A lower number of greek recruits couldn’t keep Baker sororities and fraternities from having another successful week of recruitment this year.

“It’s a busy week, but it’s a great week,” Brett Bruner, director of student life, said.

Bruner said this year 45 women completed the recruitment process by filling out a bid card for one of Baker’s four sororities.

Last year, the number of women who did so was 52.

Sixty-three men were given bid cards for at least one of the four fraternities on campus this year.

So far, 50 of these men have accepted a bid. Last year, the number of men who joined a fraternity was 85. Bruner said this number could still increase, as men are continuing to turn in bid cards.

While 45 percent of the freshman class joined a fraternity or sorority, the current number of bids accepted is down 42 students from last year.

Bruner said a lower number of incoming freshmen could have affected the number of students who went through recruitment.

However, he also said some of the reasons students had for withdrawing from the recruitment process were anywhere from financial reasons and time commitment issues to family circumstances.

Sophomore Hannah Schaake also noticed lower recruitment numbers while serving on the Panhellenic Council. This council, consisting of temporary disaffiliated sorority members, oversaw the recruitment process for the women, while the Interfraternity Council members oversaw the recruitment process for the men.

Schaake went from going through the bid process last year to serving as co-vice president of recruitment for the council this year.

“It was really interesting seeing it from the other side, especially from the Panhellenic point of view,” Schaake said. “It was a unique experience.”

Schaake said the council’s goal was to have 70 women registered for recruitment by Aug. 24.

“It took everything to get those girls registered,” Schaake said.

However, the number of women who registered dropped quickly, mostly due to finances, academics and wanting more time to adjust to college life.

But freshman Tara Chumley was one of the 45 women who went through and completed recruitment this year.

“I really just did it as a way to meet people,” she said. “It’s a really good way to meet people.”

Going into it, Chumley wasn’t sure whether she would end up joining a house or not.

“I went into it just with an open mind,” she said.

She ended up joining Delta Delta Delta sorority.

Chumley said it was the warm and welcoming women she met during recruitment there that made up her mind.

“I just felt the most comfortable at their house,” Chumley said. “And I really bonded with the girls. I could just see myself as friends with all the girls.”

While the recruitment process is over for the Panhellenic and IFC  sororities and fraternities, Kappa Alpha Psi and Zeta Phi Beta, Baker’s two National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations, are in the process of holding informational meetings for potential new members to outline the organizations and process.

Despite the lower number of Baker students accepting bids, Bruner is still pleased with the outcome of recruitment this year.

“I think it went very well,” Bruner said. “I’m very excited to see how these new members can become a part of the community.”