By Emma Moore
TOLEDO, OHIO – With tensions lingering around the room and excitement filling the silence, two initiated members of Chi Omega Fraternity stood behind a painted banner waiting to reveal themselves to their new littles.
On March 11 the Toledo chapter of Chi Omega held their big/little reveal. When woman join a sorority, one of the many things they experience is the process of big/little. Big/little, similar to mentor/mentee, serves the purpose of bringing alike people together and giving new members in the chapter someone to go to and lean on throughout their new member process.
New members go through a series of mini dates with all of the current potential bigs at the time, to get to know all of them. Potential bigs are girls who have been in the chapter for a year or longer and are well acclimated and able to help someone else on their journey. The mini dates span across multiple weeks allowing all of the girls to get to know each other and hopefully be paired up as best as possible.
The process of big/little is often a stressful one for active members, as a little is not guaranteed, and the pairings are made with the interest of the new member higher than that of the active member. It is not uncommon for people to go thought the process more than once during their time in the sorority.
Sophomore Kendal Schmidt said that “last semester I was not given a little, so getting the opportunity now is so exciting, and I cannot wait to share our sisterhood with my new little!”
It is experiences like this one that keep people continuing to go Greek, even with the dwindling numbers over the past several years. The big/little process is one that lasts for a week. The big must hide her identity throughout the week, while giving gifts to the little and posting on an Instagram page to get more information about their little. Once the week comes to a close, there is a reveal held to share with the littles the identities of the bigs.
Watching the event and the joy and excitement on the girls faces made it evident the stress of crafting gifts and preparing for the week was all worth it. As the new bigs hid behind the banner awaiting their turn to jump out and surprise their little, the rest of their families stood around in excitement anticipating the new addition to their family.
“This is one of my favorite events, watching the families grow and the new connections made between new members and actives is an amazing adventure to watch,” said excited senior Abby Harris as she awaited the reveal of her family’s new addition, as her little is now getting a little.
And then the excitement was released.
The bigs jumped out from behind the banner, one by one, and shared their identity with the newest member of their family. There were hugs, squeezes, and even a few tears shed as the littles were made a little more at home.
Some would become each other’s person, some would become roommates, and some would simply just be friends, but they will always have this experience to reminisce on bringing them together.
Emma Moore 