dzrose, I totally agree with you about "recruitment" sounding like the Army. I can also think of an even more negative connotation it has - cults. I think "membership selection" would have been a better choice if they were hell bent on changing it.
The Crows offically call their pledges "postulants" - I think that is kind of cool. Unoffically, they called them bags (yes shadokat, I see a pattern!
) Some sororities use the name of their flower or their jewel.
As I've said before though, even the nicest name can sound nasty if you want it to. It is not WHAT you say it is HOW you say it.