For years, Panhellenic sorority recruitment has been led by Rho Gammas: young women who disassociate themselves from their chapters during recruitment week to avoid showing bias when recruiting potential new members (PNMs).

A recent proposal by TCU Panhellenic members would end the practice of neutrality and allow Rho Gammas to remain active with their sorority during recruitment. 

“I think not knowing the Rho Gam’s affiliation makes it more fun and makes it better for the PNM when talking to her about each sorority,” said first-year fashion merchandising major Elly Beldin, a member of the Phi Mu chapter. “But I felt I had a connection with mine, and I do not think knowing what house she was in would have affected my experience because I think each one would want you to go to the sorority you belong in.” 

As it currently stands, each Rho Gamma must be disaffiliated from their chapters when mentoring prospective new members going through formal recruitment, so PNMs do not know what sorority the Rho Gamma belongs to during recruitment. This means all communication and any social media posts with the sorority must be halted. 

The current TCU Panhellenic bylaw states: “The Recruitment Team and all Recruitment Guides should be ‘disassociated’ from the respective NPC [National Panhellenic Council] chapters for the period immediately preceding recruitment and during so their actions and decisions support the welfare and best interests of the Panhellenic community.”

With the possible new amendment, this section would be deleted entirely if the majority of members in each chapter vote “yes.” 

According to the rationale slide presented to each chapter following the amendment, a Rho Gamma could still remain unbiased while remaining affiliated with her chapter. Adequate training would be implemented so the leaders would not be outwardly positive or negative based on their association. 

Sophomore pre-business major Jillian Tibbils, a member of the Sigma Kappa chapter, said even though she was not drawn to her Rho Gam for advice, she could see how it might be a different story for others.  

“I mainly asked her [the Rho Gamma] for a little advice towards the end trying to figure out which house to choose,” Tibbils said. “For me, I was not particularly connected to her or drawn to her, but I can imagine if you were super close or connected to your own it could sway you to choose a house based on that.”

The rationale also said that the section removal would reduce deductions for non-compliance with disaffiliation and limit work for Panhellenic Executive Board members over the summer. 

Members of each chapter will vote at their individual meetings. The votes will pass through representatives from each chapter who are on TCU’s Panhellenic Council who will give the results to the Panhellenic Executive Council to decide which amendments will pass.