The "pre-recruitment" bid list
 

The controversy of the 'Bama recruitment had me think about all the times the refrain of "don't listen to the tent talk" has been said in response to recruitment rumours/myths.

If one school had alumnae that are clearly able to wield some power with respect to membership selection, is it too much of a stretch to believe that it happens at other schools?

I feel that one of the most common rumours about recruitment is that the bid list has pretty much been decided for the most part before recruitment even starts. I know there are obvious reasons to deny that rumor; i.e. why go through the huge expense/stress of recruitment if the chapter already knew which girls they wanted? However, if some alumnae are prepared to be racist when it comes to membership selection there might be alumnae who are prepared to pre-select girls who've come from a particular high school/town/summer camp/country club/etc

Of course I understand that any discussion on this matter is full of speculation and also violates membership selection privacy. But at some schools is the PNM without the right connections still really placed at a huge disadvantage?

If you understand that any credible information on this topic would be discussing MS (which we all know is not done on this board) and everything else is speculation I'm not sure what kind of discussion you're expecting here?

Hopefully a little common sense and logic to dispel what seems to be a persistent rumor -- no membership selection info necessary:

1. Common sense: Actives know girls from their respective home towns, high schools, etc who are participating in recruitment. They do know girls they would like to have join their sisterhood. This probably applies more so to chapters that are in-state strongholds. No mystery there.

2. Logic: Since the majority of PNMs at Alabama are OOS -- even in the chapters that are in-state strongholds -- it would be impossible to compile a pre-selected list of PNMs one does not know, or expect that any PNM would pledge. These OOS PNMs are obviously not rubbing noses with in-state alums.

3. Common sense again: Yes, if a PNM has connections in a chapter -- is known and well-liked by actives in a chapter -- then this is an advantage. No mystery there.

This may be one school where this isn't the big problem. But Texas, probably not. I don't know that they have the same racism issues (that's don't know, not they aren't), but from what I've gathered here, Texas is VERY much about connections, and their big fight with the alumnae is probably over this issue and less about race. I bet at Texas, the black girl with the list of credentials a mile long would make the cut, for bragging rights if nothing else. But that's pure speculation. Any longhorn is welcome to shoot me down.

the same could be said of the Bama controversy.

I did consider the fact that analysis of the Alabama bid lists (as well as other schools) had been done. This does not preclude circumstances that the PNM's mothers/parents know each other from hometowns/high schools/etc; even if the daughters had grown up after the parent had moved out of state.

Or in another example, where some schools have strong links to some communities/high schools out of the state. At USC there are probably a lot of incoming OOS women from Texas who are known by actives due to the fact Texas has the largest OOS population at the school.

This is what I was getting at. Are there some schools where it is disingenuous to say to PNMs: "Don't worry about not having any connections at [School], just look presentable and be yourself"

I'm sure that is true of at least one fraternity and/or sorority chapter in EVERY school, even less competitive schools. Which is why we hammer and hammer at PNMs to keep an open mind and look at ALL the groups.

How is that obvious? We have cars and airplanes. People move. Also, a Bama chapter alumna living in Houston might still have tons of sway in the alumnae community. She could have just as much pull to get her Houston girls into the chapter as the Birmingham alumnae do.

Because typically people don't ride their airplane to school, church, or their CC. I'm sure there must be an exception somewhere, however.


And worse yet, it does not preclude an alum being closely RELATED to the PNM. :eek:

I heard a rumor that these girls are known as legacies, and that in the SEC they are so plentiful each chapter could fill a pledge class -- with plenty to spare.

So not fair.

Why is this such a hot topic of conversation? Can you not relate this to real life?

You are the hiring authority for a company and you need some new employees. You decide to hold a job fair with prior registration required. So you put in on Monster.com and all the other outlets with job requirements listed because a certain certification is required. People register online, upload resumes and list references and certifications/qualifications. All very normal.

Before the event, you download all the registrations. Would you read them? Of course. You want to be able to talk with them about their information. Do you rate them in some manner, such as have required certification, have next level of required certification, do not have required certification? Of course you do. Do you check the references on the ones who meet the qualifications? Of course you do.

The day of the event you are cordial to them all, taking time to meet with each. Afterwards, you pursue the ones that measured up to their application status and your requirements.

Now what is so different about recruitment??????

That is the best analogy I have even seen. My compliments to the author (Titchou).I hope someone will sticky it to the "schools where you need recommendations" thread!

That is a good analogy for Panhellenic recruitment and I would have no qualms about telling someone that some businesses do practice nepotism of sorts when it comes to their hirings

Absolutely. It happens in all walks of life.

Except that nepotism implies that a person is hired on the basis of a relation -- regardless of qualifications.

Being a legacy -- arguably the strongest "connection" -- will not secure a slot for a PNM on a bid list.

Great analogy, Titchou.

Just as the quality of the recommendation and the source are an extra boost as well.

I think it is pretty much impossible to pre-select your bid list with RFM. However, I definitely think you can have your invite list pre-selected for the next round.

Especially when you are already told by Panhellenic how many you have to release after round one. Some groups at Alabama, I am sure, had to release almost half of the ladies going through and that is where who you know, where did you go to high school, what alumnae are cheering for you back home and what kind of recommendation you have comes into play.