Recruitment for NPHC groups begins

The recruitment processes for National Panhellenic Council organizations are well underway, even if they are not as conspicuous as rush events for other campus greek groups.

Many if not all of the eight chartered NPHC fraternities and sororities with chapters on campus began their recruitment, or intake, of new members earlier this month. This recruitment season is the first with the NPHC under advising from the relatively new Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and although much of the NPHC groups' intake remains under wraps, officials say the process is continuing as usual.

Since NPHC does not set rules for intake, each fraternity and sorority has great autonomy over its recruitment process.

"NPHC groups [conduct intake] at whatever time they feel that they're ready and want and need to take in new members," said Todd Adams, OFSL director. "We have a couple of groups that are in the process of soliciting or looking for new members. They will hopefully be extending their membership in the next few months of this semester."

NPHC leaders declined to comment on which groups are currently conducting intake, but two NPHC fraternities, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., often recruit freshmen during the spring semester.

"Sororities do mimic the [fraternity] process, but they have their own rituals and procedures," said senior Cyril Broderick, historian of Duke NPHC and polmarch - "or president - of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Groups generally raise awareness of their organizations through flyers or information meetings at the beginning of either the fall or spring semester. Once non-members show interest, they complete a two- or three-month process before joining. Some recruits may be interviewed, asked to fill out an application or complete a test on their knowledge of the group's history.

Once each NPHC fraternity or sorority selects its new line, the groups present their new members at a traditional ceremony held in different locations around campus. Most groups will conduct a miniature step show and announce each neophyte's alternative name, by which he or she is known in the fraternity or sorority.

The announcement of a new line often occurs only a day or two before the presentation, and, since potential members traditionally do not talk about their recruitment, the revelation of the members can be a surprise to non-members.

Each new line of members of an NPHC group contains between about one and eight members. Few organizations recruit every semester, and most recruit simply when others show interest in joining their group.

This semester, NPHC president Sheldon Maye said he hopes to continue to work together with leaders of other greek umbrella groups- such as the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council - to integrate Duke's greek life and raise awareness of NPHC groups on campus.

"Each of us [the umbrella greek organizations] are going to do our own thing, but it's beneficial to recognize that other groups are there, to respect other groups and get to know each other," said Maye, a senior.

Greek leaders are planning a forum at which all groups can learn about each others' histories. In addition, in the next couple of months, the OFSL will introduce new websites for each of the three umbrella organizations.

Maye noted that a wider variety of ethnic groups were present at the NPHC step shows this fall, and he indicated that the new OFSL has aided in integration.

"Sometimes it takes an institutional overhead to enforce something. It helps us realize that although we are different from each other, we are united by being greek," he said.

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