8A • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
MONDAY,AUG.20,2001
RUSH
Pi Beta Phi sorority members practice fall recruitment songs Sunday morning outside their house on West 15th Street.
Recruitment process gets a makeover
By Julie Carter Kansan staff writer
Sorority fall formal recruitment has undergone changes in recent years.
recent years.
In the fall of 2000, the formal name changed from rush to recruitment, and all participants were required to wear the same Panhellenic T-shirts with the recruitment logo.
The dates have been pushed back to Aug. 25, 26 and Sept. 1, 2 and 3. In previous years, recruitment began the day residence halls opened. The change will give prospective sorority members a full week in Lawrence before recruitment begins.
Women have until Aug. 22 to decide if they want to participate in a sorority. After that, a late fee of $30 must be paid in addition to the $100 registration fee.
Women from the 13 sororities on campus voted to change the policy, said Kelly Jo Karnes, assistant director for Greek programs.
"We wanted the incoming women to be able to attend Hawk Week activities so they can feel like part of the University." Karnes said.
This year, all of the recruitment events will take place on the weekends, with bid day on Sept. 3.
But not everyone is happy about the changes this year.
"Sororities made you go to Hawk Week events," said Molly Mueller, Overland Park senior and president of Gamma Phi
Beta. "It was required to go during recruitment. I don't think as many people will go if they don't have to."
Mueller said living in Lawrence for a week can lead to dirty rushing. Mueller referred to "dirty rushing" as the process of unofficially recruiting women before the official recruitment process begins.
Carter can be reached at 864-4810 or writer@kansan.com
Program sees success in minority retention
By Dawn North Kansan staff writer
The second official year of HAWK Link is off and running. The program, sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, is a University-wide effort to increase the retention rate of freshman minority students.
Students included under this umbrella are African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Native Americans. However, anyone who would like to participate is welcome, said Robert Page, OMA director.
Page said that coming to a university could be intimidating, and it was important to have someone there to support the students.
Season Titus,HAWK Link student coordinator,has liked what she has seen happening within the program.
"Results thus far have been impressive." Titus said.
Last year 85 students were involved in the program, and this year more than 71 of them are returning, which gives HAWK Link an 84 percent retention rate. That number exceeds the total University retention rate of 80 percent and the average rate for minority students, which is 68 percent.
The University's retention committee has been so impressed with the program that it is considering expanding it, Titus said.
The program is designed to help students academically by connecting them with tutors, faculty mentors, financial aid advisors and academic advisors. Titus said.
She said the social aspect was also important. Making friends is another factor in a student's decision to return to college, she said.
"Results thus far have been impressive."
Season Titus
HAWK Link student coordinator
Renee Gregory, OMA program assistant and HAWK Link coordinator, said the personal connection made a big difference.
"The whole essence of how HAWK Link works is having that one primary contact that will help you navigate the system," she said.
Students can call the HAWK Link office and ask for tutoring or other help, Gregory said. Someone there can tell them who to call or walk them to the correct office personally.
Five student guides add a new dimension to the program. The guides have been assigned to 20 incoming freshmen who have expressed interest in the program.
Anissa Vitale, Shawnee senior, became a guide for the program because she said she saw a lack of minorities on campus and wanted to improve their numbers.
Guides will keep in contact through e-mail, attend orientation sessions, answer questions and mentor the new students.
Student guide Jamie Jones, St. Louis junior, met Philip Conway, one of her group members, at orientation. Conway, Kansas City, Mo., freshman, said he hoped HAWK Link would help him find his niche at KU.
North can be reached at 864-4810 or writer@kansan.com