Deep Down in Arizona

Alpha Lambda, University of Arizona

After two straight weeks of formal recruitment, I have to say that I am utterly exhausted. It was the first time I went right from a week long recruitment and into another and, while it was definitely draining, it has been an amazing couple of weeks!

U of A's recruitment week is structured almost identically to UCF's so I was already feeling good about it when I arrived in Tucson. After seventeen flight delays and a twelve hour travel day, I finally made it to AEPhi at the end of the first day of Set 1, or the Open House rounds. Set 1 and Set 2 (Philanthropy Days) went well and I spent the long days with the behind the scenes recruitment team.

Set 3 was fun because Arizona had a new skit this year! They adapted the Bring It On skit that both our chapters at Texas and Indiana have used. After seeing pictures from Texas and watching Indiana's skit about fifteen times back in January, I was excited to see Arizona's take on one of my favorite late 90s/early 00s chick flicks. I have to say that the script was so great and every woman was wonderful. All the great parts were included and Andrea, chapter President, even made a cameo as the guy who accidentally auditions for Pippen; hilarious!

Friday was a day off between Skits and Pref, so once we got all our recruitment business out of the way, I had a nice afternoon with a few great juniors. First we spent some time lounging in the courtyard soaking up the sun. We ended up only being out there for about twenty minutes before we started dripping sweat and feeling our skin begin to fry. But I was so happy to finally see some sun and enjoy the Tucson weather! I was beginning to forget that it was still summer after being inside for almost two whole weeks!

After that we had a great lunch at a sushi and Korean BBQ place, called Azian. Sushi was ridiculously cheap and the crunch roll I got was a pretty pink and blue.

Preference was on Saturday and during voting that night we collected phones from everyone. I found it pretty funny that out of the entire bin, there was literally one Android phone.

On Sunday it was finally Bid Day! Everyone was so excited to welcome home the next new member class. All of the merchandise (tanks, headbands, backpacks, beach balls) were adorable and made for some wonderful pictures! Bid day was held at a place called Kon Tiki, which matched the paradise theme perfectly.

Anxiously awaiting the new members' arrival!!

I am so happy I got to spend such a great week with the Arizona Phis! I had so much fun and I am SO  proud of their hard work all week long!

Readymade by Red Hot Chili Peppers

I love you, Orlando

Beta Zeta, University of Central Florida

I was beyond thrilled to return to UCF for a third time and for my second formal recruitment with Beta Zeta! I already knew the executive board and so many seniors and I was really looking forward to meeting the women that joined the chapter last year during my first TEC visit!

I got to Orlando the day before recruitment started so I jumped right in! The first two days of recruitment are the open house rounds, or UCF Days. This was the first year UCF Panhellenic did uniform shirts for the chapters and they also gave out PNM shirts for both days of the first round.

Sydney, chapter President, and I on UCF Day

After the second UCF day we got the list in early enough that we had time to go out for dinner. Alana had been telling me I had to try the new barbecue place near campus called 4 Rivers, so Sydney and I went. Everything I had was actually amazing. I was told I would need to be rolled out the door afterwards and I definitely felt that way.

Brisket, corn, green beans, mac n cheese, fried pickles and corn bread

On Philanthropy Day, everyone wore mint or white dresses. They also tried out a new craft that came from the new Recruitment Recipe Book on how to create a successful philanthropy round of recruitment. It is a great resource that gives lot of ideas on Sharsheret and Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Beta Zeta chose to make giraffes as part of EGPAF's Up 4 The Fight campaign. Below, Morgan attempted to draw the giraffe mascot by tracing her hand.

On Video Day every sorority at UCF shows a video they make about themselves. Beta Zeta was so incredibly proud of their video this year and I even got a sneak preview the day I arrived. It is so cute and really shows what it is like to be in the Beta Zeta chapter! Here is the video link, if you want to watch!

http://vimeo.com/98860548

Me with the executive board on Video Day

I was really excited for preference rounds because Alana was coming to surprise her sister and I love the songs that Beta Zeta sings at pref. I even got to do a little review in the morning with the chapter about pref and sealing the deal, so I had fun putting together that little workshop. Everything went so well through the rounds! There were some great surprise paddle reveals and I cried when Alana came out and hugged her sister, Casey.

Bid day was also a huge success! Everyone was incredibly happy with the new member class and so excited to welcome them all home. "Running home" is a big event at the end of UCF recruitment where the new members literally run down Greek Park to their new sorority's house. The chapters are all dressed for bid day and they stand in the street screaming for their new women. The fraternity men also made an appearance and apparently have their own name for the event; suffice to say that part did not make me happy. Other than that one small detail, it was a fabulous afternoon. Everyone took lots of great pictures and we had a great lunch at Margaritaville in Universal Orlando CityWalk.  

Bid day was so fun and I had such a great time with all of Beta Zeta. It was very hard to leave the chapter after such a great week but I know they will do wonderful things this year and that their newest members will add so much to the sorority!


Two By Two from The Book of Mormon soundtrack