A record 512 women joined GW’s 10 Panhellenic sororities Tuesday afternoon, marking another year of sustained growth for Greek life on campus.
As neon-clad sisters chanted each chapter’s unique cheer, the girls that made it to the final round of recruitment after receiving bids – formal invitations to join a sorority – swarmed University Yard to be officially welcomed into their new sororities.
Associate Dean of Students Tim Miller said the strong turnout shows that GW’s “vibrant” Greek life, which represents 23 percent of the campus population, is an integral part of the overall college experience.
“I think the value of Greek life has taken a positive turn in the last decade or so,” he said. “The addition of Greek housing and several new chapters in the past few years has led to significant and quality growth for our community.”
From 2002 to 2010, the Panhellenic population doubled, going from 670 women to 1,341. Nine of the ten chapters invited as many new members as this year’s quota would allow, 51 a-piece. Panhellenic Association President Sara Fischer declined to comment on how many students declined their bids.
The GW Panhellenic Association voted last year to increase chapter quotas for sororities on campus to accommodate growing interest, even as the Greek community faced a series of hazing charges and investigations throughout the spring.
With each chapter adding about 50 new members this fall, Miller said the potential of bringing a new chapter to campus is becoming more pressing due to overcrowding.
A committee will meet beginning next week to discuss the possibility of adding another chapter, which would increase options for potential new members in coming years.
Boston University added two new chapters last year, expanding its Greek community for the first time in nearly two decades to represent 11 percent of the campus population. Meanwhile, American University’s growing sorority membership currently accounts for 16 percent of women on campus.
“I think, across the board, women are looking for a place to belong, a place to call home at college, and sororities really offer that in a great way on this campus and across the country,” Miller said.
Fischer said she is excited to get started with sorority activities now that the recruitment process is over.
“It feels great to know that our community is successfully expanding. It feels even better having gotten to know the chapters,” Fischer, also a Hatchet cartoonist, said.
After nine months in the making, Vice President of Panhellenic Recruitment Terricia Soyombo said she was proud to see such large new member classes.
“Getting to see the girls come in was really touching,” Soyombo said. “I also just feel really relieved. This has been nine months of really hard work and I’m glad it’s all over.”
Chelsea Tatz, a freshman who was invited to join her first-choice chapter Phi Sigma Sigma, said she was impressed by the enthusiasm of bid day.
“I love the fact that I’m part of a bigger thing now,” Tatz said.
