Successful first RUSH week for Gamma Rho Lambda

By Anna Koeppel

Published Sept. 7, 2007

Gamma Rho Lambda sorority held its first rush week last week to build on its first semester on campus in Winter 2007.

The colony began the week with an informational meeting Monday night, where officers outlined the goals and tenets of the colony.

Prospective members played flag football, made fondue, took a nature hike and wrapped up the week with a barbecue at the home of New Member Mother Martha Haddock, Vice President Kelley Robinson and Rush Chairwoman Kat Rieder, where they learned more about the colony and its active members.

Robinson said turnout at rush events exceeded expectations.

"We wanted to have at least five (new members)," Robinson said.

She said most Greek organizations in the Multicultural Greek Council gain two to three new members each semester.

Robinson predicted the colony will exceed its goal of five new members.

"I think we can definitely tell who the girls are who are going to stick around, and we hope they make the same decision Saturday," Robinson said.

Gamma Rho Lambda rush events held this semester are new. Last semester, prospective members attended an informational night and then chose whether to be inducted into the colony, Robinson said.

Rieder said the decision of which potential members to accept will be decided upon by the entire colony.

"We're taking a great interest in everyone," Rieder said.

Rieder said the colony planned for a diverse group of events so a prospective member would be able to find at least one event that interested her.

This semester, new members will be inducted Saturday in a secret ceremony led by officials from the national organization.

Inducted members will be considered the second half of the Alpha class.

The chapter will hold a ritual today as part of a mutual selection process, Robinson said.

She said the Gamma Rho Lambda rush week events are a mix of events similar to ones that Panhellenic Association chapters hold and ones from Gamma Rho Lambda chapters on other campuses.

"It's hard to say if we will do it the same way next semester," Robinson said. "But we definitely liked what we did the first time around."

Gamma Rho Lambda is a sorority for progressive women.

A letter from Robinson and colony President Ashley Price, which is addressed to prospective members, states "the foremost principle and ultimate goal of Gamma Rho Lambda national social sorority is to nurture a spirit of sisterhood among lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning or otherwise progressive women."

Robinson said she felt the message got through to prospective members.

"The women that have really stuck with us through the week have been diverse in a number of ways," Robinson said. "They're different in gender identity, religion, economic status and where we come from."

Robinson said although the rush week events followed a schedule, the mood was informal.

"We had events set up, but the core of every event is talking to us and talking to the different women in our colony," Robinson said.

Last Thursday, the colony paired each potential member with a current member for a hike in Devil's Icebox Cave in the Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.

"It was a more intimate setting," Robinson said. "It was kind of a stressful week, but we are there for each other."

Until the colony becomes a full-fledged chapter, all members are in the pledging process, Robinson said.

After three semesters at MU, the colony will become an official chapter.

The colony is in its second semester.

Robinson and the active members are the first half of the Alpha class and have not yet been initiated.

The colony will begin the day after induction with a colony meeting, and Robinson said the group will prepare for National Coming Out Week and Homecoming in October.

Freshman Tracy Pfeiffer attended every rush week event and said she plans to join the sorority on Saturday.

Pfeiffer said she heard about Gamma Rho Lambda from a friend who attends Arizona State University, where the sorority was founded.

After hearing about the group, she went to the national organization's Web site and contacted Robinson for more information.

"My whole life I've played on sports teams where there's been a lot of sisterhood," Pfeiffer said. "I didn't want to join a standard sorority."

Pfeiffer said she also plans to participate in Triangle Coalition and InsideOUT magazine, which are both LBGT-community oriented organizations.

Pfeiffer said she feels close to some of the members of Gamma Rho Lambda.

"We got welcomed into the fold immediately," she said.

Pfeiffer said Tuesday's fondue night was the most meaningful for her.

"It was the first day that we got to just sit around and play games," Pfeiffer said. "I thought, 'This is cool. This is something I want to be a part of.'"

Haddock joined Gamma Rho Lambda last year while she was a junior.

"I knew they were strong, independent women with the potential to change the Greek community," Haddock said. "I saw friends go through the rush process, but I wanted a group with diversity and goals like my own. This is a good way to make a big university really small."