This is what I hope too, but this got very out of control.

This is exactly where I am. This thread got UGLY.

The alum comes out into the rush party and starts talking to the PNM? Really? I didn't know you could do that.

I've learned a lot on this thread. KC 96, really, please come back!

I'm keeping positive thoughts for this PNM, regardless of all the discussion about recommendations.

I actually have a good feeling about her this year.

ETA: no way an alum would set foot on the floor during a Theta rush party. Unless someone was having a heart attack or was on fire or something of the sort.

I've seen alums handing out drinks during rounds where drinks are presented, but never talking to anyone.

Some campuses explicitly forbid it.

At UCLA, any alumnae assisting (what we call) the "Pit Crew", cannot enter in the front door and only during parties, when no PNMs are waiting outside. Even if it means waiting in kitchen for a 1/2 hour for the break between parties to cross through the house and go downstairs. NO contact with PNMs at all.

Oh hey, I'm back.
Not even gonna lie, I stopped reading way back on page four, but I skimmed most of it.
At first, this whole thread sent me into panic mode and I immediately started making plans to find recs for every sorority. However, with recruitment starting in just days, I decided to let it go.
I'm not worried. I've come to the realization that with my campus being so small, I believe that a lot of this rec talk might not apply. Maybe I'm just oblivious. But truthfully, half the people in my state couldn't tell you the general location of my campus. I think that at a campus this small, it's more about the people you know in the houses.
This campus has been having extreme issues with dirty rush. Recruitment was bumped up almost a full month from last year's to avoid it. Even so, I constantly overhear conversations about actives taking PNMs out to lunch and meeting them at off campus parties. It's bad.
Panhellenic is also trying to do recruitment differently by enforcing that the bonds are what matters the most. We used to have a recruitment Pinterest board and fashion show for PNMs. This year, they did away with it, hoping that girls will focus more on the values of each sorority as opposed to the outfits.
There are so many girls going into rush with the desire to suicide rush certain chapters. For freshmen, this seems ridiculous. As a sophomore, I understand the benefits, but also see that it could do more harm than good. I myself have two chapters that I am really not fond of (they are not necessarily same chapters that I had issues with last year). As a sophomore, I see where suicide comes in, but I really don't think it is something I plan on doing if I make it that far.
As I said, I will not be updating as I go each night because 1. I need sleep and 2. I'd prefer to see how everything shakes out before I get my hopes up on any certain chapters.
I do need opinions. Would you guys like me to keep the same coded chapter names from my previous story (Country music artists), or should I switch it up and keep all the chapters anonymous from last year? A lot has changed since my first experience and my opinions on almost all of the chapters are different.
I might pop in once or twice more before recruitment starts. Thank you for your well wishes, I appreciate them so much!

Pleased to see you're still here and like I said, I have a good feeling about your re-recruitment.

It might be interesting to use the same names - because then there would be comparison of what you thought previously and what you think now. But you do what you want!

Sending you positive energy. Reallly want you to find a home that you can enjoy for the rest of your life (if you so choose).

advice
 

Please just write everything down and post when the whole thing is over. I hate for this board to in any way hurt your chances-- we are rooting for you!

KC_96, GOOD LUCK!!!! I am rooting so hard for you, girl. I can't wait to hear your story :)

You are correct. Recs are not required on an international level by AOII. Our Southern chapters may have local chapter bylaws requiring a rec, though this may just be convention rather than an actual bylaw. My chapter in the South frequently had recs but never for everyone. The chapters I advised in MD and CA never got any recs and in AZ got very few.

I would love for you to keep the same names and see your impressions as a sophomore compared to your freshman experience.
I am hoping you have a great rush experience this year. I had a successful recruitment as an upper classman after mismatching as a freshman back in the early eighties.
Good luck and can't wait to hear about your journey and where you land!

Sending good thoughts your way. Hope you a good time meeting all of the chapter women and other PNMs!

I am 100% certain my rec (which was required by org policy) was of the “written in the back room by our alumna advisor on bid day” variety. I came from an area of the country where Greek life isn't a huge deal, went to college at a university where recs are not even mentioned, am from a family with not a lot of college/Greek experience, and a high school where everyone was college-bound, but Greek life wasn’t something people really talked about pursuing.



And to KC_96: I hope you’ll come back and finish your story. The spambots seem to be (somewhat) under control and we really would love to hear from you!