The first few weeks of class before recruitment are filled with Ole Miss sports t-shirts, CARE Walk orange tees, and high school hero shirts. Sorority members walk around campus in their oversized tees and norts. It’s the uniform, here on campus, and we all know it.

What I’ve begun to realize is that the PNMs, potential new members, only look at upperclassmen’s shirts when they pass us on campus. They don’t care if you have makeup on or not, or what you even look like. They don’t care if you smile at them as they pass by, or if you’re looking down at your phone. Their eyes focus only on the frocket, which labels you according to the group you’re part of. 

Not saying every freshman does it, and I realize that maybe they can’t help it. But, if I could give the freshmen going through recruitment one piece of advice, it would be to look up. Look past the frocket and the Greek letters, and look at the people who are wearing the shirt. That’s how you will find where you belong, and your new place to call home. 

Sure, the letters mean something; they stand for values and history. However, more important than the oversized tees, are the girls in them. If the PNMs look past the label, they’ll see who they would relate with. Who will help them, care for them, love them and be their friend. Who could help you pick classes, offer advice, help make sure you don't make some of the college mistakes that we older girls did. 

Here’s my challenge to the PNMs: don’t look closely at our t-shirts without looking at who we are.