It is that time of year again fraternities and sororities are growing their membership across Linfield University. While first-year students must wait until spring recruitment. Those with a sophomore standing or above have an opportunity to join, through a process called Continuous Open Bidding (COB).

The Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) is a network of dedicated faculty and students brought together by their shared values; scholarship, service, philanthropy, leadership, and brotherhood or sisterhood. FSL includes Linfield’s three fraternities; Theta Chi, Pi Kappa Alpha, And Delta Psi Delta, as well as four sororities; Alpha Phi, Phi Sigma Sigma, Sigma Kappa Phi and Zeta Tau Alpha. Together the seven chapters work to uphold Linfield values, the values of FSL, and the individual values of their fraternity/sorority.

Many of the positive ways Greek life functions can be credited to the dedicated faculty and student leaders who oversee the organization. FSL members support one another, giving back to the community, setting high philanthropic goals, and striving to reach academic excellence. They see these efforts as a way to enrich FSL as a community where individuals can grow and succeed. 

“The Fraternity and Sorority Life at Linfield is about building a community with people who become lifelong friends,” said Bridger Hayes-Lattin, Linfield’s coordinator of student organizations and activities and Fraternity and Sorority Life advisor, who encourages new students to get involved. “It is a very welcoming community, every chapter on campus is open and accepting of anybody it’s just a matter of reaching out and saying: ‘Hey I’d love to get to know your chapter better.’” 

Hayes, a recent graduate of Linfield, and a former member of Pi Kappa Alpha leaped into this position before the start of the new school year. Hayes facilitates communication amongst leadership in fraternities and sororities working closely with the Linfield Panhellenic Council (LPC) and Interfraternity Council (IFC) which are governing bodies of fraternities and sororities at Linfield. 

Linfield junior, Kylie Davis the Vice President of Linfield, Panhellenic Council is on the same beat. Davis works to maintain the community-centered environment of sororities.

 “You may have an idea of what sorority and fraternity life is supposed to look like, but it’s so different here,” said Davis. “I always recommend it to people. I know every single person in my chapter, we’re all such good friends. It’s the same across the board for everyone. You get to create that kind of tight knit community.”

Davis says FSL places who you are as a person before how you appear, she categorizes; this as a “value-based recruitment” something that all Linfield sororities do. 

“We want to know who you are as a person and what your values are.” said Davis “If that means you show up to sisterhood round in sweatpants, we do not care, we just want to get to know you. We make sure to connect to our values at all times.” Davis explains that members of FSL are constantly engaging in service work, academic events such as study nights, and community bonding.

Davis sees formal recruitment as a major event that gets those interested in FSL more familiar with the sororities on campus. The FSL leadership encourages engagements with events of this nature. Whether students know for sure they are interested in joining a sorority or if they are still on the fence, FSL encourages people to take a step out of their comfort zone and give at least one event a try. 

 “Try it out,” Davis said, “If you do not like it, you do not have to stay, you do not have to go through all of rush, you still get to meet amazing people throughout the process.”

Davis encourages students to keep an open mind. “If you have your heart set on one chapter, make sure to still meet all the other chapters and find who matches your values and who you are as a person,” said Davis. “Make sure to find your home” 

Formal recruitment is open to all unaffiliated women-identifying individuals and will take place spring semester. Those interested in joining a Sorority who currently have sophomore standing or higher can take advantage of Continuous Open Bidding, a less formal version of recruitment that is happening right now.