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Veronika Rozmahelova is the first international student to pledge a sorority.
International student adds to greek life at Ole Miss
Student brings diversity to UM
Meredith Hastings
October 18, 2005
When asked about her first graffiti swap, Veronika Rozmahelova said she still could not get the permanent marker off her arms.
But Rozmahelova is not your typical Ole Miss sorority girl.
Rozmahelova is the first foreign student at the university to go through recruitment and pledge a sorority, said Julie Gerecke, graduate assistant for the Panhellenic Council.
Rozmahelova is a freshman international studies major from the Czech Republic.
"When I was going through Rush they called only my first name, not like all the other girls. And then they would ask, "Where are you from?" she said.
Rozmahelova came to Ole Miss and wanted to make friends, and she thought participating in recruitment would help, she said. Rozmahelova said she thought sororities served a good purpose and she wanted to be a part of it. With the help of Panhellenic Council President Lauren Moore, she registered for recruitment.
Like most potential new members, she said the whole process was one big surprise, she had never seen anything like it before. She pledged Kappa Alpha Theta sorority on Bid Day.
Rozmahelova said most international students do not go through recruitment because they are exchange students and only here for a year or a semester.
Rozmahelova first came to the United States two years ago as an exchange student to Baldwyn. She visited Ole Miss and decided to come here because of the university's international studies program and deep Southern traditions. She plans to stay here all four years, she said.
Rozmahelova said she did not know much about Mississippi before she came, but likes it so far. She said she has made many friends in her sorority and enjoys all of the activities.
"This brings diversity to our chapter and the fact that she wanted to become involved in the greek system is amazing" said Erin Smith, vice president of membership for Kappa Alpha Theta.
Smith said it is important to have well-rounded girls from all cultural backgrounds, and sororities can benefit from it as well.
Moore said the Panhellenic Council does try to encourage international students to participate in recruitment by inviting them to attend the greek life sessions at orientation. Recruitment counselors also hold meetings in every residence hall on campus.
Rozmahelova said there are no sororities in the Czech Republic, and she tried to explain the whole process to her family at home. It is hard for them to understand, so she plans to share every detail of it with them when she goes home at Christmas, she said.
"My family is happy because I am happy," she said.
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