Sorority Recruitment Anticipates Changes for 2014 Rush

Ole Miss is preparing for new Panhellenic rules for 2014, which will change recruitment drastically in the fall.

Members of Phi Mu at Ole Miss say goodbye to potential new members in the traditional door stack.

    Greek life is extremely well noted at the University of Mississippi and many sources even consider it to be the number one sorority school among the country’s universities.  Greek recruitment is huge at most schools, but it’s brought to a whole different level at Ole Miss. 2014 brings along with it many changes for this fall’s rush. Panhellenic has chosen to alter rush in a way that will affect all active sorority members as well as girls participating in the recruitment process.

    Rush is traditionally held the first week or two in October, however, this fall, it will be held September 14-21. Lexi Hannah, member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority doesn’t like the changes made to this upcoming year’s rush. “Its going to be way more hot outside in September and pushing rush up one month gives active members less time for preparation.” Most houses on campus begin preparation for recruitment in the springtime, with a brutal, weeklong rush workshop the week before school reconvenes at the end of summer.

    Another rule that panhellenic has enacted for 2014 is one that concerns “door stacks”. Door stacks are a long lasting tradition at Ole Miss. A door stack involves active sorority members stacking on top of each other in the front door of their house for potential new members to watch after a particular round. Door stacks were usually preformed after the Philanthropy Round and the Skit Round. Because of complaints and various injuries, Panhellenic has decided to limit the stacks to Philanthropy Round only for 2014. After this year, door stacks will be completely vanished from sorority recruitment at Ole Miss. Freshman, Pi Beta Phi member, Maeve Hanrahan, says that, “Door stacks can be extremely painful. Sometimes another member makes a tiny mistake in the stack and it ends up hurting almost everyone involved. I’ve been victim to many door stack injuries and bruises since practicing in March.” Panhellenic is encouraging sorority houses to come up with something to replace the door stack for years to come.

    With 10 sorority houses now on campus and an outstanding increase in freshman admittance, rush 2014 can be expected to be an interesting one. 2013 saw the most girls participating in recruitment with about 1400 girls. Those numbers are expected to increase in 2014 and for the next few years.