheny, was pleased with how their rush went.
“We got to know all the girls on a personal level, and we got to see how their personality would fit with our chapter,” Matheny said. “Most of these girls are looking more than just an organization they can participate in, they are looking for a home in Alpha Phi.”
Alpha Sigma Phi is a colonized chapter on campus and they are working to get their charter, which they are applying for in November.
They hold their rush over two or three weeks so their rush extends throughout the semester – commonly referred to as an open cycle rush. Senior Education major and president of Alpha Sigma Phi, TC Ototivo tries to make their rush events successful.
“We reinforce the idea that attendance by our members helps build strong character towards the guys we are hoping to recruit,” Ototivo said. “I work to make sure all of my members are on the same page as far as how to recruit members.”
The newest sorority on campus, Omega Zeta Theta, held their first rush from Sept. 2 to Sept. 6.
The sorority had a goal of a minimum of 7 members, and ended up handing out 19 bids, which were all accepted. Senior Psychology major and president, Lauren Mounts is proud of how well her chapter did.
“Rush week was extremely successful for us,” Mounts said. “All the girls who came had a lot of fun throughout the week and I feel like our organization did a very good job of getting our name out to the campus community.”
Sigma Tau Gamma held their rush events from Aug. 25 to Aug. 29. They handed out 10 bids, and all the bids were accepted. Senior Communication major and Executive Vice President for Sigma Tau Gamma, Skylar Williams, views rush as one of the more important functions of Greek organizations.
“Rush is a vital to the success of Greek organizations,” Williams said. “With more members our organizations can better serve the campus and the community.”
The sorority Sigma Alpha Omega is not holding rush events this semester, but they look forward to recruit members in the spring semester.
For most of the Greek organizations on campus, it is never too late to join. If students are interested in joining any of these organizations contact Leslie Cothren in the Student Activities office.