so are you saying, the rushees should just be able to pick any house they want and join? the sisters should have to end up living and socializing with women they have nothing in common with? no one should be cut and the houses should just get so huge they're unmanageable?

Part of the allure of the Greek system is that NOT everyone is a member. If everyone can join, it will just be like any other club. Do you really think people will pay sorority size-dues to be in a random club?

and as far as the guys, it's not like they don't "cut" rushees, it's just not done in the same way. mainly cause guys can understand no response = goodbye.

This is exactly what I meant when I say the computer never messes up. From my experience in the rec. office, it's the PEOPLE who mess up. The computers obviously could always have bugs, but I think when people blame the computer program itself, it's mostly because it's easier to blame a computer than people. This is why I say you should never automatically blame the computer. In the office, we check, and double check, and triple check to make sure that the lists match. Rushees lie to houses, and houses lie to rushees about what they put on the lists, but they most often do that so as not to hurt any feelings. We in the office just got very tired of people coming in, complaining that the program put the rushee with the wrong house. Cause every time that we checked for them, it was never a computer mess up. If the house or a rushee wants to make themselves feel better, I guess they can go on believing it was a computer error if they want to, but if they want the truth, they need to go into the office and find out what really happend.

I didn't comment on IFC rush, though I do think that when a guy gets "cut", it is more likely because he may not be a good fit for the frat because their rush is on a smaller scale where the guys really get to know eachother. Whereas for girls, it may be for no reason at all or based on a 5 minute conversation (thinking in terms of large rushes where release figures are used).

hmmm...I tried to quote 33girl and post my response but I didn't do it right, so, sorry my post is kinda hard to read. ANyway, I'm not trying to start an argument or anything, just thinking of possible alternatives :)

And I'm not trying to argue with you either, Beachgal :)

I'm not trying to argue either (and maybe this part of the discussion can be moved) but I did want to comment on one (okay, 2) of beachgal's statements. This is more addressed to freshmen - if they haven't been on campus very long, they don't know if they have anything in common with a group unless they go through something where they can meet ALL the groups. I mean if I would have gone through the type of rush you are describing and been able to pledge the sorority I THOUGHT I would love to be in, I would have been miserable.

and there is a difference between elite and selective. elite is snobby and stuck up for no reason. selective is choosing the people you feel a connection with. selective membership is part of greek life. I'm sure people we cut were welcomed with open arms elsewhere, and vice versa.

beachgal--

I respectfully disagree with your opinion that the women should all get to choose where they want to go. It's a mutual selection process, and despite the plethora of flaws some see in it, it has worked for many years. The number of women who get "screwed" is not as large as everyone seems to think. I think that we notice the negative, and not the positive. As Angels&Arrows said, "Way to go girls and congratulations on a successful recruitement to AXO, ADPi, AEPhi, AGD, Alpha Phi, XO, Tri Delta, DG, DPhi, Gamma Phi, Theta, Kappa, SDT and Sigma Kappa!!! It is always wonderful to hear that 600NMs found homes!" I think that's a pretty good recruitment.