Due to a change in the University's academic calendar next year and resulting space constraints, the Panhellenic Association is considering a plan to hold formal recruitment prior to the beginning of the spring semester. Panhel says the plan, which would require women to return a week early from winter break, would avoid scheduling conflicts in Von Canon, attract a smaller, more dedicated group of girls and make recruitment "a more comfortable and low-stress process."
The concept of pushing recruitment forward, however, is flawed and will do more harm than good. The space concern is not a legitimate one. Panhel should not need to rely on the use of the space in Von Canon, which is reserved for other events in the months of January. The University has enough space that the sororities can find other rooms in which to conduct rounds of recruitment even if it means moving to less central locations.
The true flaw in the plan, however, is in the belief that having fewer girls involved in recruitment will benefit the greek system. Having recruitment early and thus requiring girls to return to campus before classes start will certainly decrease numbers and change the demographics of those rushing. It will attract a more greek-dedicated group of girls who have already been informally involved with the greek scene in the fall and have already decided to join a sorority.
The girls who are uncertain about "going greek" prior to recruitment, but rush anyway, will be less likely to participate. This will hurt the greek system because girls who are unsure about joining sororities often become highly involved, dedicated members who contribute both to their sororities and to Panhel. Sororities will be losing a valuable group of women by reducing the number of rushees.
Changing the timing of recruitment could cause certain sororities--the ones known more for their emphasis on sisterhood than as a social network--to suffer. Part of the appeal of Duke sorority life is the fact that it does not always feel like typical sorority life. It lacks the exclusive, stereotypical nature of many other southern schools, where fall rush requires new freshmen to come to campus a week before they have even begun college.
By changing recruitment, Panhel would make the greek system more like these traditional sororities when one of its selling points has always been a more laid-back approach to sisterhood.
By moving recruitment up, sororities will suffer both in numbers and diversity. Being greek will become different in meaning as it will now represent a more exclusive community. Panhel should find the space on campus to conduct recruitment as usual, even if that means making small sacrifices in terms of proximity. In the end, changing rush will be a disservice to both Panhel and the girls involved.
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