Obviously, this is a touchy subject for you because you have gone on the defensive. That's a normal reaction, though, especially when you have a stake in something that is being criticized.

I'm glad that more women were able to be matched this year; that's definitely a step in the right direction. I think most people would agree, though, that is not the only indicator of a strong system.

I went to UGA and participated in rush my freshman year. I still frequently visit Athens, too.

If I caused offense, please forgive me.

hey GPhiBLtColonel-
do we have a gamma phi chapter there? if so, how did we do?
(btw, i think it's ridiculous, everyone can't know who got quota!!)
:rolleyes:

Hope this helps AAgammagirl! :)

AlphaChiCutie, I think you're misunderstanding what's being said. Nobody's saying that there are not wonderful, strong chapters at UGA. Nobody's saying that the Greek advisor at UGA isn't doing a great job. But some Greek systems have issues that can't be fixed that easily, not by the Greek advisor, the Rho Chi's, the sorority members themselves, the sororities' national headquarters, Panhel . . . There are issues that run deeper than that. I've seen this at my school, I've seen it at many other schools as well, and the fact that rush seems to have ended pretty strangely for at least two years in a row at UGA means that there is probably some kind of problem with the system.

Quota at UGa was actually 60, not 62... so GPhiB took quota plus 2. I know quota at UGa has been posted several times as different numbers in the lower 60s. Quota was 60! My inside informant told me all chapters made quota except four, which have been mentioned. Also, we all have opinions on UGa's recruitment success. However, the fact that 14/18 chapters made quota is not bad and the most important fact is that most chapters had the highest return rates EVER!!!!! I think that in itself is a success!!!! Also, 87% of the PNMs that started recruitment were offered bids and 76% accepted (This number does not include bids offered after bid day).

I think that you're putting blame on the wrong party here. The problem wouldn't be with someone for releasing information on how many new members each chapter took; the problem would be with the women who are sitting there saying "Nyah nyah we're better than you because we got two more girls than you did!" If that's what is going to happen if numbers are released, maybe we should look at it as an opportunity for women to get the information and react appropriately. It's not right to keep the numbers secret because of fear that someone who hears it is going to feel superior -- that's an attitude problem of those women more than anything else.

Keeping the numbers secret just fosters the idea that unless a chapter takes quota or quota plus, the members should be ashamed of themselves. I think that attitude should change and that people need to realize that being open and honest rather than secretive is the best way to deal with recruitment and life in general.

**APPLAUSE**

Why does anyone have to be so "open and honest" about something like quota? I don't understand why most of you, who have probably never even seen these chapters, care about who did and did not make quota, some statistical number that doesn't give the full picture of each new member class. It's quality, not quantity that counts for any chapter, and I can assure you that quality of members is not an issue within our system. Actually, certain chapters I know of cut heavily in order to remain highly selective and would rather be small in order to maintain a stronger sisterhood (because I can attest that at over 200 members, it is extremely hard to really know your chapter).

Rightly or wrongly
 

A chapter making quota is considered a good sign and one that does not (by significant amounts) is not. Who doesn't get a thrill to hear their own ABC org at State U made quota or conversely feel the pangs of remorse to hear that quota was 100 and they got 10? Chapters are closing across the country due to low numbers, not to a lack of sisterhood in the girls they have. At the end of the day, sisterhood does not pay the bills.

But when smaller chapters here that information and others know it, it's not always so beneficial. How would you feel at your chapter knowing the exact figures of how many girls each chapter got, return rates etc if you weren't the largest chapter on campus? As I said earlier, it's QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY that counts.

And as far as finances go, some chapters I know of don't have to take quota because of alumni donations. Several could stop having members pay dues and run for years on end.

Because most of us, who are in other NPC sororities, probably are curious to know how are sisters are doing. No, I've never seen Gamma Phi at UGa, but that doesn't mean I don't care about them - they are my sisters and I want them to succeed, and in the eyes of Gamma Phi Beta International Sorority, part of a successful chapter is taking quota. Thus, I always like to know if my sisters did or not.

I find this situation highly unlikely but will take your word for it. Alumnae are usually not asked nor desire to bankroll a chapter who purposefully chooses not to take quota and remain significantly (and by this I mean dozen less not onsie twosies) smaller. But perhaps this is common at UGa, as you indicate.

if "little" things about orgs (like quota) don't get published then how on earth would you know anything about their financial status? i hate sound bitchy, but i am not sure why you are so defensive. i agree with everyone else that if you keep things secret there is a reason. i have never been to uga, but i will tell you with 100% certainty that the "smaller" chapters know that they didn't make quota and that they are viewed as being weak because of that! i also know that they are probably feeling really happy about the group of new members that they have, but they are sure feeling sad that so many others didn't give them a chance, or how on earth could they compete when they have so many less members, or what did we do wrong? do you think that people can't count? i am sure that at some point during the semester, the names of the new members will be posted in the new paper or on a banner on campus welcoming them to their new sisterhood.

i also noticed that your chapter wasn't listed as not making quota. please don't say how the chapter who brought in 3 new members feels until you have woken up on bid day and heard the speeh from your president about how many matches you made that year and you aren't sure if they are going to show when most of the other chapters took quota plus. it feels like crap....and i know bc i have GIVEN that speech! and if you think that the chapter isn't told you what quota is and who matched to quota then you are very naive.

AlphaChiCutie-How would you feel at your chapter knowing the exact figures of how many girls each chapter got,

If you're talking about different chapters on the same campus, I always thought that information was published or, at the very least, got around.

I do see what you are saying. Sometimes, when things don't go as planned, it FEELS like people are saying "HA-HA!", true, that may be a very small percent, but I honestly believe GC is kind of a Utopia in the sense that we ALL want Greek life to flourish. We do feel sorrow for ANY chapter that has any difficulties. For the most part, it's not to see who's doing poorly, but like GeekyPenguin said, to know how YOUR sorority is doing.

There ARE people who revel in other people's misery, but have you ever noticed how so many GCers leap to post when a topic like "NEED HELP FOR STRUGGLING CHAPTER" appears? People honestly want to help. I also think most realize that many have made a mistake or two in the past and by understanding what might have gone wrong we can avoid the same pitfalls. I do think the quality of the sisterhood is so much more than numbers. Most of us agree on that. But numbers can be important for continued growth and financial security. It's hard, but it would be better like some have stated, to come from a reliable source. More damage could be done-false information dispersed (gossip) if people are allowed to make up their own "facts".

edited to be COMPLETELY honest-If a chapter has a history of playing dirty, then yes, I would be more than happy to see them get just like they gave. In most instances, this is not the case.