Smack Talk

[RING OF PHIRE: The Ring of Phire is a team of undergraduate fraternity and sorority members dedicated to delivering the messages of Phired Up Productions to their peers around the country.]

by Amelia Mieth (Phired Up Intern and Ring of Phire member)

smacktalkAs a disaffiliated member of my sorority for the past two recruitment seasons, I get to see a lot of the mechanics of sorority recruitment from a Panhellenic standpoint. It’s wonderful to get to know the potential new members, answer any questions they may have, see their excitement build through the week, and help them make what I think to be one of the most important decisions in their college career.

One of the biggest problems that I have noticed with formal sorority recruitment across many campuses is the incessant wonder of talking about other chapters during recruitment parties. Now, I can assure you that these conversations aren’t going like this:

Member: We are definitely a Panhellenic sisterhood!
Potential Member: Oh, that’s so wonderful to hear!
Member: Oh gosh, we absolutely love the philanthropy work that ABC sorority does and the girls at XYZ are always studying at the library! It’s so great!

Laugh if you must, but you know it’s true! Many chapters spend their time during recruitment parties talking to the potential members about what’s wrong or bad about other chapters. WHY? The parties are already short as it is, you don’t have much time to form a lasting relationship (but still try!)- why would you want to spend your valuable time and one shot opportunity talking down on another chapter?

There is a quote that says, “Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about things, small people talk about other people.”

[NOTE: SEE A RELATED POST ABOUT FRATERNITY TRASH TALK HERE.]

You want to be known as great. We want you to be great. You have the ability and the resources to do so. Spend the precious time that you have with these potential members- potential lifelong sisters- sharing your values, the benefits of being in your organization, and the friendships you’ve made that will stay with you for a lifetime.