Tom boy, overachiever, class clown. If someone were to label me, those are the words I would expect to hear.Sorority girl wouldn’t likely be on the top of anyone’s list. But who knows?When classes end on Thursday, countless sophomores, including myself, will begin that time-honored tradition of Recruitment.

For guys this may mean fun times, but for girls, the next few days will be one of the most intense try-outs we’ve experienced, where how we present ourselves, both physically and socially, will greatly factor into which Greek house we get accepted into, if any at all.

Recruitment can be intimidating and it is definitely time consuming.Every night on my calendar from the fifth to the tenth of September is booked with recruitment events!

So why am I participating?I am certainly far from fitting any stereotype you may have of sorority girls.I hate shopping, and I am no fashion guru.At my state university, I wouldn’t have rushed if you paid me to do it.There, like many other schools, the outcome of rushing makes or breaks your social life.Acceptance is based on superficial, meaningless criteria and the sorority becomes your entire college experience.

But Colgate is different.We have one of the least invasive Greek systems in the nation.With the exception of a few co-sponsored social events, I haven’t heard of a closed Greek party on this campus. Everyone still goes to the same parties and the Jug doesn’t discriminate between Greek and non-Greek. The stigma of these organizations leading to cliques completely fails on this campus. It isn’t uncommon to see members of several different fraternities or sororities all living, eating, interacting together on campus. I would never have considered rushing for an isolating, cult-like sorority often depicted in movies about college life.No such group exists here.At Colgate, the Greek Life seems to follow the general campus attitude that encourages students to try out new are varied experiences.Here being Greek seems more like another thing to be involved in, rather than the defining element of your socialization during college.

For me the decision to go through recruitment was simple.I can guarantee that I will meet multiple new faces and make friends throughout this process.It will give me the chance to connect with some upperclassmen I may have otherwise never met. And I’m sure there will be some classmate bonding when we’re forced to wear some hideous T-shirt to class and are forbidden to talk to boys. I’d say the forecast for the week sounds like partly stressful with a high chance for fun!

Perhaps there will be some awkward moments, and times when I don’t really seem to fit in with the culture of sorority life.Then again, maybe it isn’t so much about fitting into the sorority as it is about adding something to the sorority.All the interviewing and networking done during recruitment week isn’t so that a Greek organization can meet a quota and retain some stereotyped reputation.They want to see who you are and what unique ideas and traits you’ll bring to their group.So while some of my classmates may spend three hours straightening their hair and trying on ten different outfits before heading over to the first Recruitment events in a deep panic, I’m going to be relaxed.Why am I going through recruitment?I am doing it for fun, to meet more people, make new friends, and create some funny memories.If I get into a sorority I like, all the better.If not, I spent 20 dollars on entertainment, got a T-shirt, and will still be able to go to tons of parties and hang out with everyone, regardless of their Greek identity.