Q. What is the Panhellenic Council?
A. The Panhellenic Council is the governing body of all of the sororities. It is an organization made up of delegates from every sorority working together to keep the Fraternity and Sorority Life system strong and growing. The Panhellenic Council is responsible for maintaining good relationships between sororities, within Fraternity and Sorority Life, and within the NYU community as a whole.
Q. What is a Rho Gamma?
A. A Rho Gamma (Recruitment Guide) is a sorority woman chosen by Panhellenic Council for her knowledge of the Panhellenic system and her capability to ensure Potential New Members experience recruitment week in the most positive way possible.
Your Rho Gamma will be not only your guide to Recruitment Week, but also your friend. She will be able to personally answer many of your questions about recruitment, as she has been trained by Panhellenic officials. If she doesn't have an answer to a question, she will know where to find it.
Your Rho Gamma can be relied upon to keep all questions and problems confidential. She will also remain neutral to all sororities, including her own chapter. It is very important that you check any e-mails your Rho Gamma may have as she will have important information for you. She will also be someone to turn to if decisions get tough and will always be ready to advise you the best she can, as she once went through recruitment too!
Q. How do I join?
A. Recruitment for the upcoming semester is always in the works. We will be holding info sessions in weeks prior to formal recruitment. Round Robin is an important day in which you can see every organization and gain insightful knowledge about each sorority. Please visit our page, "Recruitment" to read up to date information, register and contact individual organizations as well as the VP of Recruitment on the Panhellenic Council. It is never too early to express your interest!
Q. What do sororities do?
A. Everything! We are extremely active organizations on campus. Our programming ranges from philanthropic services to social activities such as Greek Week.
Q. How much does it cost to be in a sorority?
A. Each sorority has semesterly dues that range depending on their individual preferences and national or local affiliation. Do not be afraid to ask an organization about their monetary dues. Some may have payment plans to assist new members and sisters. Please contact a particular organization personally to inquire further.
Q. Do sororities have houses?
A. Yes! All sororities are housed downtown in Lafayette. We occupy spacious suites on the top floors including the wonderful penthouses. Each house has a breathtaking view of the New York City skyline.
Active - A full member; one who has completed the New Member Education Period and has been formally initiated by the college chapter.
Bid - A formal invitation to membership from a sorority or fraternity to a potential new member.
Bid Day - The last day of recruitment where a potential new member formally accepts the bid to become a new member.
Continuous Open Bidding (COB) - Also called open bidding and informal membership recruitment; COB is any recruitment that occurs after the formalized recruitment period. Organizations may choose to extend bids to any unaffiliated students, even if they did not participate in formal recruitment. Not all organizations, however, practice COB.
Fraternity - A group of men bound together by ritual ties and common goals. Also used to refer to sororities.
Hazing - New York University and the Panhellenic community do not condone or tolerate any form of hazing. NYU does not support conduct that violates New York State Hazing Law or the University Policies and Procedures.
NY STATE LAW
Hazing in the first degree:
A person is guilty of hazing in the first degree when, in the course of another person's initiation into or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person and thereby causes such injury. Hazing in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor.
Hazing in the second degree:
A person is guilty of hazing in the second degree when, in the course of another person's initiation or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person. Hazing in the second degree is a violation.
Initiation - The traditional ritual which brings the new member into full membership.
New Member - A student who has accepted the bid or invitation for membership of a fraternity or sorority, but has not yet been initiated.
Preference Night - the last night of recruitment. Preference night is serious in nature and is a time where members will explain the values of their organization. This event is by invitation only.
Recruitment - Recruitment is an opportunity to make friends. A decision to go through recruitment is a decision to become acquainted with NYU's community of fraternities and sororities. By going through recruitment, you are not committing yourself to join a sorority. You are meeting people, making friends, and familiarizing yourself with Fraternity and Sorority Life.
Snap bid - A bid given to a Potential New Member who was not placed during the formalized bid process.
Strict Silence - The period immediately following Preference Night when organizations will be allowed no contact or communication with any Potential New Member. Silence ends with the start of Bid Day activities
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