Opinion: Why delayed recruitment isn’t a good thing

In case you haven’t already heard, the Greek recruitment process is working a little differently this year than in year’s past. Instead of being the first week of classes, it has been pushed back to the fourth week of the academic year, September 10 -15 for the sororities in the National Panhellenic Conference.

In theory, delayed recruitment can be a good idea. I understand the reasoning behind why they made it this way and how it can positively affect the students going through the recruitment process.  However, I believe the negatives outweigh the positives. 

For example, classes start to really ramp up with exams and papers in the third and fourth week of the semester.  So, at the same time that the student needs to focus on their academics, they get pulled away for recruitment activities.

Not only that, but students who are involved in clubs, athletics and extracurricular activities will be stretched even thinner if they are interested in going through recruitment. So while delayed recruitment is to help the student get acclimated, I feel that it essentially hinders them from doing so.

For me personally, being a greek-student-athlete is already pretty tough, and to add recruitment in the middle of my fall season, stops me from fully participating in what used to be my favorite time of the year.

College students learn from the beginning of freshman year about the importance of time management and delayed recruitment will certainly limit free time for when it is needed the most. 

With all that said, I will try not to let the delayed timeline cloud my excitement of the whole recruitment process. After all, it is still my favorite week! I am hopeful for the future of Greek life and can’t wait for new girls to find a special place to call home just like I got to find mine three years ago.