Last night outside Houston Hall, over 300 of Penn’s newest sorority recruits were welcomed into their new homes with thundering cheers, balloons and banners.
Bid night, an annual ceremony where new recruits learn which sorority they will join, marks the end of a week-long recruitment process that includes open houses, parties and philanthropy.
College freshman Danica Stone, who received a bid from her first choice sorority, Sigma Kappa, said the recruitment process was a “great opportunity” to meet new people.
“I felt like a fish out of water during [New Student Orientation],” she added. “Sorority rush was a much more comfortable experience of meeting people.”
College sophomore and transfer student Elora Daniele said she most enjoyed the skit round, where sisters from each house present funny songs and plays.
“We really got to know the personality of each house,” she said.
A record number of bids — 368 — were given out this year, according to Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Associate Director for Programming, Stacey Kraus. This followed this year’s 8-percent increase in the number of sorority rush registrations at Penn.
Kraus added that Penn’s numbers are consistent with a record numbers of new sorority members across the country.
Increased interest in sororities at Penn may also be due to new outreach efforts from the Panhellenic Executive Council and sorority women from all eight chapters.
Panhellenic vice president of recruitment Tori Searl said sorority recruitment began right when freshmen women arrived on campus.
“Our initiatives this year began with ‘Sororientation’ — a carnival during NSO which allowed over 500 women to meet and greet members from all eight Panhellenic chapters and an information session for prospective members during Parents’ Week,” she wrote in an e-mail.
For College senior and Panhellenic Council President Alissa Eisenberg, a former Daily Pennsylvanian editor, bid night marked an exciting, yet bittersweet, end to rush.
“It was extremely rewarding to oversee the process,” she said. “Joining a sorority is a great way to expand your network and find a tight-knit community. This is especially important at a large university like Penn.”
And for Penn’s newest sorority sisters, bid night was just as magical.
“Sisterhood is really important to me,” said College sophomore Melissa Perez, who received a bid last night.
“I’m really looking forward to getting involved in service organizations with my new sorority sisters.”
