Alecea Davis arrived at Western as a Bowling Green resident looking to belong to another group. She came to Western with her friends, but joined the Kappa Delta sorority on her own.

She said once she stepped into the KD house, she knew she’d found her fit and best friend, Lori, with whom she stays in contact.

Davis is now the programs and events coordinator at Western and KD alumnae, and she works as vice-president of membership for KD.

Once a year during a long weekend, Davis and 12 of her KD friends meet up to shop, eat and drink wine.

“We have all been there for each other as the years have gone by,” she said. “We have all married and had babies. We have never missed a wedding.”

Davis said it is rare now to find groups of girls that still get together after graduating from the sorority, but the bond never goes away.

Recruitment week is suppose to strengthen that bond with members of each organization. “Go Greek” buttons and car decorations celebrating Greek life have been present across campus this past week.

The Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Chi Omega, Kappa Delta, Phi Mu and Sigma Kappa sororities participated in this year’s recruitment.

Recruitment week is the biggest time for the Greek community, said Amy Demonbreun, Rineyville senior and Panhellenic council president.

“These new members are going to be carrying on the tradition of their sorority,” she said.

The first two days of the week were designated for the prospective recruits to visit each house and get to know the sororities. The members of the sorority narrowed down a list of girls that they invited back for Preference Day, where they learned more about the sororities’ identities.

The tone became more serious as the sororities began weeding down their list of recruits for Bid Day, which happened on Sunday, when the recruits found out which sororities they were invited to join.

About 350 girls participated throughout the week, but only about 30-40 girls were chosen for each sorority, which left around 100 girls not chosen, said Gary Wiser, Greek affairs coordinator.

Fraternity recruitment is much more casual with fewer mandatory events, but recruitment is still vital to the Greek community and remains a structured system each year to make sure the best fit is found for each organization, Wiser said.

“Recruitment is the life-blood of Greek life,” he said. “Each chapter is trying to find the right people to join that can fit in with the ideas of promoting sisterhood and brotherhood. It is the best time to formally meet those who can benefit the group’s vision.”

Each sorority begins planning for fall recruitment during the spring semester by training the last recruiting class on “conversation techniques.” There are workshops one weekend in July where they begin thinking of skits and ideas for the new recruits.

Each is important for the recruits to see, said Jacquelyn McGhee, London senior and Kappa Delta sorority member.

“This is a great opportunity for girls coming from high school to join a group of girls to identify with,” McGhee said. “This week is crucial for us to succeed because without new girls we cannot go on.”

Sorority membership is more than just a group of girls to hang out with during the four years at Western; it is a lifestyle that goes on after graduation, McGhee said.

Davis said that during her senior year recruitment she looked around and noticed the bonds that had formed throughout her four-year membership.

“You realize that these are the girls that you have lived and shared with. These are the girls that you loved to hate and loved to love through thick and thin, just like your wedding vows,” McGhee said.

The meaning of becoming Greek is much more than belonging to a group, McGhee said.

“This is the best way to stay involved with campus,” she said. “The girls you meet now will not just be your friends during the four years you are here. These are the girls that when you die, they will show up to your funeral.”

Louisville freshman Paige Sherrard found out about what sisterhood was really like on Sunday afternoon when Sigma Kappa sorority welcomed her as one of the newest recruits.

Sherrard said she looked forward to learning more about sisterhood and the bond that the Sigma Kappas have formed.

“When I got the call this morning about being asked to be a Sigma Kappa, I was jumping around screaming,” she said. “This is the best way I can think of to get welcomed to Western. I’m pumped to start the new year now.”

Reach Jill Erwin at diversions@chherald.com.