Release From Bid?
 

I went through Formal Recruitment recently, and at our school they don't allow PNM to drop a sorority, we have to rank the final two after Pref Night. I ended up getting a bid from a sorority I didn't really feel comfortable with. (Great girls, just not the place for me) Well, I received the bid, and my rho gamma told me to go to the bid day, and give them another shot. I did, but that night after leaving bid day, I decided I really couldn't see myself in that GLO for life. So I declined my bid. I've read on some of the threads here that a sorority can release a PNM from a bid, making her eligible to participate in COB in the Spring. Is this true? Also, is it Panhellenic rules to not allow PNM's to drop a sorority? My #1 choice has had a few girls drop for various reasons, and I think they'll be participating in COB in the Spring, so I was really hoping I could try.

Thanks everyone! If I missed a specific thread about this sorry, but I didn't see one dedicated to a situation like this. :)

I've never heard of anyone being REQUIRED to rank a sorority before, and I wouldn't think that was the case. But someone correct me if I'm wrong.

If you went to bid day, I'm assuming that means that you actually did accept your bid, which means that you're not eligible to pledge another sorority for one year (i.e. Fall 2010).

I am almost positive a sorority cannot "release" you from a bid. I think what you read is that the sorority can release you or not choose you before bid distribution. Once you rank your houses you are accepting whichever bid you get. You will have to wait a full year until you rush again.

Panhellenic rules depend on what system you use. And accept/regret system lets you remove sororities from your list. Priority systems make you rank all the houses you have. Generally, after pref night, you can "intentional single preference" or "suicide" which means you only rank one house even though you have two options. This is highly discouraged in the panhellenic system, but it's not prohibited.

What's done is done. You will have to wait a year to go through recruitment again. So, why not give this other sorority a shot? They wanted you, and your first choice sorority did not. I would say at least give them a few weeks to see how it works.

But that's just me.

Gah, don't say stuff like that. She was on the bid list for both sororities (you know that). They both must have "wanted" her...it just depends on where on the list she was.

The only time I've ever heard of panhellenic releasing someone from a bid is in the event of a chapter being shut down, etc. for risk management violations. In that case, it wasn't fair to the new members to be obligated to a group for a calendar year that didn't exist on campus anymore.

Why would a sorority release you so you could rush somewhere else?

Thanks everyone for the replies. I thought that was the case, but I read a few replies on one thread that basically said sororities "released" girls from their bid contract letting them participate in COB events in the Spring. I thought that this probably wasn't the case though. Just wanted to make sure.

If I had not gone to the Bid Day, would that have been "accepting" my bid? We sign the agreement right after Pref Night, so I'm not sure when exactly the bid acceptance is. I wouldn't have gone to the Bid Day if my Rho Gamma hadn't told me to try them out again. It was a rare case of things not working out =/ This sorority was actually my #6, but a couple that I wanted seemed to be the most popular, so understandably a lot of girls were cut. But as far as suiciding goes, I don't think our school allows this. But it is possible... they didn't even tell me about the one year rule until after I received my bid. After I received my bid I asked if I decline it can I participate in Spring COB events, and she said no at this point you have to wait the year.

It seems like the one year contract should start after recruitment week is over =/ but thats just me and I don't know too much about the greek system.

Thank you all for clarifying. I wish I could participate in COB events, because I don't think I could go through the Formal Recruitment process again =/

You agreed to accept a bid from either sorority that you matched when you signed the agreement. This is regardless if you attended Bid Day or not.

Sorry that things didn't work out as you had hoped.

I think this is one of those situations where the rho gam did not adequately explain the ramifications of accepting a bid, etc. Sometimes, in the spirit of "panhellenic love" Greek life spends a lot of time encouraging girls to go ahead and give every house a chance, etc and the rules are glossed over. And that is unfortunate.

OP - use this year to meet other sorority women, get involved, etc. I don't know what your campus is like regarding upperclassmen getting bids but don't let this disappointment get you down. Sounds like informal might work for you next year.

When I went through recruitment, we were told we weren't allowed to suicide or we would be "disqualified"(??) from recruitment. There were only 4 chapters and one was reallyyy struggling, so I think it was to try to protect them from having no one on Bid Day. Whether that's Green Book kosher or not, I don't know.

When an NPC chapter on my campus closed due to risk management issues this Spring, their New Members were totally released from any obligation to that organization. One of the NMs did COB and join a different org this fall. I think the others may be holding out for FR this Spring. In any event, I think that's the only case in which you don't have to wait a year.

I'm sorry things didn't work out for you, OP, and I hope you find your home. Like many of the other posters I would have recommended you stick it out for a few weeks since you have to wait a year anyway, but at this point, what's done is done. I understand not wanting to go through FR again since it can be a pretty intense experience - but if you really want to be in a sorority, that may be your only option. You can ask if any groups usually do COB immediately following FR, but that's a gamble because if they have a good recruitment and go over chapter total (and therefore don't need to do COB), you're out of luck. Waiting until sophomore spring to COB may be too late depending on your campus.

FSU requires PNMs to fill their rank cards with all available chapters. They are not allowed to 'drop' a sorority chapter, just rank them low.

If you are unsure about something so important, ask someone higher up than a rho gamma. You are signing your name to a binding document. This is a major decision, and it amazes me that so many young women think they can just be "released" and be done with it. When you sign your lease for next year, make sure you read the language in it so you know what you're getting in to. You won't be able to decide 2 days into living in your apartment that you don't like it and just pick a new one.

including at bid time?

There is a new PHC rule at my campus is that any PNM that skips a party or signs their pref card with one sorority is kicked out of recruitment.

When you say "pref card" do you mean the card they sign before they go to pref parties, or the card they sign before bids are issued? Because NO ONE should EVER be forced to put a group on their bid card they don't want - they could be bound to that group for a year.

CutiePie2000's bid card signing from hell experience