As the spring Fraternity and Sorority Life recruitment period kicks off, a new model for recruitment periods will go into effect moving forward.
Luke Stergiou / Senior Photographer
Spring recruitment will now be the only formal recruitment period, whereas before, this period occurred in the fall as well. This semester’s recruitment period runs from Jan. 30 to Feb. 10.
Coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Student Leadership Brandon Mathieu works with the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils, which are the governing bodies for the fraternities and sororities on campus.
Mathieu said, “Historically, we have always done a fall and spring recruitment, but we are moving to a model where fall will be an informal recruitment period. So, anyone who wants to recruit a new member class in the fall will do so individually on their own as a chapter versus getting resources and support from the Interfraternity Council or the Panhellenic Council.”
Mathieu explained that spring will be the full blown formal recruitment period, where the governing bodies will support the chapters.
Luke Stergiou / Senior Photographer
He said, “That is pretty typical at many colleges and universities across the U.S..
This alignment is starting as of this spring and will continue going forward.
Mathieu said, “We have set it now, where this is our formal recruitment period this year and then moving forward there will be no more formal fall recruitment period.”
Mathieu explained that logistically, this model made more sense to kind of phase out the fall and make spring the primary recruitment period.
Mathieu said, “This is because that’s really when first-years can go through and that’s the most targeted recruitment class that our chapters go for.”
First-year students typically don’t have credits or a GPA yet until spring semester starts.
Luke Stergiou / Senior Photographer
Mathieu added, “We require all Keene State students to have at least 12 credits and a 2.5 GPA to join a sorority or fraternity.”
Mathieu also explained that the sororities in particular are hopefully looking to grow their community in the next couple of years and welcome a fourth or fifth sorority on campus.
Mathieu said, “In order for us to get to a level where that would happen, we need to start adjusting some of our practices to be a little bit more in line with national trends so that we can get to that place and have a successful expansion period if we wanted to welcome another group here.”
This new recruitment period alignment has some feeling optimistic.
Senior majoring in Safety and Occupational Health and Vice President of Recruitment for the Panhellenic Council Rachel Powers said, “I think it’s going to help because we’re trying to expand by adding a new sorority potentially in the coming years.
Powers continued, “So, with us not having the fall recruitment, we can even out our numbers because there’s a big range in one sorority over the other.”
Luke Stergiou / Senior Photographer
“We’re trying to even out to an even playing field.” Powers explained that as Vice President of Recruitment, she oversees and plans it out by booking all the rooms and making sure everyone knows all the rules they have to follow.
In terms of how Greek Life has benefited her, Powers said, “I’ve become more confident, I’ve gained leadership skills from having different positions and I know I have a support system here…It’s a home away from home.”
Junior majoring in Women and Gender Studies and Vice President of Recruitment for the Interfraternity Council (IFC) Jp Colasacco feels similarly in terms of that support system. Colasacco joined a fraternity when he was a first-year student.
He said, “I wanted to do something different in college.
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As a f[irst-year], I went to Meet the Greeks and I went to the involvement fairs and I just wanted to do something that was going to benefit me later on in life and with fraternities and sororities, you’re a part of those organizations for the rest of your life.”
He explained that one of the biggest aspects of it is the amount of networking, friendship and bonds you make.
Colasacco said, “It’s just all about that bond and the networking you’ll have for the rest of your life.”
When asked his thoughts on the new system of having just a formal recruitment period in the spring, Colasacco said, “I think that it’s going to lead for better numbers and more opportunities for people to come and join and meet the brothers and sisters for whatever organization you’re going to recruitment for.”
Luke Stergiou / Senior Photographer
He continued, “I think it’ll be an interesting outtake on maybe the kind of people that go to recruitment just because you’d think that it’s like the cookie cutter kind of student that would come to recruitment, but it really isn’t with this campus.
So, I think having it just in the spring allows for more communities of students on campus to want to attend recruitment because it allows for one set period.”
He further explained that in the fall, it’s more of a growing period and a time for students to be thinking about wanting to join.
Colasacco said, “To join a Greek organization, you’re going to want to do it. If you don’t want to do it, then it’s maybe not the best fit for you because there are so many different things you can do on a college campus. But if you have the urge to do it, then I strongly encourage people to do it.”
He continued, “If you have the interest, going to recruitment is the best time to meet the brothers and the sisters and learn about something that can benefit you for the rest of your life.”
Adam Urquhart can be contacted at aurquhart@kscequinox.com
