Taylor Lanterman | Delta Gamma

Going Greek was never something I imagined for myself while thinking about college. I always knew WSU was the right place for me because it was close to home. Although it was only a 20 minute drive to campus, very few of my close friends were coming to WSU with me. I was nervous about not knowing anyone and never making friends by choosing to live at home and not on campus. A few girls who went to my high school asked if I was going through recruitment. To be honest, I didn’t know ANYTHING about being Greek and neither did they. We all went through the process together and I’m glad we did. 

I made friends I never thought I would have during recruitment week. It was fun to see where we all ended up. That experience was one that I would recommend to any girl living at home while attending Wichita State. It was a great way to meet people who will end up in other chapters and also meet girls who will become your future sisters!

Taylor Lanterman

Mallory Claybrook | Rho Gamma

Hi! My name is Mallory Claybrook, and I am a sophomore this fall at WSU. I am majoring in Finance with a minor in Spanish. I have lived in Wichita my entire life and cannot imagine my life in any other city, or any other school! This is my first year as a Rho Gamma, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this side of recruitment and help women find their letters!

In high school, I was always involved in clubs and in band. I was constantly busy and knew that I wanted to be busy in college also. My older sister (who is also a Rho Gamma this year) encouraged me to go Greek. I listened to her experiences of being a sorority woman at WSU and learned that being Greek is a totally different experience than what the media portrays. After talking to my sister I decided that I, too, wanted the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself.  So, I decided to go through formal recruitment. Despite the fact that I was a legacy, my sister encouraged me to decide on the chapter that was best for me and not to pick a chapter just because I had family ties.  I made a promise to myself that I would not even think about my biological sister when I was thinking about the women I would like to have as sorority sisters.

During recruitment, I relied a lot on my Rho Gamma to help me sort through my thoughts! She helped me by calming my nerves, answering all my questions and by helping me make the right decision for me. My Rho Gamma helped me a lot by setting apart my sister from myself. I know that I made a good decision in picking the right chapter for me. I was able to choose the chapter whose values fit mine; not my sister’s. Now it is my turn to help women find their own letters!

Going Greek was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Even though I have only been in my chapter for a year, I know have made a difference in my chapter. I currently hold a leadership position in chapter, I have participated in different events, and I have made some of the closest relationships in my life. To me, being Greek is upholding a higher standard academically; giving back to the community through philanthropy and community service; participating in campus activities; supporting campus groups, teams, and organizations; supporting the Greek community by wearing our letters; and truly living the values of our individual chapters in our everyday lives, for the rest of our lives. Being Greek has given me amazing experiences and has taught me so many life lessons…And I’m sure there’s more to come!

I sincerely encourage every woman to try sorority life at WSU. Being a sorority woman opens up so many opportunities and creates so many personal connections not offered anywhere else.

All the best,

Mallory Claybrook

Susan Lickteig | Rho Gamma

Hello Potential New Members!

My name is Susan Lickteig and I am a recruitment counselor for the red team during this year’s Formal Recruitment process. I am a sophomore here at Wichita State and I am majoring in Secondary Education Mathematics. I have spent my entire life in Wichita. I attended Wichita High School East and when it came down to choosing a university, I could not think of leaving Wichita.

I was raised a Shocker and knew that I would be a Shocker for life. Both of my parents went to Wichita State so Shocker pride was very high in my family. Not only did they both go to WSU, but they were both involved in the Greek community as well. Because I was a legacy, I was introduced to sororities at a young age. My mother took me to various events that her sorority held over the years. Had my mother not introduced me to Greek life, I never would have thought about going Greek. I am very grateful for my mother because joining a sorority has been one of the best decisions of my life so far.

After finding my letters, campus life became so much better for me. I live off campus so getting involved on campus was very difficult. Once I joined a sorority, I met so many girls that had the same interests and wanted to get involved just like I did. I became much more active by holding a position within the chapter, joining clubs, volunteering, and meeting others throughout the Greek community. Each sorority is very diverse.

Within each chapter, there are many different personalities and majors. Having such diversity is great because you will have a sister in a majority of your classes. I almost always have sisters that also act as study buddies. In each sorority, scholarship is very important. Some people believe that if they join a sorority they will not have time for their homework but this is far from the truth. The chapters do everything they can to help you succeed. Most chapters provide resources like computers, copiers, printers, old study guides, and some office supplies to help us improve. You should not have to worry about not having time for anything. You can choose how much time you want to put into your chapter. But once you see how great Greek life is, I am confident that you will want to get involved in your chapter’s leadership roles, philanthropy, sisterhood events, formals, and mixers.

When I went through the recruitment process last year as a freshman I had my heart set on one sorority, my mother’s. However, on the first night I realized that I was interested in all of the chapters. I was opened up to all of the values and philanthropies and it made my decision so much more difficult. Luckily, I had a great recruitment counselor to help me along the way. She was very encouraging and told me to pick the chapter that I connected with the most. I hope to be just as supportive as she was and I cannot wait to help you find your letters and your sisters that you will have for life!



Have a great summer!
Susan Lickteig

Ashlyn Funston | Rho Gamma

Hey there! My name is Ashlyn Funston and I'm a sophomore here at WSU. I'm excited to say this is my first year being a Rho Gamma! I'm so glad to have the opportunity to be a part of the recruitment process and to help PNMs find their letters.

I went through recruitment just a year ago, in the fall of 2012. Going Greek was the best decision I've ever made and it has benefited me in numerous ways. Being a legacy (a woman who has a mother, grandmother, aunt, or sister initiated into a chapter), I was eager, nervous, and excited to go through recruitment. My older sister, who was in a chapter, had encouraged me to go Greek. Hearing her perspective of what it meant to be Greek made me realize that it wasn't what most people believed it was. Even I made the mistake of believing all of the stereotypical myths about Greek life. It's about getting involved in an organization, reaching out to the community and making a difference, philanthropies and volunteering, building relationships within the Greek community, representing Greek life positively and proudly wearing your letters, and best of all, bonding with your sisters and making a difference in your own chapter!

Being involved in Greek life has helped me become more outgoing, independent, self-confident, and it has definitely helped me manage my time wisely. It's a change of pace coming to college and learning how to use your time management skills. Many people also think that if you get involved, your grades will suffer. I thought this too, before I became a part of Greek life, but I've learned that it has actually helped me improve in many areas. I'm an Elementary Education major and I've found that there are women in my chapter that share the same major! I've found it to be so helpful to have older members to look up to and give me advice through my journey to become a teacher.

Having an older sister who had three years of experience being a part of Greek life is really what helped me make my decision to go Greek. I felt as if I had nothing to lose by giving it a try, and it was well worth it! I couldn't imagine my life without being Greek. It's such an awesome and humbling experience and it has definitely opened my eyes to help me through my college journey. I've made many wonderful relationships and have found some of my best friends already in just my first year as a sorority woman.

I was full of emotions during the first night of recruitment; excited, nervous, happy, and scared of what the women in each chapter might think of me. Once I had the chance to visit each chapter, my nerves were put to ease because I knew that I just needed to be myself. My Rho Gamma encouraged me to be confident and to choose the chapter that I felt most comfortable with. I had an awesome Rho Gamma who helped me find my letters, so that's what I'm here to do for my PNM's!

Best of luck,
Ashlyn Funston