I don't understand...can you give us more information on this?

If her school only has one invite round, that might be a factor.

Re removing "frills" and such, you can still do a skit without costumes by Bob Mackie and decorating the whole house to look like the Emerald City. I can see where they have a point - for the PNMs to be able to relax and just watch for a few minutes, rather than having to be on for the entire party. If you have really limited time though, and take up half an hour of it w/ a skit, that doesn't make sense.

I don't think matching outfits are ever going to go away - I thought it was horrid when I first heard about it, but after all these years on GC I came to realize it's the ONLY way you can feel at all secure about 200 women's fashion choices.

My chapter never did skits as far as I know. We just thought it took up too much valuable time that one could spend with a PNM.

Actually, that can't happen. The recruitment rules are very strict. If they say no skit, then no skit. And, they determine who, what, and where decorations can be used. These things are spelled out in detail (right down to how big the outside banner can be and what actually constitutes a decoration.

As I am typing this, I am reminded of one Pan rule in particular, (just to give you an idea) ...
All Active members are required to touch their foot on the threshold of the front door when welcoming a pmn into OR out of the house during FR.

The rational adult in me sees that this is to keep actives from rushing onto the front porch to greet a top rushee or to keep a girl from wandering through the house unescorted. BUT, the actives actually practice over and over this foot business and Gamma Chi's seriously look to see if it's happening correctly during the rounds. A bit much in my book.

i think skits can be used as a welcome break, both for the pnm and the sorority member. it's that many minutes that they can both relax and not have to worry about being "on" and asking witty questions and giving witty answers. when you have a 45 minute party, not having to talk to someone for 7 to 10 minutes is something to look forward to.

a lot of information about the particular chapter can be shared in that short skit, especially if the skits theme is a recap of the last year, and gives both the pnm and the member other topics to talk about when the skit is over.

I didn't mean this situation in particular, I meant skits in general.

That is insane.

(I continue to be amazed at how sorority women adhere to the letter every ticky tacky Panhellenic rule, but are less intimidated by federal and state laws!)

VERY well said, FSUZeta.

Currently at JessLynn's school, PNMs only go to two chapters on Pref night. I think the hope is that by offering another chapter for Pref, that will give PNMs another opportunity to spend more time with a third chapter and potentially keep them open to accepting a bid from that chapter.

That is very interesting. It's been a two-pref system for more than ten years, and two chapters have left during that time. I don't know if it will necessarily change the number of girls who drop out or SIP, at least right away. I know there was an issue a few years ago with dirty rushing and chapters telling PNMs to drop out of rush and go through COB; I don't know if that's improved at all.

^^^
Oh, I understand. It sounds like this will help, although, like you said, possibly not right away. I think that the obvious positive side to the pref night change is the willingness of PC to come up with solutions to help with what sounds like a slightly ailing situation.
Keep us posted, JessLynn.

There are other ways to spend this time. My school switched to no-frills after our first year as a national greek system, and we never regretted it. Everyone hated the skits! Instead, we did slide show/movie day, which was a REAL look at the chapter over the year(s). We still had entrance and exit songs, though, and decorations were over the top for preference round, the only round they were really permitted.

Just FYI, a lot of campuses do recruitment while classes are in session. It is a lot of hard work and late nights for everyone involved, but at some schools that's the only time they're permitted to do it due to various reasons (facilities, optimal participation).