[AGD4me]

From Chapman's student newspaper, The Panther:

Alpha Gamma Delta joins the Greek system
By Zach Battin
Panther Staff Writer

It doesn’t take much more than a walk from the dorms to campus to see just how much Greek life is in demand at Chapman University ----- fences are covered with signs welcoming as many as 30 to 50 new girls into each sorority.

Noticing that the sororities were nearly bulging at the seams, Chapman officials decided to add a new chapter.

Of the 26 total organizations in the National Panhellenic Council, four are represented at Chapman.

The first step to integrating a new group: let the council know that Chapman was shopping for a sorority.

Officials sent a letter to all the groups not represented on campus. Those interested responded and sent back their information.

Eleven of the groups that responded were chosen to tour the campus and give presentations to a panel made up of members of Chapman’s Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, administration and Associated Students.

After the presentations were made, the panel voted on which sorority was best suited for the Chapman community.

There was much to consider. Would the new group be competing for the same kinds of girls as the other sororities? Would the group’s focus blend well with the values held here at Chapman?

In the end, only one was left standing ----- Alpha Gamma Delta.

Representative alumni swooped onto campus to start recruiting girls to the new house as soon as the fall “Rush Week” began to close in.

“We told these girls, ‘Participate in formal recruitment. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, Alpha Gamma Delta is starting a new chapter on campus and we may be right for you,’” said Nancy Knickerbocker, the International Vice President Extension for Alpha Gamma Delta.

Knickerbocker said what attracted the sorority to Chapman was the large concentration of alumni in Orange County, representing 17 different chapters.

“We also felt that there was a similarity between the Alpha Gamma Delta purpose and Chapman’s own mission statement,” said Patricia Floren, International Vice President of Membership for the sorority.

Alumni set up shop on campus to interview the women interested in becoming part of the new house.

The sorority’s members are looking for girls who meet four requirements: scholarship, leadership, service, sisterhood. Leadership is especially important, considering the difficulties that come with starting a new chapter.

One of the main selling points to women on campus seems to be the idea of founding tradition. Sophomore Madeline Dow was one of many attracted to the new chapter.

“It’s an opportunity to mold a new sorority into whatever we want it to be,” she said.

For the girls who end up making the cut and accepting their invitations to join, the rest of this semester will be a challenge. They will have to learn the sorority inside and out.

“It’s a double education process,” Floren said. “Not only are they learning about Alpha Gamma Delta, but we have to teach them the logistics of actually operating a chapter.”

Many of the alumni in the area will serve as advisors/sister-mothers/helpers, though. Knickerbocker and Floren hope to see the new chapter recruiting more in spring, provided they have room.