Megan
Hauglid
JOUR.
271
Sept.
26, 2012
News
Story #3
525
words
UNIVERSITY, Miss. – The beginning of
a new school year and the beginning of another recruitment week. The “running
of the girls,” as some may call it, proceeds followed by hugs, presents and an
activity-filled day. However, recruitment week also brings hurt feelings and academic
stress. Behind all of the excitement of rush, schoolwork is piling up and
students are cramming study hours. On the other hand stores on the square, such
as the Lily Pad and Pink and Proper, have gift basket orders piling up.
Some students are receiving more
homework, assignments, quizzes and tests from their teachers, and some teachers
are rescheduling their assignments until after rush week. Some may say that recruitment
week adds to academic stress, and others might just be organized. Regardless,
recruitment week adds extra requirements to everyone’s daily schedule.
However, after the rush of
recruitment week has finally surpassed, students are able to go back to their
daily academic schedule and businesses are able to go back to a less chaotic
schedule. Although recruitment is in the past, students are now left to face
the constant balancing acts of being in a sorority and maintaining their
academic schedule.
“After every round we had a gamma chi meeting,
and then we had to go to a floor meeting, and then the questions were nonstop,”
said Brittany Stubbs. “There were nights
I didn’t leave Crosby until 2:30 a.m. and then had to be back up at 5:30 a.m. to
release girls from rush.”
Stubbs said that the girls didn’t
care if she had a test at 8 a.m. the next day, rush was “life or death” to
them. Not only was recruitment demanding for students participating in rush,
but it was also demanding for students that committed to become a gamma chi
throughout recruitment. Gamma chis were required to walk their group of girls
to each sorority house and wait inside during the rounds. Gamma chis were also required
to hold floor meetings, attend gamma chi meetings and monitor the rushes while
they ranked.
Unfortunately school doesn’t forgive
a stressful time in a student’s life, however some teachers gave their students
the benefit of the doubt and rescheduled tests or assignments. Although, the
university enforces that recruitment week should not interfere with academic
responsibilities.
“I do notice more exhaustion among
students during this time,” said Dr. Sarah Moses. “And it’s not surprising to
me that several students were sick during this week or right after because of
exhaustion.”
On the positive side businesses located
on the square, such as the Lily Pad, benefitted from the rush of orders. Sorority
houses were filled with flowers, gift baskets and other presents to greet their
new members. Although stores are now left with meager merchandise, the stream
of orders increased sales for the local economy.
“We had over 800 orders which is the most
we’ve ever had over the years of doing this,” Kim Livingston, Lily Pad employee
said. “On Sunday we actually closed our doors.”
Now the chaos of recruitment week 2012 has
finally exceeded, students have become new members in their respected sorority
and local businesses have proceeded with their daily routine.
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