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HOUGHTON - This Valentine's Day, the sisters of Michigan Technological Unversity's Delta Phi Epsilon chapter will send valentines to people they don't even know.

The sisters will hold a recruiting event, titled "Love is in the Air," Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Wadsworth Hall designed to attract new members, but also to show their support for troops serving overseas.

"(The valentines) are going to the 215th Brigade Support Battalion in Iraq," Vice President of Recruitment Brett Johnson said. "One of our sisters who just joined, her older (biological) sister is the battallion leader."

The cards will be sent in a large package to student Autumn Clore's older sister, 2nd Lt. Kelly Clore, who will then distribute them, Johnson said.

The idea for the event was inspired by an event the sorority sisters held a few years ago during which they made Christmas cards for troops. Johnson said many graduated members of her organization have gone on to serve in the military. This year, women felt it was the right time to honor those in the military again.

"I just felt it was a good time, a good year, why not throw it back in there?" she said.

The event also fulfills two of the sorority's five S's, characteristics they strive to build recruiting and other events around.

"Our sorority is kind of founded on what we call the five S's - social, sisterhood, service, scholarship and self," Johnson said. "This falls under service and social awareness."

The recruitment is different from the typical rock climbing or other recruitment event in that it benefits others.

"A lot of times they don't really involve anyone outside of the organization or the girls we're recruiting," Johnson said.

Sorority sister and third-year student Kelsey Kusibab said she was looking forward to making the valentines.

"It's exciting to be able to show our support for our troops," she said.

The women said the valentines will not be romantic and remind troops they are appreciated.

"They're going to be thank yous, but valentines," Johnson said. You can't be like, 'be mine valentine,' because you don't know who they are."

Johnson said the sorority has approximately 18 members and expect four or five possible members to help make cards.

For more information about Delta Phi Epsilon, visit dphie.students.mtu.edu.

Layla Aslani can be reached at laslani@ mininggazette.com.