FAQs
 

This could become a hot topic, but my intent is not to upset anyone.

As I stated over in the Greek Life forum, I'm creating the new Panhellenic website for my school. I'm working on a FAQs page, working with ideas from other panhellenic websites. One of the questions and responses I have is:

Q. If I go through Recruitment, do I have to join?
A. No, many women choose to go through Recruitment to meet people and make new friends. Recruitment is the opportunity for you to visit the sororities, get a glimpse of Greek life, and assess whether or not you would like to be a part of the SPSU Greek community. Going through Recruitment and its functions does not commit you to joining.


The only problem I have with that response, is that my school, as small as it is, when a new member, or member releases their membership, it is devastating. I KNOW that other schools have members quit all the time, but if you have a large chapter, it doesnt kick you in the gut as much as it does when you are already a small chapter.

That being said, how would you express to a PNM that just because they go through recruitment does not obligate them to join, but at the same time, if they DO accept a bid, they should realize they are making a commitment and not flake out 'just because'? How could I change my answer for the FAQ to express that in a "nice" but firm way?

Thanks.


*Edit* I should mention that the reason for this concern is that last year we had 6 girls out of the 15 who went through recruitment who joined because they thought they had to and then realized "I dont wanna do this..." after the fact.

The response you posted to me doesn't bring up depledging - it has to do with "do I have to sign a bid card at the end of the week? Can I just go to the parties and see what it's like?" Those are two different things.

I understand what you're trying to do, but the problem is if you bring up depledging it's going to freak a lot of rushees out.

Heh. Good point. Our Greek Advisor last year was a little on the loopy side. I dont think it was communicated very clearly to the girls that they DID NOT HAVE to sign a bid card. I think they all assumed that because they went through the process, they had to sign one, period. and many of those girls who joined, then depledged, were girls who only went through recruitment because their roommate begged them to.

This is soo hard. We have so many concerns, and this is so new that...I dunno. I need to watch what I say *zips lips*

Maybe add something along the lines of

>>>
Participation in recruitment does not obligate you to join any group. You are not obligated to sign a bid card or join. However, accepting a bid to join a sorority at the end of the process commits you to membership.
>>>>>

but I wouldn't put anything in recruitment FAQs about depleding or termination of membership.

THAT is AWESOME. =) I like that.

I would keep it simple on the web site and elaborate further on the night before Preference and then again after Preference (before card signing). You could pass out a letter to the women and train the recruitment counselors to discuss this.

In my experience, too much information confuses them even more. I don't think a PNM going through formal recruitment needs to concern herself with snap bids, total, quota, etc.-- just getting her recs, preparing her wardrobe and good answers to questions she may be asked at recruitment. The rest will come with time if it needs to at all.

The only potential problem I see with saying However, accepting a bid to join a sorority at the end of the process commits you to membership indicates that they MUST join and can never drop out.

It's not that they can't drop out that we're worried about. If someone is really not happy, then yes, they should leave, if that's what they really want. But for someone to quit just because "it's a hassle" or whatever other lame excuses I've heard in the past year is ridiculous. I understand that it is pressure when you join, and it's a lifetime commitment. Girls need to realize that before they go through the pledging ceremony. The New member period should not mean trial period - it's not a test drive. They need to realize that it is a commitment, and quitting should only be a last resort.

I don't think it's to stringent. Yeah. It's a commitment. If they really want to leave, they'll find out how to leave.

No need to lay depledging and all of that out for them.

I understand where you're going with not wanting the women to depledge, but at the same time, do you want a woman that feels it's a hassle to stick around and initiate? I would think that would cause larger problems later. The NM period is kind of like a test drive in some ways. It lets both sides have a feel for what it will really be like. I think we would rather have women realize that greek life is not for them before initiation because at that point both are kind of stuck.

Your website, marketing materials, Greek Forum prior to recruitment and pep talks from the recruitment counselors as they go into prefs and card signing can help drive home the idea that this is a serious committment through your college years, and membership is for a lifetime. If you undertake this as a PR effort and have cooperation from the chapters, you can begin to help shape their (PNMs) thinking.

Yeah but we're just talking about recruitment here. The idea is to keep girls from pledging and, three days later, saying... eh. not for me.

OR accepting the bid and never showing up again.

If it turns out that the sorority isn't for them, they'll find that out, but hopefully those people who were never really interested won't promise themselves beyond what they can fulfill.

I agree with saying that signing a bid card commits you to membership. If you don't put depledging on the website, it might not cross some girls' minds. Putting it on there, makes them think that it is an option and therefore a sorority isn't a commitment because they can just leave if they don't like it.

Based on AZ-Alpha Xi's response. I reworded it a bit.

If I go through Recruitment, do I have to join?

No, many women choose to go through Recruitment to meet people and make new friends. Recruitment is the opportunity for you to visit the sororities, get a glimpse of Greek life, and assess whether or not you would like to be a part of the SPSU Greek community. Participation in recruitment does not obligate you to join any group. You are not required to sign a bid card or join. However, at the end of the process, if you sign a bid card and accept a bid to join a sorority, you are committing yourself to membership in that sorority.

I totally agree with adpiucf about the website, and the pr and everything being a driving factor for these girls to understand what a commitment this is. That's why I'm trying to find a nice way to get the point across.

Any other thoughts or comments?

Yeah - I dont want to say ANYTHING about depledging or quitting. Those are two words I dont even WANT on the website.

Amanda, I like the way you have worded this! Good job!

If you'd like any help developing an action plan to get the PR rolling and the message across on all levels, feel free to ask-- I know I'd be happy to help and I'm sure plenty of other GC'ers would, too.