Sorority Bid Day has always been an enigma to me. I’ve seen the spectacle on the Old Main lawn, sure, but I really never knew what the hell was going on. After all, I didn’t get a bid freshman year (or so I’ve been told), so this sort of gathering really isn’t in my immediate area of expertise.

Thankfully, Panhellenic Council President Rachel Franceschino was there to explain it for me.

The circus in Old Main is the culmination of a 10 day rushing process. After getting to know the various Penn State chapters, potential bids rank their top three choices on bid preference night. Per National Panhel rules, everyone is guaranteed to get a bid (so much for me), but some girls will only put one choice down. Approximately 80 girls didn’t get a bid last night because they only expressed interest in one sorority.

All in all, 926 individuals accepted bids into 18 sororities yesterday — a record, according to Franceschino.

“Myself and the rest of the Panhellenic Council Executive Board are absolutely thrilled with how well recruitment went this year,” said Franceschino. “Being able to watch all of the new members opens their bids yesterday in Alumni Hall was definitely a moment from sorority life I will remember forever.”

Congratulations to all the new members of Greek life!