from what i have seen, there are quite a few people who don't know what is socially acceptable(or morally) and don't exercise any constraint with the pictures and information that they publicly post on the internet. pictures showing someone with a beer bottle in one hand, wearing a lamp shade on their head indicates to me a hardy partier, and while that might be an isolated incident, if that is the photograph they choose to share on facebook, or if they list their favorite past times as beer chugging, sleeping in different fraternity houses every night and pushing people in wheelchairs down steep slopes,then i will just have to believe that that is what they want people to know about them and that is what they are proud to share with strangers. whether it is a double standard or not,i think that camellia's advice is very prudent and should be heeded. being silly, posting outrageous things about yourself could just come back to bite you in the butt. and it is equal opportunity. sorority members should also exercise constraint in what they share on facebook.

I agree with you, that's why I said that we ALL need to maybe use more discernment and caution when we post things about ourselves on the interent.

10,000
 

A lot of this depends on the school...

If it's a very small school and everyone knows everyone, there are lots of "inside jokes" that might be misconstrued by outsiders or freshmen who don't understand them yet.

And while everyone is worrying about putting things in facebook that make you appear too loose or whatever, it can also go the other way...there are some schools where if you come across as too much of a prude you can kiss a bid goodbye. That doesn't mean the women at that school are any different than the ones at a school where you have to worry endlessly about your reputation...maybe they're just a little more honest.

Re: 10,000
 

Thank you for saying this. My chapter has always highly encouraged sisters to go out together to parties, fraternity houses, etc. right before Recruitment because of this. There are lots of freshman girls (in fact, some of the most sought-after PNMs) who want to join a sorority for social reasons. Yes, my sisters are the ones I've shed tears with and done community service with, but they're also the ones I've taken shots with and stayed out all night with. Although you certainly don't want to turn off more conservative PNMs by making it seem like partying is all you have to offer, I don't want a girl to mark my sorority off her list because we make it seem like we never go out and have fun.

I volunteer as an advisor for 2 different campuses for my sorority. BOTH universities actively monitor the university facebook. Recently 2 greek organizations were sanctioned for underage drinking and hazing based on pictures posted on the "facebook". Hopefully more NHQ's are aware of this tool and have the ability to monitor it.

Also, other greek forums and on line picure photo albums (like webshots) are regularly monitored by numerous NHQ's (I have 4 friends from different GLO's in which that is their jobs) and will sanction their chapter if they see subjective pictures posted. So its not just PNM's being warned but all GLO's to be careful what they chose to share on line. My advice don't put up anything that is "scandelous" or identifying you with your chapter.

Then this opens up another kettle of worms.

Couldn't someone who has a grudge against a sorority and a bit of computer savvy 1) hack into someone else's webshots album and 2) photoshop some of the pics to make them look "incriminating" (i.e. putting beer bottles in people's hands).

I would hope no one is psycho enough to do this, but I wonder if it is possible.

Damn I feel like an ass because I just registered to facebook and I just graduated High School. Im almost there :(

same goes for rho chis...
 

I think after warning le chapter's recruitment counselors, it might be helpful to post this piece of advice here now that a whole lot of freshman PNM's are joining thefacebook: rho chis, for the love of bob, take out your chapter affiliation from your facebook/myspace/etc. profiles. PNMs look (I did last year, and figured out a few rho chis) and if you want to be a respected, unbiased confidant for rush week, don't neglect your profiles' "residences" and your memberships of "[insert sorority here]" and "ABC PC '05."

There's an easy way to avoid those incriminating pics of sorority members from getting in the wrong hands: don't drink/go to drinking parties in letters. Our chapter beats this one into our heads and it keeps us out of trouble on a dry campus. And, if they're taken, keep them off the internet if you know they could get you in trouble.

Just wanted to add a HUGE co-sign about the facebook. Greek or not, and whether you like it or not, what you write down in your profile will ALWAYS reflect you for most people. I.e. things like "wasted every thursday" when you're under 21 won't be held in high respect by myself personally-not only because it's illegal, but because it shows lack of self constraint and lack of discretion. Also Greek-shopping, as in being the sweetheart of every fraternity on the facebook just shows to me you're a groupie. There's so many things that can be taken the wrong way by people that it's just better to play it safe and keep a clean profile-college is a tabula rasa, you can start writing on the slate once you've established yourself.

That is fine. My Gamma Chi's just started a group to interact with girls called "Planning on Going through Sorority Recruitment?!?" They use it to answer questions about applications and different informationals.

damn.....folks getting uptight over the facebook? talk about petty....

see, this is where a process in making someone comes in handy.

little one-we are not saying the facebook is bad-just think very carefully about what you want strangers to know about you, and how that information might effect the opinion they form of you without having first met you in person. be discreet and smart!!

I can't imagine Facebook drinking groups causing anyone at my school to not get a bid.

And I do come from a school with a large and very competetitive rush.