Ella Kitchens, Editor-In-Chief
This year, Panhellenic recruitment was moved indoors to Knapp Hall and the Burton D. Morgan Center due to extreme cold advisories and below zero wind chill temperatures.
“The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life worked closely with Panhellenic Council leaders, the National Panhellenic Council, and local advisors to determine the safest and most student-centered options for recruitment,” said Ashley Metzger, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, in an email statement.
Although recruitment is typically held in Denison’s sorority houses, this was not the first time the university has adapted the recruitment process to unusual circumstances. During the COVID-19 pandemic, recruitment was altered to a virtual setting. According to Metzger, this year, a virtual alternative was one of several alternative plans considered.
“We explored a wide range of options, including condensing recruitment into two days, renting buses to transport Potential New Members (PNMs) to and from chapter facilities, and allowing PNMs into the houses earlier than usual, despite a previously established closed-door policy,” said Tessa Reilly, president of Denison’s Panhellenic Council. “After carefully considering these options and weighing potential risks, we collectively determined that keeping PNMs fully indoors for the first two nights of recruitment was the safest and most responsible decision.”
The decision-making process was centered on ensuring both a good experience and a safe environment for everyone involved.
“This plan was developed with Panhellenic leadership playing an active role in evaluating options, shaping logistics, and communicating changes to prioritize student safety, while preserving a meaningful in-person recruitment experience,” said Metzger.
“While this was an uncharted experience for everyone involved, I am incredibly grateful to my executive board and to each chapter’s recruitment team and active members, whose flexibility and cooperation made it possible for recruitment to continue in person, especially given that our only alternative was to move to a fully virtual experience,” said Reilly.