I’ve had some requests to explain the Lehigh Greek system. So, if you have any questions about it, ill answer just about anything regarding Greek Life.
What is the party scene like and can anyone join Greek Life? @AMALehigh
@GracePenguin2
Traditionally (pre Corona) rushing started the second you land on campus, during orientation week. While Lehigh is a “fall rush school” it is a large advantage to know the brothers prior to the second semester. Pre Covid there were parties 5-6 times a week. It is going to be different this year but I would recommend that if you are interested in Greek Life to go to the initial events. It is much harder to decide to join Greek Life late in the spring.
For the gals the story if a little different. Your rush is much more formal and much more during the fall. Y’all will likely hear the term “dirty rush”. Dirty rushing for sororities is more hush hush and is less blatant. Examples: talking with sorority gals, getting coffee. These things are technically restricted. If you want to get dirty rushed go to parities. Not all sororities dirty rush, and being dirty rushed does not give you a huge advantage.
Formal recruitment takes place at Lehigh during the spring semester (January). There are plenty of informal, Panhellenic council events designed to introduce prospective new members to the NPC sororities at Lehigh. It’s not accurate to characterize anything as “dirty.” Sorority members meet first years in class, clubs, on campus — and yes, in coffee shops too (try Saxby’s!} and parties. Lehigh’s cultural Greek council also includes culturally-based sororities.
Is greek life happening again? Didn’t they suspend all of it last winter?
@virgosun Greeklife was “unpaused” mid march. Spring rush will definitely be different this year tho. Spring rush is typically for transfer students and sophomores. It is very rare for freshmen to receive a spring bid.
@rishnfapf12 Sorry, yes I misspoke. I meant to say fall rush. It should have read “FALL rush is typically for transfer students and sophomores. It is very rare for freshmen to receive a FALL bid.” Thank you for pointing this out 
@AMALehigh I suspect you are very unfamiliar with sorority recruitment. You are mistaken about first year women; no Lehigh first year NPC sorority prospective new member is permitted to join a sorority at Lehigh in the Fall; Lehigh is a deferred recruiting campus and first year women can ONLY join during the Spring semester. Additionally, no first year male can join a fraternity during the fall semester as well.
@Alumnamom Thank you for your response. I believe our differences in opinions come from our references of times. Yes, technically Lehigh is a Spring rush school, but it would be very misleading to suggest that most of the rushing isn’t during the fall. As I clarified in my previous post, it is highly irregular for a freshman to receive a fall bid, but there is one fraternity that does this. As I said in my original post, the sorority rush is far more dependent on the time between the Fall and Spring semesters. As you know the sorority bidding starts before the Spring term.
@amalehigh No first year can receive a bid from an NIC fraternity or NPC sorority during the Fall semester-- and if that’s happening at an NIC fraternity at Lehigh it’s underground, and not recognized by Lehigh’s OFSA. Lehigh specifically requires the completion of Lehigh 12.0 credit hours and a threshold GPA to affiliate. And, if you are going to opine on sorority matters, it’s important to get the terminology correct because that’s what the prospective new members will hear from Panhellenic. There is no “bidding” during the Fall for first years. A “bid” is an invitation to membership. Do upperclass sorority women meet first years out and about – in classes, parties, Lehigh After Dark, socially, through clubs and other events – of course! Does this mean that they will receive an invitation to membership during January primary recruitment (not rush)? There’s no guarantee that meeting affiliated women in the Fall will result in a bid for a specific sorority during primary recruitment in January. Students participating in Lehigh’s primary recruitment can receive a bid to one of the current eight groups. Men, as you know, can receive multiple bids to affiliate with Lehigh’s NIC fraternities.