Best 'Phriends' Forever

As the only girl in my family, I always longed for a sister. Now, I can proudly say I have gained countless sisters that will be lifelong friends. Alpha Epsilon Phi chapter dinners, pledge class activities, and philanthropy events combine to form the ideal college experience. My sorority has given me the opportunity to grow as a leader, student and friend. I value the memories I have from my pledge class retreat, initiation, and serving on the Alpha Epsilon Phi standards board and philanthropy committee. These events, as well as numerous others, have given me the chance to experience my first two years at The University of Texas at Austin with a welcoming network of girls.

A few of my 'phavorite' friends posing for a picture during rush. Source: Bryna Herskowitz 

Due to the impact of Alpha Epsilon Phi, I now have friends across the country, involved in different organizations, all with personalities that never allow for a dull moment. Alpha Epsilon Phi has given me a friend to sit next to in class, a person to share a midnight snack with, and ultimately someone who will be able to listen when needed. I value the memories I have from living in the sorority house, bonding with my little sister, and going on Austin adventures with my pledge class.

Not all aspects of sorority life are fun and games. Unfortunately, girls don’t always get along and there is bound to be drama. Yet, big risks come with big rewards. Although I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into when I rushed freshmen year, I stand by my statement that joining Alpha Epsilon Phi is one of the best decisions of my life.

Celebrating the first game of the football season with some pledge sisters. Source: Bryna Herskowitz

It’s astounding to me that my time as an active in Alpha Epsilon Phi is nearly halfway over. Though this is bittersweet, I cherish the time I have with my sisters now. Recently, a group of women visited the sorority house and explained they were celebrating their 10-year pledge class reunion. I had the opportunity to speak with a few of them and I learned that even as they grew older and moved across the world, Alpha Epsilon Phi was still able to bring them all back together for one weekend in Austin.

Courtney, my little sister, and I originally met in Hebrew school when we were in elementary school. Who knew we would come so far together? Source: Bryna Herskowitz

I feel fortunate to be a member of such a close-knit sorority and am confident that the bond we share is unlike any other chapter on campus. I am excited to see what the future will bring. I am thankful to know that Alpha Epsilon Phi gave me new sisters, future bridesmaids and best friends for life.

Phinally Home

Many special occasions are involved in Greek life on campus, but none compare to the spectacle of initiation into a sorority. Weeks of planning, secrecy, and preparation are involved to create this memorable day. In order to complete the transition from a pledge to a full-fledged member of the Omega Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Phi, I underwent various training, workshops, and rehearsals.

Each sorority on campus assigns a new member educator to teach pledges the background of the sisterhood. This process typically lasts 6 to 8 weeks prior to initiation. Cara, the new member educator for my pledge class of Alpha Epsilon Phi, prepared us for initiation with a series of pledge meetings. Most of these sessions were informal discussions about our acclimation to campus and sorority life. Other meetings covered more serious topics, such as alcohol awareness and our sorority’s philanthropy, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

I never guessed initiation would be shrouded in secrecy, but it wasn’t referred to by name until the day of the event. The executive board never even specified when it was going to take place. We were simply told by the president to dress in all white and arrive at the house at 8:30 a.m. on a designated morning. After an emotional speech from the president and learning the secret motto of the chapter, my pledge class learned the sorority’s handshake. These are two sacred rituals that felt extraordinary to acquire as a new member of Alpha Epsilon Phi. Each girl secured her initiation by signing her name in a book that is passed down from each pledge class.

A special initiation gift from my mother: a giraffe charm. Giraffes are the mascot of AEPhi. Source: Bryna Herskowitz

The initiation ceremony increased how much pride I have in my sorority. Though my mom and dad were not involved in Greek life, I am quickly learning all of the benefits it has to offer. Since initiation, I have gained a greater respect for the opportunities given to me through Alpha Epsilon Phi. I now realize how special it would be if my future daughter pledged Alpha Epsilon Phi. I will always cherish the day of initiation since it solidified my status as a sister and confirmed that I was “phinally” home.

Get The Party Started

While Greek life is certainly filled with philanthropy and academic standards, there are plenty of opportunities to partake in outlandish events. Namely, these events include college fraternity parties. At The University of Texas at Austin, there is one weekend each semester that is deemed to include the most outrageous parties. During the fall term, there is a cluster of parties the weekend before Thanksgiving break. In the second semester, the weekend after spring break is Round Up. According to Buzzfeed, Round Up is even one of the best college party weekends in the nation. Attendees of both events spend weeks in advance contemplating what to wear, whom to go out with, and the amount of alcohol he or she plans to consume. To Greek members on campus, these weekends usually include spilled drinks, an insane amount of picture taking, and possibly a few regrettable decisions.

