FSL

FSL recruitment plans continue for fall 2020

ZOE BROWN @zoe_zoebrown

While some schools hold fraternity and sorority recruitment the week before classes begin, Missouri State’s FSL recruitment starts the Thursday of the first week of classes. This year, it will be held Thursday, August 20 through Monday, August 24.

Sorority Recruitment

Junior marketing major Katie Sulzner, vice president of recruitment for Alpha Chi Omega sorority, said she enjoys the MSU recruitment process because it helps potential new members ease into college life before recruitment week.

“You have the opportunity to adjust to those bigger things first, like moving in and welcome events,” Sulzner said. “That Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday you get to tackle your schedule and then recruitment starts.”

Junior interior design major Sarah Kantra, president of Alpha Chi Omega, agrees with Sulzner and said this timeline helps students learn time management. Kantra said recruitment week can help students see the time commitment of balancing class, homework, and sorority meetings and events.

“It gives you a little bit of a preview of what your semester is going to look like if you do join a sorority,” Kantra said.

Through recruitment week, each day gets increasingly more formal, according to Sulzner. The first two days are the most casual and serve as an introduction to all the chapters on campus. Day 1 and 2 events begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.

The third day, deeper conversations begin between chapters and potential new members to see if their values align. Taking place on Saturday, this is called sisterhood and philanthropy day.

Sunday is preference day, where potential new members begin to choose which houses they feel best represent their values.

Monday is the culmination of sorority recruitment week, known as bid day. On this final day, houses formally invite potential new members to join their chapter.

“Everyone is just so excited for bid day and welcoming home new girls,” Kantra said.

Sulzner echoed the same excitement.

“Leading up to bid day, the whole time you’re working to find these girls that are going to lift up the chapter so everyone is so excited because you have no idea what’s going to happen and who’s going to join,” Sulzner said. “It’s just a crazy rush of energy.”

Sulzner recommends that potential new members check out the various chapter’s websites before going through recruitment so they can familiarize themselves with the different sororities on campus.

Optional letters of recommendation from sorority alumni can be used while going through

File photo/THE STANDARD Sigma Pi members watch bid day in fall 2018 from the roof of the fraternity house.

recruitment but are not a deal-breaker in getting a bid from a chapter. As a potential new member, Sulzner said she was worried about not having letters of recommendation, but now she tells girls going through recruitment not to stress about it.

“Because we’re a values-based recruitment, that’s really unique to Missouri State, we’re focused more on the values a girl has rather than what she’s wearing or how she looks, things like that,” Sulzner said. “We try to make it as un-superficial as possible.”

Fraternity Recruitment

Fraternity recruitment takes place at the same time as sorority recruitment but it is a less formal process. Fraternities host informal events such as bowling parties, barbecues or game nights for potential new members to get acquainted with the brothers of different fraternities.

Christian Holferty, a junior history major, is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and former executive board member. He recommended meeting brothers from different fraternities on campus during rush week.

“Look into every fraternity out there,” Holferty said. “Every fraternity has something special about it.”

Unlike sororities, fraternities can give out bids before the designated bid day. Holferty advised not to sign a bid unless the person is certain they want to join that specific fraternity.

Holferty also encouraged potential new members to enjoy the recruitment process as much as possible.

“You will meet excellent people across the FSL and MSU community that could possibly become lifelong friends,” Holferty said.

Holferty said though fraternities sometimes get a bad rap, there are many benefits to joining one.

“They can provide you with a network when looking for jobs, give you valuable leadership experience, provide you with great memories

File Photo by Greta Cross/THE STANDARD Gamma Phi Beta members cheer during bid day in fall 2019.

and some of the best friends you’ll ever have,” Holferty said. “That being said, you can’t be a wallflower.”

“More likely than not, you will become a more fulfilled and prepared person than you were coming into Missouri State,” Holferty said.

Students can sign up for recruitment during the first week of classes.

SGA and SAC: Student boards on campus working for students

AFTON HARPER Staff Reporter @affie888

There are many campus organizations at Missouri State University. Student Government Association and Student Activities Council are two which work to improve students’ experiences on campus.

Student Government Association

Student Government Association, also known as SGA, Student Senate or Student Council, works as a student connection to the MSU Board of Governors. The organization mainly works on projects and events around campus which will benefit students. 2019-2020 student body president Abdillahi Dirie focused on mental health. Dirie worked at Magers Health and Wellness Center and hosted MSU’s first health and wellness week, where he and his staff educated students on mental health resources on campus, according to a Jan. 22 SGA blog post by Dirie.

File Photo/THE STANDARD Sitting in Glass Hall from left to right: Student Body Vice President Blake Haynes, Student Body President Tara Orr, and cabinet member Apryl Myers.

