Click here to view the Celebrating sorority life photo gallery by Oregon Daily Emerald photographer Lauren Wimer
A swarm of women poured into one room with the same goal in mind: to become sorority members. They were excited and anxious, reserved and outgoing.
For these women, trying to create unity within a group has never been such a rigorous and secretive experience, an experience that lasts for five days of recruitment, an experience that many see as necessary for opening doors to an active future.
As each evening passed, the women became closer to each other and began forming the ties meant to last a lifetime. The exuberance and welcoming smiles of the Chi Omega sorority house encouraged each potential member to imagine what it would be like to share a bond of friendship for a lifetime.
It wasn’t until Bid Night, when the women raced across the open field at Gerlinger Hall into the arms of their new sisters, that their dreams became reality.
The University is home to nine nationally recognized sororities and 12 nationally recognized fraternities with more than 1,500 members. Formal recruitment for University sororities ran from Oct. 3 through Oct. 8. Informal recruitment began Oct. 9 and will continue throughout the academic year.
For more information, contact the Greek Life Office at 346-1146 or online at greeklife.uoregon.edu.
– Lauren Wimer
