By Sarah SumadiThe Daily Northwestern

Winds brought temperatures down to 8 degrees Wednesday night, but that didn’t stop about 400 women from huddling together on Deering Field awaiting their invitations to Northwestern’s 11 Panhellenic sororities.

“I better get Kappa because I’m seriously getting frostbite out here,” one student said.

Shortly after 6 p.m., sorority members, Panhel officers and potential new members counted down from 20 to one as each recruitment counselor gave students the envelopes containing their bids. The field erupted in cheering and screaming as the women opened their invitations.

“I’m so excited,” gushed Weinberg freshman Deepa Talwar, who had just received a bid to Delta Gamma. “I can’t wait to meet everyone and get started.”

A total of 407 women received bids this year, giving each new member class an average size of 36 women.

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life did not release the specific size of each chapter’s pledge class.

“The best part of Bid Night is seeing everyone’s happy faces,” said recruitment counselor Ashlee Richman, a SESP senior. “I just wish it weren’t outside – my feet are freezing.”

After the students opened their envelopes, they ran to their new sorority sisters, jumping up and down, hugging and singing.

Chants such as “I am a K, I am a K, I am a K-A-P-P-A-D-E-L-T-A,” could be heard as far as Norris University Center.

A few students lingered on the field crying, but most headed to the Sorority Quads to be welcomed by their houses.

Some chapters hosted activities at their houses, but others went downtown to celebrate.

Gamma Phi Beta took its new members ice skating, and Pi Beta Phi members treated their new sisters to chocolate fondue at The Melting Pot.

About 170 women dropped out of recruitment before Bid Night, which was about the same as the number who withdrew last year, said Erin Huffman, assistant director of fraternity and sorority life.

Former Daily staffer Sara Fay, who withdrew from the process, was invited back to eight houses after the first round of recruitment, but received only one invitation for the next round –