Greek organizations stress missions with dry recruitment, alcohol-free activities
While some social fraternities received alcohol violations last fall, other Greek organizations have always had an alcohol-free rush, and plan to stay that way.Business fraternities Alpha Kappa Psi and Delta Sigma Pi and service sorority Omega Phi Alpha have been recruiting members since Monday.
Their rush processes aim to represent their mission. For the business fraternities, they want to see members who will thrive in a professional business environment. Service sororities want to see members with a passion for hands-on service.
“We’re out in the field doing work with our hands, [as] opposed to social sororities, which are more philanthropic based,” Co-Membership Director of Omega Phi Alpha Hannah Smith said.
Omega Phi Alpha is completely alcohol free. The sorority’s recruitment, pledging, events, fundraisers and retreats are about having fun with their sisters.
“We have a chance to get to know the girls better when it’s dry. There aren’t any preconceived notions, and we get a real sense of who the person is, versus hanging out and having a good time,” said Smith, a third-year visual communications student.
The USC business fraternities also adhere to strict alcohol policies.
Both say that a dry rush benefits them, and they model their recruitment and pledge process after the professional world.
Delta Sigma Pi is rooted in professionalism, service, scholarship and social opportunities.
“Those are the fundamentals of the fraternity, and we try to show them that’s what it’s all about. We don’t want someone who is coming out to build their resume; we want someone who is going to dive into the fraternity and take part in the brotherhood,” Delta Sigma Pi President Jocelyn Paonita said.
Alpha Kappa Psi’s recruitment process aims to capture all the aspects of a networking event and an interview in the short week.
“We want to see how they interact when people speak to them about topics and how they interact in groups,” Alpha Kappa Psi President James Tundidor said. “They pitch a product that they create in a marketing event. We encompass everything needed to get a job or an interview. It’s obviously completely different from social rush; there’s no running around to different houses, and definitely no alcohol use,” Alpha Kappa Psi President James Tundidor.
All of the pledge processes are also alcohol free.
“You’re not going to be drunk at work. Without alcohol, it’s much easier to gauge the true characteristics of an individual,” said Tundidor, a fourth-year international business and global supply chain and operations management student.
Alpha Kappa Psi’s six-to-eight-week pledge process is run like a business, and there are requirements they have to fulfill based on their participation.
“They are like a mini duplication of what the brotherhood actually is,” Tundidor said.
Omega Phi Alpha’s is similar, but lasts the entire semester and is geared toward members’ passion for service.
“They run a mini chapter and each have to complete 15 hours of service before activating. They interview every sister in it. They’re still learning the functions of the sorority; they get to grow as a members and plan their own projects,” Smith said
Delta Sigma Pi has district directors come for social events to ensure that the alcohol policies are enforced. Their events are similar to social fraternities: semi-formal, formal, beach weekend, mountain weekend, and like many social Greek organizations, none of the fraternity money is ever used to buy alcohol.
“We have a professional aspect, a large international network and a strong brotherhood. We have a cubby in the business school and welcome anyone who wants to hear more about us,” said Paonita, a third-year international business, finance and global supply chain and operations management student.
Service sorority Epsilon Sigma Alpha will begin recruitment next week.