 By: Vanessa Bendle- Alpha Gamma Delta
If you’re going through sorority recruitment, you might have some questions about the process. Personally, I remember being shy and not having much to ask the girls. I was nervous going into the weekend that’d I’d be asked that dreaded question… “do you have any questions?”. I had no idea what being in a sorority was about so I didn’t even know where to start. I knew I’d be asked about myself, including my extracurriculars, so I prepared to answer those types of questions. In high school, I was in various clubs and teams. But in my senior year, everything changed when I discovered I was passionate about videography. After graduation, I was given the opportunity to explore more filming wedding videos. A piece of advice I was given before recruitment was to have something that makes you memorable, and I thought that filming weddings is something I could mention that would make me stand out more as a PNM. On the first day of recruitment, I remember being shown a recruitment video at a particular sorority and being in absolute awe. Shortly after, I got the chance to talk to members of that house and ask more about the video. I learned that I’d have a ton of opportunities to incorporate my love for videography into sorority life. It’s definitely something I wasn’t expecting, but it made me that much more excited about the process. I felt that joining a sorority truly would give me the opportunity to excel at what I was passionate about. In the following months, I learned that was true. I saw women with many diverse talents being able to use their skills and flourish. There are women who are artists, leaders, athletes, and more. All these women get the chance to explore these talents through their experience as a sorority member. Throughout the last two years, I’ve been given countless opportunities for video events for not only my own sorority but entire the Panhellenic community. In my second year, I applied for the Social Media director position on Western’s panhellenic council. Video hadn’t been used in the past to promote formal recruitment, therefore I thought it could be a way to help unknowing girls discover sorority life. The council agreed with my idea, creating a new multimedia position so that I could bring my ideas to life. Over the past year, I got to work on a council of incredible women who supported my creativity wholeheartedly. I’m lucky I was given a place to foster panhellenic friendships and help improve our experience as sorority members. The best advice I have for recruitment is to relax. That is hypocritical coming from me considering I was a bundle of nerves the entire weekend. But when I look back, recruitment is such a memorable experience and you’ll the house that’s right for you.
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 By: Grace Koutsogiannopoulos- Alpha Omicron Pi
One question I get asked a lot is why did you decide to join a sorority? Or what made you decide to get involved within Westerns Greek Community. For me joining a sorority was an opportunity to make friends and create connections with people that I never would never have met before. Western is known for its student social life, large campus, and our incredible football team. I remember before I started school I was so excited. However, when I moved into residence it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. I felt really alone and isolated especially because most of my friends from home went to other schools and, I felt as though the girls in my classes and in my residence were forming connections quickly and that I was kind of on the outside of things. I felt like no one wanted me around and that they could care less about me and if I was there or not. I remember searching for something to try and help me feel a little more at home. I than met a girl who was in Alpha Omicron Pi and she told me about Greek life and what amazing friends she’s met well being involved. She also told me about how everyone was so loving and open and always there for each other. I than decided to give rushing a try and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only have I made life-long friends in my chapter but I have also made life-long friends within the whole Panhellenic community. Everyone regardless of which Chapter they belong to is always there to love and support one another in anything that they need. It is always nice to know that there is a friendly face around campus to go to the spoke with or for those late night study sessions at the library. Though we can get competitive with each other at philanthropy events at the end of the day we are all there to support one another. Joining a sorority makes Westerns campus of thirty-thousand people feel like a small community and allows for an opportunity to make connections you would not otherwise make and friendships that will last a lifetime.  By: Serena Van Acker- Kappa Alpha Theta Alumni
Managing your finances can be an overwhelming and touchy subject, but it doesn’t have to be. Throughout my time as a sister (and a student) I have focused my budgeting on three main sections: preparation, organization, and selection. Preparation I would recommend starting this step as soon as you can. Each sorority has different dues for different reasons. Before going through recruitment, do some research of your own on specific sororities and their average dues. There will also be an information night the week before recruitment in which the estimated semester charges will be laid out and explained for each sorority. By having an idea of these numbers ahead of time, you be able to create your budget around your estimation. Keep in mind, many sororities have financing options that will allow you to make multiple payments throughout the year instead of one major one. Organization Organize your money in a way that will allow you to spend a portion while saving another. If you work throughout the summer or part time during the year, I would recommend doing a 60% over 40% split where 60% of every paycheque you receive goes into savings while you keep 40% to spend at the moment. You can modify these numbers to suit your lifestyle. Near the end of the summer (mid August) I would suggest going through the money you have saved, setting aside two lump sums for tuition, and then dividing the remainder into categories for the 8 months you will be in school. These categories should include: food, rent, spending money, and of course sorority dues. This is the basis for your academic year budget. It is extremely helpful to have a plan before going into the school year, that way you know how much money you can reasonably spend every month while staying in a sorority. Selection Selection is the final, and sometimes the toughest, section of financing. This is where you have to chose what to spend your money on throughout the year, and what you can live without. For example, if your sorority formal is approaching and you know you want to buy a new dress, maybe don’t go out for dinner that month so that you can save up some extra money. Selection is all about prioritizing what is most important to you because in reality, we can’t buy everything we want to. Tips and Tricks to Saving Money in Greek Life!
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