With the Greek recruitment period ending Feb. 4 and the organizations having chosen their bids, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs has released current "new member" statistics. The numbers do not show a significant jump or drop in pledges.
As of Feb. 15, there are 106 new members, or spring 2006 pledges, in fraternities. Sororities on the hill have 64 new members.
The number for fraternities represents somewhat of a drop-off from spring 2005, which totaled 134 new members. The number for sororities matches last spring's, when there were also 64 new sorority members.
Overall recruitment also parallels figures from 2004, when there were 121 fraternity pledges and 60 sorority pledges.
"Just to look at the numbers, it's pretty constant," Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Todd Sullivan said. "But what's difficult to quantify, is [the question of] why people are joining."
"Are the women joining sororities in 2006 doing so for the same reasons as in 2004? I don't know," he said.
According to Sullivan, the 2006 statistics will change by the end of the semester, as pledges decide that "Greek life isn't for them."
Sullivan also said that the drop in fraternity pledges may also result from the fact that there are two fewer fraternities on campus this semester. Both Alpha Phi Delta, which disbanded on its own terms, and Delta Tau Delta, which was closed by its national chapter until the 2008-09 academic year, are no longer active on campus.
"What I hope is that people who are joining now are joining to follow ideals and principles while still having a good time," Sullivan said.
-Danny Lutz