As superficial as it may sound, a fashion faux pas at these parties could leave a lasting impression. Between word of mouth gossip, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook, it is hard to escape mistakes from either of these weekends. Dressing for these parties is by far one of the most difficult phases leading up to the events. To quote Mean Girls, it would be “social suicide” to be under or over dressed. The majority of people in attendance simply want to stick to the status quo. For parties in the fall, most girls choose to wear dark colored boots, wedges, dresses, or blouses. Yet, in the spring it is common to wear neon tank tops, face tattoos, and fanny packs. With experience and observation, sorority socialites are able to fine-tune their dressing skills to impress other partygoers.

Is the neon hurting your eyes yet? Above is a silly picture of my pledge class from Round Up 2013. Source: Bryna Herskowitz

The majority of attendees of these parties are active in Greek life on campus, leading them to attend with sorority sisters or fraternity brothers. Round Up is particularly special because fraternities often recruit rappers to perform at their parties. Past performers include The Ying Tang Twins, DJ Yoni, and VIC. This year, Ace Hood and Kid Ink are expected to perform.

My claim to fame: a picture with rapper, VIC. Source: Bryna Herskowitz

Now, here comes the elephant in the room: attendees may choose to consume an inordinate amount of alcohol at these parties. The alcohol served ranges from cheap beer, to Jungle Juice, and even Jell-O shots. Some people use alcohol in order to act uninhibited and let down the guard they worked so hard to establish. Yet, it is crucial to remember that this lack of inhibition goes hand-in-hand with irresponsibility. Although it may be an oversimplification, some students believe chugging alcohol will give them liquid courage. As always, please remember to keep it classy and party sensibly.

To many college students at The University of Texas at Austin, these parties are considered two of the best weekends of the year. Other parties during the school year train students for what to expect in terms of clothes, peers, and alcoholic beverages. Many people walk away from these parties with new friends, a few drunken texts, and a pride that accompanies surviving these extravagant weekends.

Rush Crush

Glitter, fuchsia sports bras, and monogram necklaces should not be determining factors for whether or not a girl receives a bid from a sorority. However, rumor has it that all of these props and costumes are dynamics that play a role in the Panhellenic formal recruitment process at The University of Texas at Austin. Recruitment, more commonly referred to as rush, is a grueling week long process that entails visiting fourteen sorority houses on campus. Though the cliché of “just be yourself!” is the motto for rush, the fact is that each and every girl is putting up a façade in order to represent her own idea of the perfect performance, while essentially selling herself to the sorority.

Although the system is supposedly confidential, oftentimes the recruitment process is criticized as superficial and unfair. Without a doubt, this claim can be justified considering that girls are initially judged based on five minutes of chit-chat with a current sorority sister to decide if a girl moves on to the next round. There are certainly contradictory aspects of this process, as well. First of all, each “rushee” is required to dress identical; day one and two consist of a plain white t-shirt and khaki shorts; day three requires a comfortable daytime dress; day four insists upon a conservative black dress; and the list goes on. How do these uniforms allow a girl to stand out among the crowd of mascara addicted, hairspray hooked, and overly enthusiastic young women?

The only picture I took during rush: an embarrassing selfie. Source: Bryna Herskowitz

Each sorority has its own method for singling out the 90 or so girls they are truly interested in among the 1,300 that are rushing. Bias also plays a fundamental role in formal recruitment due to the fact that having a sitting sister (a true sister related by blood) or legacy (mother or grandmother) that is in that sorority usually makes that girl an automatic recipient of a bid. There are many steps taken to prepare for the production that is rush, including buying outfits, writing essays, and asking for recommendation letters. Furthermore, older girls arrive in Austin days before rush begins in order to start “work week” and solidify their performance to the freshmen.

Shakespeare once proclaimed, “All the world’s a stage,” and rush is definitely a recital in its own right. The minor practices and more substantial training of the “rushers” and “rushees” combine to form a performance like no other. Though some may see this as hyperbole, formal recruitment is a type of Social Darwinism, à la The Hunger Games; only the best survive. Essentially, a girl must have all of the right components in order to make it into her top choice sorority. Whether this means literally practicing her performance in front of a mirror in the weeks leading up to recruitment, or putting on a persona similar to the one that she thinks that the sorority wants to see, each girl is performing for herself and for the sorority. Though rush concludes after one week, the decisions made during those few days impact college girls for the rest of their lives.