While students and faculty are still adjusting to the new school year, sorority members have already found their roots due to their early move in. Just like freshmen move in during orientation week, sorority members also return to campus, only this time, it’s for work week.

Work week is a time for sorority members to prepare for formal recruitment. While it is a time for learning, it also gives chapter members time to bond and get to know each other.

“I like hanging out with all of my sisters and getting to know everyone more,” said Eileen Jamie, sophomore Delta Zeta member.

Each sorority’s work week functions differently but each day generally consists of learning, practice, lunch, content and a fun activity. Most days started at 9 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m.

During these times, the chapters review what each day looks like and what makes it special. They prepare for day one which is Sisterhood, day two which is Philanthropy and day three which is Preference, all accumulating with the final Bid-Day.

“Work week matters because it makes sure every member feels comfortable and confident talking to a potential new member (PNM),” said Emily Anderson, Vice President of the Alpha Phi Chapter.

By improving conversational skills through various practice rounds, members are learning to better understand their sorority and others.

“We [members of Delta Zeta] would spend long hours together and sometimes we would pretend to be a PNM and so I would have to ask my sister’s questions and I got to know them even better, which is fun,” Jamie said.

But work week is not an isolated event. The University of Denver Panhellenic community works tirelessly to support one another by sending good-luck gifts or helping other chapters with their practice rounds. Chapters Delta Gamma and Gamma Phi Beta played a round of capture the flag after a long day of practice.

The different events help keep work week entertaining and unique. Every sorority is different, and by practicing with one another the, “chapters can see that every house is working hard to represent the best version of themselves,” said Anderson.

Beyond practices, the chapters differed with fun events they did to end the day. Chapters did hikes, mini golf, bowling, movie nights and a self defense class with campus security.

Despite the entertaining events, these long days start to impact the members of every chapter.

“The days were long and you could tell we were all pretty drained…while it was tough we were doing it together,” said Erin House, member of Delta Gamma.

Others felt similarly, “it was hard and kind of draining talking for that long all day, every day” said Jamie.

While the work week days are long they are equally rewarding.

“Watching their [the executive board] dedication to recruitment and learning all the details that make rush rush opened my eyes to how valuable this sisterhood will be in my college experience and life,” said House.

It’s no secret that hours of work must go into each sorority’s work week, but it’s the long hours spent together and hard work put in by each member that fosters such a strong sisterhood.

“We can practice a thousand times but you can’t teach people to love the chapter,” said Anderson.

Formal recruitment begins this week on Sept. 25, and there is still time to register.