Dirie was involved in SGA for four years and he said his senior year as student body president was a blast. “I enjoyed interacting with many students and speaking up for them, from going to Jefferson City on advocating on behalf of students to always making sure the committees I am on are putting students’ needs first,” Dirie said. Dirie said he enjoyed working with students and administrators on passing the mental health fee of $8 to expand mental health resources and the Wyrick project to expand the Multicultural Resource Center. Dirie also began a project to move the Office of Student Engagement to the Level One Game Center. Tara Orr, this year’s student body president and former chief of staff, said her administration’s plans have changed because of COVID-19, but they want to bond more with students. Orr said she is looking forward to designing the spaces for the new Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Student Center.

SGA has a suggestion box on their website for opinions and ideas related to the student body for students to fill out whenever they like.

There are also organizations aimed at hosting fun game nights and other free activities for the student body.

Student Activities Council

Student Activities Council’s mission is to provide fun and educational activities that students want to get involved in, according to the MSU website. SAC is funded by the student involvement fee, which is included in MSU’s tuition for students taking more than 12 credit hours. SAC is made up of nine committees: public affairs, live entertainment, campus events, after hours, publicity, marketing, vice president of operations and membership development. Junior hospitality leadership major Alyssa Decker, campus events chair for this year, said she will plan and coordinate events she thinks students will care about, like eating a free meal at the Rise n’ Shine breakfast. Decker said all students should attend SAC events, as they’re basically paying for them. “All of them are so much fun and everyone in SAC is so friendly and loves to see you there,” Decker said One of the major events the after hours com mittee hosts is the MO State Fair. The annual spring fair typically has rides, games and snacks.

Students interested in learning more about SAC can attend weekly meetings on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Plaster Student Union room 313.

Like politics? There’s a club for that

DESIREE NIXON @DesireeNixon17 News Editor

When students arrive on campus, they may be unsure of their political beliefs. Luckily, Missouri State Uni versity has the opportunity for students to explore different political backgrounds and topics.

There are many organizations students can get involved in, including College Republicans, College Democrats, Young Americans for Liberty, Generation Action, Bears for Life, March for Our Lives and Animal Rights Club. Each club focuses on different aspects of the political spectrum.

According to the College Republicans Campus Link page, it says they “engage in activities supporting Republican candidates and ideals.” Students can keep up with the organization’s most recent events on the club’s Facebook page, Missouri State CR.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the College Democrats’ Campus Link page states, “this is an organization that unites and builds upon the progressive ideology of the Missouri State University campus.” The organization’s Campus Link description goes on to explain the organization is active in promoting candidates.

Madeline Schatz, 2019-2020 president of College Democrats and MSU alumnus said, “I would tell students — every door you knock, every phone call you make to advocate for a policy or a candidate, counts.”

The final straight political based organization is Young Americans for Liberty. According to the Campus Link page, “YAL seeks to recruit, train, educate and mobilize students on the ideals of liberty and the Constitution.”

According to the Young Americans for Liberty YouTube recruitment video, this organization is based on a direct interpretation of the Constitution.

The last four political organizations are not centered around the direct or indirect representations of the Constitution. Instead, they are focused on specific issues.

Lauren Woodall, a sophomore political science major, is part of Generation Action. She explained that this group is centered around reproductive rights and equality. Once a year, the group goes to lobby in Jefferson City for bills pertaining to reproductive rights.

However, that is not all they do. They also provide a place for communication.

“Members go to coffee talks, where they discuss issues relative to equality and reproductive rights such as abortion and contraceptives,” Woodall said.

Another group related to reproduction is Bears for Life. According to the Campus Link page, this organization is “helping young people make abortion unthinkable and obsolete on our campus.” This club has attended the March for Life protest in Washington D.C., which advocated pro-life policy.

This is not to be confused with the March for Our Lives, a different political organization on campus. On the Campus Link page, March for Our Lives is a non-partisan group that advocates for “common-sense” gun laws.

The final political organization on campus advocates for “common-sense” animal rights. As ex

those who cannot help themselves,” Elliot said. Regardless of the posi tion, MSU has many different organizations students can be a part of. Political science professor, Kevin Pybas, said he thinks students should get involved in organizations, as everyone has a stake in what happens. Pybas acknowledges that it may feel overwhelming at first to get involved in something that seems so far away from you. HowFile photo by Desiree Nixon/THE STANDARD ever, Pybas said he thinks Animal Rights Club member Jessica Althat should not be the outbright stands in front of the JQH Arena look. to protest animals in the circus. “Someone is going to rule over you,” Pybas said. plained on the Campus Link page, “Someone is going to make decisions Animal Rights Club does community about policies that we live under, and service at animal shelters, donates to as difficult as it is to affect change and them and demonstrates at events promake a meaningful difference, that is moting animal welfare. still a better alternative than withdraw

Senior computer science major ing completely.” Noah Elliot, president of Animal These political clubs, and more, Rights Club, said their objectives go can be found in full detail on the MSU beyond the tasks they complete. Campus Link website. “I think really what we’re trying to do with our activism is give a voice Disclosure: Madeline Schatz to the voiceless and to try and help worked on The Standard staff.