Rush "documentary" on YouTube
 

I found this fascinating to watch. Real people telling real stories from both sides of rush at Northwestern University

Rushed - A Northwestern Sorority Documentary (Pt 1 of 2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8rrIYevONQ

Please ignore if this has already been shared. It's from February 2007.

I've seen this. I too thought it was interesting.

Whoever that mariethesainted was that was talking about NPHC sororities in the comments...well, let's just say that it's not a good look.

So why point it out here? It's one person's opinion and we all know that people like to say whatever they want in the youtube comments (I don't even take them seriously), whether it's a good look or not. That person (whom we're not even familiar with) doesn't represent the NPHC and may not even really be a part of the NPHC.

Very, very interesting....

My mistake. I thought this was a Greek discussion board where we discuss Greek issues, and that this thread was discussing the linked page speficially. Oops.:rolleyes:

What the "Anonymous" recruitment chair failed to mention about their seemingly brutal system of determining who to invite back and who to cut is release figures. Certain chapters HAVE to cut more PNMs than others to help all groups make quota. "Popular" chapters have to figure out who they want and who will be cut in a shorter amount of time. I learned in psychology that it's human nature to like someone who is pretty; if there are two PNMs with equivalent mediocre personalities, and one pretty and the other not so much, you're more likely to like the pretty one. Combine release figures with a little psychology and it's no surprise that "pretty popular" chapters tend to stay that way.

I see you got old girl to*snap*ge*snap*ther*snap!

I found it very intriguing. I agree that you can't give out all of your secrets, but there was a lot of truth to what Anon was saying.

lol:p Irritating. I dislike it when peeps try to speak for the Pan and end up talking out the side of their neck.

*golfclap*

very interesting...i would assume it must be taken with a grain of salt, but that vidoe was at the very least an entertaining watch.

I hate to say it but 100% aboslutely true.

LOL:cool:

I agree. :(

When I went to SIUC, there were 4 groups. AGD, Tri Sig, DZ, and SK.

I rushed twice and after several years, realized why I was not picked. BUT, I'm glad I found BSP, so it all turned out well in the end.:D

I would have to disagree. While it may hold true for Northwestern (at least according to "Anonymous" perceptions/experiences of rush at Northwestern, the selection of members varies from school to school and chapter to chapter. I can only speak for membership selection of the chapter I initiated into and the chapter I advise but membership selection is ritual and private so I will leave it at that.

My ex-boyfriend went to SIU in Carbondale - he's now a TV weatherman in Illinois. [/hijack]

I posted this on GF a couple months ago - the video has been up a for a while and as much as I hate to admit it, a lot of what was said was true (though not 100% because as we all know, every chapter is different). And the part about that girl accidentally taking a napkin was hilarious! It made me want to know what orgs Anonymous and the other girl were in and how the girl ended up going Tri-Delt did and what she thinks of sorority life now...

Excellent point. There was also a study about more attractive people on job interviews having a better chance of getting the job even if their qualifications were exactly the same as another applicant who was less attractive. It's subconcious but definitely true and it works pretty much the same way in FR. It's basically an interview.

And I figured this video had already been posted, otherwise I would have shared it on GC when I found it also. Glad it was brought up - interesting topic!

I totally agree... I'd love to see a part III with the Tri-Delt girl on what she thinks about sorority life (and recruitment) now that she has been on the inside of it all for a while (although I'm sure that her being affiliated with an NPC group would her continuing participation).

I looked on the NU Tri-Delt website last night and she is their Social Chair. I can bet that she is having a great time.

Interesting.....

Am I the only one who found "Allie" (the new Tridelt) super annoying?

Every time she was on camera all she could say was "like" this and "like" that... and "like ohmigod, this is dumb cause I don't know how it works and they should tell us and this is bull****" I just wanted so smack her silly. haha

Immature, yes, but who wasn't at 18? I remember how frustrating it was not knowing the "business side" of things, and everyone getting each other worked up by constantly talking about it. I found Anonymous really interesting. Some things she said were so true (you play a lacrosse and a lacrosse player picks you up at the door - not a coincidence!) but her emphasis on choosing "hot" girls and maintaining their reputation with the fraternities just doesn't play a part in all sorority chapters.

The Rho Gamma was way worse with the likes. Maybe she was nervous about being videotaped and couldn't stop saying like.

