For some, it is the scariest and most frightening moment of the first two days. For others, it is the most memorable and enjoyable part of the process. For all, it is the most shocking and astonishing 30 seconds of the week.

Potential new members anxiously await their first round of recruitment as they stand in silence outside large double doors. All of a sudden, the doors swing open and the sound of 50 sorority women echoes down the entire street. Hair of all lengths and colors flip in a perfect synchronized fashion in all directions. A broad smile is plastered upon every chanter.

On the other side, active members squat in uncomfortable positions atop, below, and between their sisters. Hours upon hours of practice prepared them for the real audience, yet the nerves are just as high as the crowd's. The smallest of members are crushed to the ground and everyone else is squished as tight together as physically possible. The most common of casualties include being whipped by someone's hair, knocking heads with a neighbor, and loosing feeling in all knees and toes. Pain is inevitable, especially after voices start to sound like a smoker’s.

A door chant is an annual unnecessary act in order to prove to potential new members about a chapter’s own unique attributes. It is, however, shown through yelling and flipping hair as a way to stand out through lyric and rhythm against other chapters.

The very worst part of the entire process are the viewers: those beyond the potential new members and the recruitment counselors. People roll down their windows in their cars to watch, and some record or take pictures. People whistle or yell obscene things from afar. People stare. People laugh because they don’t understand why hordes of women are yelling for “entertainment.” People cheer. People speed by in order to try to impress the ladies and leave behind the stench of fuel and piercing tire sounds.

Active members spend hours upon hours perfecting a chant in order to appear more synchronized and sound the most deafening. In reality, potential new members see dozens of door chants in the two first days of recruitment, chances are that they won't even remember the lyrics or rhythm to most of them. Door chants are entertaining and enjoyable for the time being, however at the end of the day, the conversations with the women inside are all that are remembered.