At TCU, Rho Gammas are sorority members who help guide new students during sorority recruitment.
These sorority members will take a break from their sororities to remain neutral and support everyone equally.
There are two types of disaffiliations when it comes to Rho Gammas.
There is partial and full disaffiliation.
With partial disaffiliation, the Rho Gammas can be subtly shown in short clips and pictures of the chapters’ videos and slideshows but should not be allowed to participate in testimonials or be made the center of the video.
With full disaffiliation, Rho Gammas are always prohibited in chapter videos or social media.
Full disaffiliation is what Panhellenic has done in the past years, except Rho Gammas can live in their sorority homes.
Their job is to help Potential New members or PNMs, make them feel comfortable answering questions, and give them advice throughout the week.
Before the recruitment process starts, Rho Gammas undergo training and prepare to lead their group of PNMs. The PNMs can go to the Rho Gammas for help at any time.
“I knew I wanted to be a Rho Gamma because my older sister was a Rho Gamma herself and told me how amazing the experience was,” said Morgan Czepiel, a senior double psychology and child development major. “Once I heard about her time, I knew I wanted to do it at some point in my college career.”
TCU sophomore journalism major Fiona Corrigan said, “This role of becoming a Rho Gamma will challenge me to become more efficient while staying calm and collected under pressure. Serving as a Rho Gamma will strengthen my ability to balance multiple commitments while ensuring that every PNM feels supported and empowered.”
Rho Gammas are there for the PNMs every step of the way, reminding each person coming in to keep an open mind and enjoy the experience.
Although the recruitment process can be intimidating, the Rho Gammas are a sense of comfort for those girls and are trained to know what to do and say when it comes to the emotions of girls coming in.
Because of these Rho Gammas and the Panhellenic Council, sorority recruitment at TCU is more than just finding a home or picking a sorority. It is all about finding friends, growing in confidence and joining a strong community that TCU encourages for all new students.
“I know what a difference having a supportive and encouraging Rho Gamma can make,” Corrigan said. “I want to be that person for my PNMs and remind them at the end of the day, you will only join one sorority.”
“My favorite moment from being a Rho Gamma was bid day being able to watch every one of my PNMs run home to a house they loved,” TCU senior nursing major Anna Kreie said. “I also loved being able to get closer with the other Rho Gammas in my travel group and being able to spend time with the other upper-class man from different chapters.”
The recruitment process starts with a virtual round, during which the PNMs watch videos to learn about the different sororities. Then, they go through many rounds in person, meeting sorority members, learning about their values and discussing their sisterhood and philanthropy.
“My overall experience being a Rho Gamma was very positive. It was a great way to end summer and start my senior year of college,” Kreie said.
All in all, Rho Gammas allows PNMs to feel comfortable, and they intend to brighten their experience, support these girls emotionally and be their biggest cheerleaders.
