Cheers, hugs and brightly colored jerseys set the scene Saturday as University women received bids from sororities at the Lod Cook Alumni Center.
The number of women who registered for Panhellenic Council sorority recruitment this year increased 10 percent from last year, resulting in 1,045 potential members, said Angela Guillory, director of Greek Life and assistant dean of students.
The Interfraternity Council recruitment pool grew by 9 percent, taking in 635 potential members for fraternity recruitment, she said.
Students want to be part of the Greek experience, Guillory said in an email to The Daily Reveille. Last year, 18 percent of the University student body was Greek, she said.
“This is a national trend, but the LSU Greek Councils … work hard every year to produce quality publications, present a united front, and the reputation of the success of the community is known around the country,” Guillory said.
The National Panhellenic Council launched the Fresh Start program this year in an effort to educate potential members on Greek life and the opportunities it provides. The program started on Aug. 19 with a student and parent welcome.
“It gave the parents an idea of what Greek life was about,” said Jerry Whitmore, assistant director of Greek life. 
Potential members also experienced Community Bound, an event in which LSU students and faculty worked together to improve area schools.
The program continues Aug. 25, with an NPHC Greek 101 session and a Back-to-School Social on Aug. 26.
Whitmore said the program made students participating in recruitment more comfortable, and the number of potential members rose as a result of Fresh Start.
While individual Greek members reap personal benefits, Greek organizations also prove to be valuable to the University. The 2009-10 Greek Annual Report said University Greek students had a higher retention rate and higher five-year graduation rate than non-Greek students for the 2008-09 school year.
The report also stated all fraternities and sororities achieved an overall average 3.04 GPA for the 2009-10 school year. The University undergraduate average GPA was 2.91.
These organizations gave more than 12,000 hours of service work and raised more than $500,000 for philanthropic efforts for the 2009-10 school year, the report said.
Guillory said sororities and fraternities benefit students by providing an array of opportunities to gain leadership and service experience and to discover talents through involvement in various events throughout the year.
Lauren Becnel, mechanical engineering freshman, said she is looking forward to making lifelong friendships in her sorority, Tri-Delta.
Amber Beauchamp, biochemistry freshman, said she is excited about meeting new people in her Delta Zeta sorority. She said her favorite part of recruitment was philanthropy round because it gave her a chance to learn more about the service events she will be partaking in alongside her sorority sisters.
Students also form bonds with fellow chapter members and develop team skills by working with one another, Beauchamp said.
“Greek organizations provide an opportunity for students to belong to a student organization that is not only a support while in college, but also as an alumni,” Guillory said.
 
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Contact Juliann Allen at [email protected]