This year, the National PanHellenic Council (NPHC) has welcomed some of its highest numbers of new members in years. With six NPHC organizations on Longwood’s campus, recruitment numbers in the past have not always been high.
Although this spring, with four NPHC organizations having already had their new member shows, a total of 17 students have joined Longwood’s NPHC family.
The organizations that have had their new member shows include Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. (one new member), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. (four), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. (10) and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. (two).
“I am ecstatic about the new members this year. They have been waiting a long time for this moment,” said Ericka Godwin, sister of Delta Sigma Theta. “They are ready to work with not only the members of NPHC but with the members of IFC and CPC.”
According to senior communication studies major and NPHC president Tristan Cunningham, all organizations have been paying large attention to past recruitments and incorporated what they have learned at conferences and other NPHC events to start finding and reaching out to new members throughout the entire school year. He believes that these changes have helped them tremendously increase their new member numbers this spring.
“Recruitment is traditionally something that people can be hesitant about doing in an NPHC organization because of the idea that they will find us instead of us finding them,” said Cunningham. “I think that mentality kind
of shifted a bit when we looked around the room and realized how small we were as a council and we each made a conscious effort to grow our organizations and our NPHC.” He also stated that all organizations
decided to promote spring recruitment to students in the fall in order to get an early jump on potential new members.
According to Cunningham, the recruitment and new member process for NPHC organizations differ depending on which NPHC organization a member chooses to join. “Delta Sigma Theta does not recruit. Each and every one of those members reached out to me about their interest,” said Godwin. “I just made sure I kept in touch with them about upcoming events and service projects. I hope the girls are able to extend the name of NPHC across campus to those who do not know much about the council.”
Each organization holds a new member show that showcases their new members and displays their knowledge and passion for their newly joined organization. These shows take place after each member has participated in new member classes to learn about their organization.
This year was extremely important for one NPHC organization, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.. After only having one member (Godwin) for the past year, they brought the biggest line so far of all NPHC organizations, which include ten new members.
“I am really proud of Ericka Godwin and the Farmville Alumni Chapter for bringing in a line of ten,” said Cunningham. “That is the largest line that has been seen on Longwood’s campus since I have been here (Fall 2009).” Both Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. have yet to have new member shows. According to Cunningham, the council is not sure yet if they will be having new member shows, but all organizations are hoping so.
“I think this means longevity for the council and I know that is something that is consistently harped on,” said Cunningham. “We have to make sure we keep getting younger members instead of juniors and seniors and start pushing to get sophomores and freshman. This means fresh ideas. They are going to take this council and hopefully the entire Longwood community to the next level where it needs to be taken.”
