Over the past several weeks, the members of Geneseo's fraternities and sororities have been going through the recruitment process in search of new members to join the ranks of brother and sister this semester. As the recruitment process is drawing to a close, current Greeks, as well as potential new members, are preparing themselves for one of the most anticipated and celebrated nights of the Greek community each semester: Final Bids, a day and evening-long welcome and celebration of new members into the organizations.
This year, Final Bid Day will take place on Sept. 20. During this day, entire organizations will march around campus and through the neighboring village streets to pick up their new members, who will spend time with their new brothers and sisters. This will give them a sense of the close bonds the fraternities and sororities have.
"My favorite part of finals bids was seeing how close all the sisters really are and meeting the girls that became my best friends," said Meaghan Ruocco, a junior in Alpha Kappa Phi.
Lauren Gallo, a junior and member of Sigma Delta Tau agreed. On Final Bids, Gallo most enjoyed "meeting my future pledge sisters and just having a great first night being pampered and celebrated as the new additions to the sorority."
"Tradition is a big part of final bids because it is the first time new members are introduced to ritual," said Alpha Chi Rho senior Ryan Lang. "The ritual of bids marks the beginning of your affiliation with your organization."
Junior Rachel Greenberg of Phi Kappa Pi described what final bids meant to her and many others: "Final bids was the best experience of my life. It was the first time I got to bond with my future sisters."
On the evening of final bids, many students on campus will feel the presence of the Greeks within their dormitories but the Inter-Greek Council has worked with Residence Life to ensure that increased activity within residence halls does not disrupt other students and staff.