I have to strongly disagree with what Anonymous said about "Anyone saying recruitment isn't superficial is blasphemous" or something to that effect. Sure, recruitment CAN be superficial, but only if your chapter wants it to be. It's up to your chapter how you want to choose your new members and what qualities you want in your new members. No one is forcing your chapter to invite back "hot girls that no one can stand." It's your chapter's choice to give into the pressure of having the "hottest" pledge class or to take women that you actually like.

If your chapter can't recruit without being superficial, then you don't know how to recruit. Chapters good at recruiting know a) what qualities they want in their new members, b) how to determine which PNMs posses those qualities, and c) how to sell your chapter to PNMs that have the qualities you are looking for.

*hijack*Did you see the rest of the convo?:D *end hijack*

I thought this was an interesting documentary too...although "Anonymous" seemed a little cynical and I'm sure included exaggeration. I am actually 95% sure I know what sorority Anonymous belonged to as a couple of my friends from Northwestern identified her, but I don't want to post because it would give away some membership ritual secrets, obviously.

I think this video rises two interesting questions: one, if recruitment is so superficial at some chapters, do you think it is the overall house attitude or just certain members? For example, for extremely competitive chapters where it takes very little to release a PNM from membership, do you think that the petty opinions of a very small group of sisters could determine the overall type of girl that pledges the group? Maybe 7 sisters love Susie PNM who has great extracurriculars but is maybe a little shy or has dowdy clothes or is plain looking...then maybe 1 or 2 sisters only want super outgoing, gorgeous debutantes and score her low, causing her to be released.

Second, at a school like Northwestern where the academic standards to get in are so high, do you think looks and appearances matter more? What I'm getting at is that 99% of the women that are accepted into a school like Northwestern have incredible GPAs, some special talent, loads of extra-curriculars, etc. So maybe there is less to differentiate the member pool...unfortunately I'd like to believe that at such incredible schools the recruitment mentality is more mature but I'm not really sure it makes a lot of difference. In fact, looks might count less at more relaxed schools. Maybe the type of woman who prefers prestige in terms of universities might also prefer prestige in the type of chapter she joins or the type of new members she selects? (Not saying that all women at top universities prefer prestige, but there are definitely many that have "wanted the best" all throughout life).

Two questions for thought.

I just read the rest of it and I am glad she did not reveal her affiliation since she is not versed in how to behave.

I just saw it.....i HATE people like her. HATE, I tell you! lol

I assume you mean NPC groups?

why no, no it's not.

I replied to both of you. :D

I love you guys.:D


Ditto but I think she's a faker anyway or REALLY out of touch.
*End Hijack*

I think this will greatly depend on how a chapter conducts its membership selection. If the girls who want debutantes are truly in the minority, and if everyone in the chapter has equal say in choosing the new members, one bad score shouldn't hurt Susie PNM. Even if the sister who gave Susie a bad score wants to put her in the hold pile (like Anonymous described), she won't be very effective in convincing the rest of the chapter to cut Susie if all she has to say is that Susie is plain looking.

How a chapter chooses members will start at the individual level. If the VP Recruitment can't convince individual members of a chapter to look for PNMs that are truly compatible with the chapter, then the chapter will continue to recruit based on superficial characteristics.

Don't forget that Northwestern has a deferred recruitment. Of course every student at Northwestern had a good high school GPA, but they will be looking at their first semester grades, which can provide some differentiation in regards to GPA. Also, with deferred recruitment, chapters may put more weight on college activities that PNMs participated in their first semester, though high school activities may still be important, too. Plus, everyone has a different personality, so those three factors will allow plenty of differentiation other than looks.

Sometimes when I peruse chapter websites from the same campus, it is very easy to tell where each chapter is on the campus "social ladder" simply based on the looks of the members. I've noticed that at schools with a very good academic reputation, there seems to be little difference in looks among chapters. MIT is a good example of this.

Interesting observation.

I'm glad somebody else said it. I'm guilty of it too! :o

Ditto that idea!!!

hilarious
 

Comparing SIUC NPC recruitment to Northwestern is hilarious. It is not a very accurate representation. Since about 2001, most members of each chapter are chosen through open recruitment. Greek membership is more of an afterthought on this campus

There are probably a few traits that are apparent with any school using a formal recruitment process. Unfortunately it is the nature of the beast.