Once a year, sorority girls everywhere prepare for weeks, go without sleep, and forgo social lives in preparation for one day: bid day. Recruitment at the University of North Alabama is a four day process, which includes three rounds. Each sorority scours for the perfect pledge class, while potential new members look for their home for the next four years.
Recruitment at UNA is values-based. The sororities hope to show potential new members what each sorority values and the morals they follow. Phi Mu recruitment chair Hannah Hopkins stated, "My goal coming into recruitment was for Phi Mu to show the girls exactly who we are and to be genuine and sincere with everything we said or did. We all wanted every girl to find a place where they felt happy and at home. We knew that if we all were true to ourselves the girls that needed to run to us on bid day would. . . . Our pledge class is truly beautiful inside and out, and I couldn't be happier."
The potential new members are encouraged to join the sorority that shares similar values and morals with them. Throughout this four day process, they become aware and familiar with the differences of each sorority. Sophomore new member Hope Plowman stated, "I chose Phi Mu because the values and standards they have for their sorority are very important to me. It stuck out to me from night one. It is such a blessing that I have found my home away from home and my sisters who I will spend my college years with."
On bid day, the Theta Alpha chapter of Phi Mu could be heard chanting near and far, as they awaited their new pledge class. Their bid day theme was "Welcome to the Big Leagues," which they executed by wearing pink baseball hats, baseball shirts, and eye black.
It is a tradition for bid day at UNA to take place at the amphitheater. After new members receive their bids, they walk into the amphitheater and run home to their respective sorority. Phi Mu could be seen waving pink foam fingers, and cheering to welcome the new members. New members were given monogrammed Phi Mu bags complete with shirts and gifts.
Phi Mu welcomed 47 new members, complete with 41 freshmen and 6 upperclassmen. The girls also welcomed with open arms the 6 women who disaffiliated to become gamma chis, the recruitment counselors. They now boast the largest panhellenic chapter on campus.
The girls then headed to member Gabby Kroeger's house to have a bid day party. The evening was filled with swimming and baseball-related games. Current members mingled with new members as they celebrated their new pledge class. The women painted their faces and cheerfully posed for pictures.
The new pledge class will go through an eight-week program before they are initiated. They will learn about the history and values of Phi Mu. Each pledge class is led by a Phi director who guides them along in this eight week process. Phi director Katie Cannon said of the new pledge class, "I'm just really excited for these next eight weeks. I've never met girls that are this genuine on the inside and out. They're all so eager to learn about how much myself and the chapter loves Phi Mu and why it means so much to us. . . . They are the perfect addition to Phi Mu Theta Alpha."
After celebrating the perfect bid day, Phi Mu is confident that they hit a grand slam with their new pledge class.
