The Elon University Interfraternity Council’s annual spring recruitment is taking place this week, through Feb. 12.

Elon junior and IFC president Chase Gurey said 210 male students are registered to participate  this year. Throughout the week, the potential new members attend events to get to know the university’s eight recognized IFC fraternities that participate in formal recruitment: Alpha Epsilon Pi, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Upsilon, Kappa Alpha Order, Sigma Chi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Pi and Zeta Beta Tau.

Potential new members have two weekends of activities such as open houses and a dodgeball tournament. Orientation was held on Feb. 2, where PNMs met with the brothers of each fraternity.  

Three open houses were hosted Feb. 4 and on Feb. 5 to 7, PNMs toured the fraternity houses they were interested in and learned more about each fraternity’s respective philanthropies and brotherhoods. 

Elon freshman Nicholas Chin is participating in recruitment and said he was feeling scared of what the fraternity brothers would think of him. 

“I was being associated with every other PNM until I had to be my true self when having these more personal and individual conversations with brothers during open houses,” Chin said. 

Last fall, the IFC doubled the number of recruitment days for PNMs, extending the process from five to 10 days. Gurey said this year’s spring recruitment will also take place over 10 days and accommodate a larger pool of PNMs than in the fall.

“It’ll be cool to see how the extra days work out for the new guys as well as the small chapters, who will have more time with the big groups coming in,” Gurey said.

Invite-only events are set to begin on Feb. 8 to 10, where PNMs receive possible call-backs to certain houses. The PNMs meet with the brothers in smaller, more personal environments. 

According to the offcial schedule Feb. 11, the PNMs, IFC board and recruitment mentors are invited to the Elon men's basketball game against William and Mary. During the game, brothers will vote on which PNMs to give a bid to. 

Bid Day is set for Feb. 12, when PNMs can accept a bid from a fraternity if they are offered one. They will then spend the day celebrating with fraternity members. 

Even before spring recruitment week started, Elon sophomore and rush chair of the Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter Jesse Riback said brothers of individual chapters and IFC board members prepared and met PNMs months in advance.

Riback said he enjoyed being a PNM more because he didn’t have to feel the pressure most brothers face when choosing members.

“I went in with a big group of friends my freshman year, and that made it easier because we all had the same mindset,” Riback said.

Another round of IFC recruitment will occur during the Fall 2023 semester for those who are unable to participate this spring. To learn more about the recruitment process and information on the individual organizations visit Elon’s fraternity and sorority page.