I think there is a lot of confusion between "philanthropy" and "service" I would rather see more of an emphasis on the latter, but hey, why hang out in a nursing home when you could have a really fun softball tournament instead?

That's part of my point. It would be nice to be able to choose something where college students really could give time instead of just writing checks and having events that have zero to do with the actual goal of the philanthropy.

I'm a little surprised this wasn't brought up already, but I'd guess that the length of the new member process also has some sort of affect on loyalty/retention. These days the new member program is a standard 6-8 weeks for most national groups. It's very structured (for example, week 2 is history: discuss pages 3-6 in the pledge manual, do XYZ ritual to honor founders, play "history jeopardy") and has the potential to really seem impersonal.

I'm TOTALLY not saying the going back to hazing is the right thing to do...but I think if a new member has a longer new member period and has more time to really learn about the sisterhood (both ideologically and socially) - and if she feels that she earned a place in the sisterhood (by putting time and effort into the pledging process), it would encourage long-term loyalty.

I have to agree!
It's hard to absorb enough of the history, policies and procedures, in addition to getting used to college, studying etc. in 6 or 8 weeks.

Yes, please.

But to be clear, "going back to hazing" may not be the best description. I wouldn't consider a thing I went through in the 70s to be hazing in any way, shape, or form.

I would actually wager that it has less to do with "earning a place in the sorority", and more about the time that it actually takes to form real friendships. Sorry, but six weeks of cheesy ice breakers and then a one-night retreat is not going to build real friendships.

YES. I think this (and what Tess said above) is exactly what I was trying to get across. Thanks ladies.

Yes. But I was a spring pledge, so did not have a long pledge period. I still took initiation seriously. I will also say that those hours spent at the dining room table polishing silver made strong bonds.

Either or, I do know a few girls who became pregnant and dropped out of school so they becam alum. They get invited back to events as alumna but it's totally pointless if you didn't graduate. I guess it's just to represent the "forever" bond even in certain circumstances. also, I know a xyz vp of her chapter, she was mad and quit the chapter but joined alum groups Bc she didn't officially retract her membership from the national office.

Why is it pointless?

I really can't explain it. It just seems weird, I guess. If you don't graduate as a member then you shouldn't be involved after college, it's all or nothing. If you don't graduate school logically, you shouldn't want to be around people that represent what you don't have.

This makes no sense to me at all. You're saying if you don't graduate from college that you don't want to be around college graduates? Does that mean if you don't have children, you don't want to hang out with people who have them? Or if you don't get married that you don't want to hang out with friends who are married? Or if you are a stay at home mom, you are no longer friends with women who work? I don't understand.

I was a spring pledge too and my pledge period was 8 weeks. I don't feel like I missed anything or had a different experience. The time between when they do Initiation for the fall class and when they used to do it is pretty much finals and winter break. The actual weeks on campus being involved hasn't really changed at all.

Sorry, but I just don't see it this way at all. Neither does any national GLO of which I'm aware.

Pretty sure she's her own special snowflake with this point of view.

Ok well, I bet the girls who did quit your chapter aren't who you want at alum events! They technically can come because they are sisters for life. If joining takes time then you shouldn't be allowed to participate in things as part of the chapter if you quit, drop out of college, or go alum sophomore year. I don't want others to agree with me , it's how I feel. Sorority life is correlated with college, you quit college and the correlation is negated.