A rec was required for a bid to be given, not to invite the girl back to parties which is what I think robinseggblue meant.

The girls at the OP's school have no idea if recs were sent in for them without their knowledge. If the school is near larger flagship schools where recs are de rigueur and sorority alumnae are writing lots of them, I think it would be likely.

I can assure you that at some schools in some chapters a rec is required and received in hand before recruitment even starts in order to be invited back after round one. The "heavy cuts" after round one we read about here are not always about cuts for grades.

The campus culture mention reminded me -- I have been meaning to ask about some wording I saw on Belmont University's site:

Quote:

Do I need letters of recommendation?

Yet on 3 of the 4 Belmont chapters' websites (AGD, Theta, and Phi Mu) instructions/addresses for sending recs for PNMs are included.
Gotta wonder about that "campus culture" statement on the Belmont Greek Life site, as well as how much PA agreement or commitment there is regarding not supporting this "practice."

It seems like erring on the side of caution (obtaining recs in advance) might be a good idea.

That sounds like yet another chapter in the "jeans are ok for rush per the website (but if you wear them you get cut)" novel.

ETA: there are more than a few things on that Greek Life website that I really wonder if the people who they pertain to were actually consulted.

^^^ Yes! Statements such as these can be such a disservice to young ladies going through recruitment. In this instance, a collegiate panhellenic doesn't have the authority to change any participating sorority's selection process no matter how many votes they make take about it. And of course many GLOs don't accept recs from active members. Why they would want to mislead PNMs is quite beyond me.

YEARS ago, I got a call on a Friday night from a friend in town whose sorority had a chapter at a small southern school. The PNM in question had been my student for 7th grade math and science. Knowing the girl, I said, "Lovely girl. Fine family."

(She pledged a another sorority.)

Yes. No one is doubting that. But there are campuses at the other end of the spectrum where if a chapter, even one with a "must have rec to be bid" policy, cut all the girls that didn't have recs at any time in the rush process, they would have zero girls to choose from.

There are sororities who have a "must have rec to be bid" policy. There are schools where very few rushees have recs before rush starts. Sometimes these two things overlap. How and when those chapters obtain recs is strictly their affair. The main difference of opinion in this thread is whether recs are needed at OP's school - she says they're not because laid back, and mostly everyone else says they are, because rerushing in the south.

Wow, I didn't catch the part about current members the first time around. It makes it sound like they have to get them from chapter members at the school. Who on earth wrote this??!? I googled the Greek life director, it's not like she went to a school without NPCs.

This. ZTA requires a rec for each woman pledged. University of State campus tradition will not trump that requirement. There may be a lone alum feverishly writing recs in a back room for those PNMs the chapter wants to pledge who do not have recs, but if it is a national requirement, there must be a rec.

My sorority requires recs. Period. Fini. End of story. Don't care what campus culture says.

At a school like my alma mater with relatively small pledge classes, we will procure the rec for a PNM we want. At a southern-type school or any other school with a huge rush, it IS possible that our sorority would go through the trouble of procuring recs for a PNM but it is highly unlikely since there are so many others who checked all the boxes, so to speak.

That said, I truly wish you the best of luck in recruitment. You sound like you've done an impressive job in making the most of the last year!

I can guarantee you that NO PNM at DZ at Drexel had a rec. Not a one.

Drexel is a small school pledge-class wise. If they got a bid, someone got a rec for them whether they know it or not.

Because this totally makes sense.

Yes... I get it. You have your "national policy." I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry that your group has to jump through hoops and "some poor woman" has to "frantically scribbling out recs for girls that she has never met in a back room" in order to meet a requirement.

"Hmmm, let me read a piece of paper (resume) with some information about this girl. oh, yeah, she sounds like she's be a GREAT addition to our sisterhood, sure, I'll write this rec for her because it's a national requirement to do so..."

laaaaaaaaaaaaaaame. And who actually reads these fine pieces of paper and gives seal of approval for initiation? Are you telling me that someone actually goes through with a fine tooth comb during the new member time period and determines if someone's rec should be null and void and not allow that new member to initiate BASED ON THAT REC? Dumb. This policy is a waste of time and resources.

I have been an alum who was working feverishly behind the scenes at a "no rec required" campus, back when KD required recs for every bid. The rushees/PNMs had no idea. Probably most of the chapter had no idea.

So it is lame in your opinion, and a waste of time and resources in your opinion, but since it isn't your organization, then it's not your monkey; not your circus. Snarking on other Greek organizations' rules, traditions and regulations is bad form and makes for an ugly sandbox at playtime.