As a new year starts for hundreds of new Warriors, many girls must adapt to a new challenge: the transition to sorority life.

The transition to Greek Life comes with many advantages, as well as many challenges. The first activity that the girls take part in is recruitment.

Freshman Brooke Alexander, a new member of Alpha Sigma Tau, states on her recruitment experience.

“I had to go through recruitment week which was a couple days of meeting and talking to the girls in the sororities. After that, I chose my favorite sorority and placed a bid on becoming a part of it,” Alexander said. “After that, the sororities decided which girls to ask to join them. On the last day, we received envelopes with the sorority that accepted us, and we accepted or declined to join that sisterhood.”

However, many girls may be turned away from sororities based on stereotypes found in media.

Delta Phi Epsilon’s president, Karly Malizia, shared on how the perceptions of sororities on television and in the media are different from what sororities really are.

“Girls sometimes have the expectation that sorority life is what they see in the movies or on TV. This is not at all accurate. We heavily focus on community service, as well as academics,” Malizia said. “We require all of our members to attend study tables, as well as doing multiple community service events throughout the year. We also raise money all year for our philanthropies: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), and the Delta Phi Epsilon Education Foundation.”

Sophomore of Delta Phi Epsilon, Morgan Hulen has also noticed the unfortunate stereotype of sororities and what some of the challenges are of being a part of a sorority.

“I would have to say that the biggest challenge I have had to face is the sorority stereotype-of being preppy, rude and overall unlikeable girls,” Hulen said.

According to Malizia, being part of a sorority doesn’t have to be time consuming. A girl is able to commit as much or as little time as she would like to the sorority, given that she plans ahead and gives her sisters a heads up when she will not be able to attend a sorority event. However, the support system is really what makes the sisterhood so special.

“Whenever a new member joins a sorority, she automatically gets a Big [sister]. A Big is a new member’s mentor through the new member process and the sorority as a whole. Bigs and Littles are one of the best things you’ll get out of a sorority,” Malizia said.

Hulen joined Delta Phi Epsilon last year and agrees that the upperclassmen play a big role in helping the new recruits adjust to their new sisterhoods.

“When I joined a sorority, the upperclassmen were more than helpful in transitioning me in. They were more than willing to answer questions I had and gave me more than enough confidence than I needed,” Hulen said.

Overall, Greek Life has proven to be successful for Hulen, and she shared what she likes about it.

“In sorority, I enjoy the sisterhood aspect the most. Bringing together girls and getting to know each and every one is a special thing to have in a college community. I really enjoy the opportunities joining a sisterhood gave me, and the compassion and dedication that I get in return from my sisters,” Hulen said.