Like many other aspects on Drake’s campus, fraternity and sorority recruitment will look very different than previous years. However, the Iowa Delta chapter has done countless training to make up for the lack of in-person recruitment such as meeting with alumni and Sig Ep national figures to discuss the importance of online recruitment.
Last Tuesday, members met with Mike Wolbert, who was previously a mentor to a handful of brothers at Sig Ep’s Ruck Leadership Institute last year.
“It was great hearing from Mike again,” said senior Noah Brinkmeyer. “He really makes you discover your own understanding of Sig Ep’s values and will always challenge you to be better in the long run.”
The Iowa Delta members also met with alumni Tony Lorino, the Vice President of recruitment in 2000. Lorino, who is currently the CEO of Throwback Nation Radio, talked to the brothers about being the best the fraternity can be during hardships.
“Tony spoke about how he was one of the founding fathers of Iowa Delta when they were rechartered,” said sophomore Hunter Hildebrand. “They had no idea what they were doing, but regardless they went with no fear. He related that to these unprecedented times for recruitment and really inspired us.”
Lastly, the brothers met with Michael Seraphin, who is also a Ruck Leadership Institution mentor. Seraphin had the brothers discuss their own Sig Ep journey and the reasons behind joining the fraternity when they were new members.
“It was awesome to have someone come in and talk about vulnerability and the Sig Ep experience,” said junior Austin Ash. “Being open about your experiences and having tough conversations is one of the main ways we can be more balanced men and improve the Sig Ep experience.”
Overall, the Iowa Delta chapter seems optimistic about the remote recruitment setup and has online events throughout next week. While fewer students are signed up to move through the recruitment process, the Iowa Delta chapter’s outlook has not changed.
“Although it is a challenging time, the spirit and resilience of Sig Ep and its members have not wavered,” said Vice President of Recruitment Hoff Boyea. “We are going into the school year with uncertainty, but one thing is for certain. Sig Ep will survive and thrive. We have a positive outlook on recruitment this fall and the rest of the year.”