Comments on the new AI sub-forum?
 

Ok! So this is interesting. John has elected to move the AI sub-forum to a place under the Recruitment forum.


My very first thought was "Ack".


There were lots of ladies on here protesting that GC has become a way to drum-up attention for AI, attention that is unwanted by many international organizations. And yet, now we're going to put this topic under the heading of "recruitment"? Ack. I thought that was the whole point, that we didn't want GC to become a recruitment tool for AI. That some groups *do not* want PNAMs to approach them.


Further to that, every year we have PNMs go through recruitment at their college and fail to get a bid. Some people, with good intentions, tell these women that, "you can always AI". AIs and AI supporters will protest this type of response as, no, one can't always AI. Picking up women who failed to get a bid was never the intention of AI; but hey, now we're going to pair the AI sub-forum with the Recruitment section so all of the failed PNMs can just move on down the line? :confused:


Any thoughts on this?


.....Kelly :)

As I pointed out in another thread somewhere, it's kind of wrong to have anything about AI in the alumnae forum since the women pursuing AI aren't alumnae YET (and if their pursuits don't work out, may never be). They are in the process of joining.

Now if after they join, they want to post in the alumni forum about their experiences as alumni, that's different.

I agree in some ways, but it's a heck of a lot better than where it was. Carnation and Penguintrax do a very good job of moderating this forum. To me it's still not the best solution, but at least now it can be moderated.

As long as it doesn't go from under(or non)-Moded to overModed, I'm good with the change.

That's a fair point. I peronally don't really have an issue with that so much. In my post, I was speaking more to the argument that GreekChat creates an unwanted market for AIs. There have been many, many posts insisting that collegiate recruitment and alumnae initiation are not the same thing and now we've got them both under the same heading.

.....Kelly :)

I guess we'll just have to count on our sisters to "weed out" those persuing AI for the wrong reasons.

Let us hope so.

It will be interesting to follow this forum.

I just hope it works for the best interest of GC.:)

Fraternity rush and sorority rush aren't the same thing either.

That is why we have subforums.

At least it will be a moderated subforum.

Amen to that!

Carnation and I are aware of the many issues in the AI forum. However, John's move is something I agreed with because AI is a membership related activity and the Recruitment forum seemed like a good fit. In addition, both Carnation and I are fairly strict, if fair, mods and that is well known. I think that will also help keep discussions on point.

GOOD!

Does this include non Greeks in posting comments?:o

Congratulations on both becomeing New Mods of this Sub-Forum, you both are well respected!:)

YES!

I think it is a great move. (unless we just got rid of it all together)

It is in a more noticeable place. I'm not certain the audience coming to "Recruitment" is the same, whereas Alumnae were older and graduated. The audience in the Alumnae forum seemed a better fit.

Unless of course it went away, and I think some would like that, too.

For the people that have stars in their eyes about post college sorority membership, it reinforces the idea that sorority shopping for AI is accepted and encouraged.

In a few months someone will say, "But AI is in the recruitment forum! Which shows its a form of recruitment . . . and of course its even harder and more selective than undergraduate recruitment!"

ETA: I understand all the other reasons for moving the forum.

Ditto. Thanks to both PT & Carnation for taking this on!!

Thank you ladies!

I agree that the AI forum doesnt belong in the alumnae section because those pursuing AI are not members yet thus are not "alumnae" of a chapter. However I also agree that this forum should not be listed in the recruitment section either giving PNM's who do not receive bids potential false hopes for membership in the future.

I have strong opinions on AI which I choose not to post here, but I will say here (eventhough some may not agree) that I still think the AI subforum needs to go entirely.

I understand your concerns, but disagree.

If you read through past threads, you'll see how this forum has helped many PNAMs through the often long and emotionally draining process.

If it gives some women "false hope"-- then they will learn soon enough. Personally, I don't think it does give the wrong impression, because people have been quick to caution those hoping to AI that it is a rare and extremely difficult process.

I also trust the National HQ's and local alumnae groups to weed out those who they do not feel are right for their organization. Therefore, the fears some have expressed of "floodgates" opening aren't really a concern. There have been a few handfuls of women in GC hoping to AI, not hundreds.

This forum has been a great source for women to network and share their happiness (and sadness) with others going through the same thing.

Under which folder the AI subform is located, in my opinion, is of no consequence. I'm just happy to see it is still here, and that it will now be under strict moderation.

I simply am curious as to why it is called "Alumnae" rather than "Alumni". I mean, don't fraternities engage in initiation of post-college people too? Correct me if I am wrong about this.

Rarely. We've had one.

ETA: And guys are less likely to share that kind of stuff on a messageboard, even if they do AI.

Why not?

Because Sororitys usually take it over as the post was.

It does happen more than some may think. But of course you would not know of that.

As I find, there is a different way to Spell Alum, but it is still Alum which is an easier way to say it to be PC.:)

Actually, using the proper term (alumna/alumnae, alumnus/alumni) is just polite - which PC is usually not. Alum is slang.

Tell that to Alpha Gam, Phi Mu, etc.;)

And for people who can't keep us/a/i/ae straight and are too embarrassed to ask.

True as well. . . .Just remember that girls come first in the alphabet (alumna, alumnae, alumni (girls and guys together), alumnus. :) Kinda like credits over debits being pink over blue because girls are better than boys (credits are pink and debits are blue - at least at the banks around here!). LOL

WTF? I've never heard of that. Where do you bank, a sperm bank??;)

I was taught this difference:

Alumnae: knees
Alumni: eyes

The boys' eyes wander to the girl's knees
Alumni=boys (and mixed company)
Alumnae= girls

/end lesson

And I know just who you learned that lesson from! A certain former International President ALWAYS took the opportunity to educate chapters using just that saying. :)

I am a CPA and debits are black and credits are red. You crazy bankers. :)

and I believe that accounting debits and credits are different from banking debits and credits (yours are pluses and minuses and ours are stuff and what to do with the stuff!). :)

LOL!

Chris Dickey? I actually learned it from a dear old LA area alumna whose name currently escapes me! But I wouldn't be surprised if many people have heard that lesson :)

this is the best job description ever, LOL.

Yes...it's true. I took some Accounting Courses and I have been confused ever since. LOL:eek:

Me too, but in the end, you have to pay back the MONEY that is barrowed!

The Piper has to be paid and the cost for going to school is ridiculous any more!:(

This is no worse than servitude is it?:o

So true. I'm a software developer and was required to take a year of introductory accounting in school. I did really well in my object-oriented programming classes, but accounting? Forget it. I'm accounting-challenged. And I'm OK with that. :o