[adpiucf]

Recs and recruitment help give alumnae means to stay connected to the sorority.

In applying to law school, some schools require a Dean's Certificate. This is really just a form that states you have never been placed on any sort of disciplinary probation by the college. However, when the DC first began, it was in the days where the dean knew you by name and could personally vouch for your character. Today, it's more of a hold over-- how many deans actually know their students on that level?

I think recs are the same-- part of the sorority culture. They were probably more personal and more closely scrutinized in the past than today. Alumnae life is so limited as it is; I see recs/legacies as being more vital to the alumnae retaining their interest in the sorority world than anything else. And if the culture is such that PNMs need them on certain college campuses to be on an equal field with the other PNM's, then so be it-- the alumnae will feverishly write the recs all summer long. They are happy to help.

ETA: I live in TX right now. I am amazed at the activity of the APs and individual AA's in supporting rising college freshmen's persuit of sorority membership. Not only do the area AP's put on huge informational sessions for parents and students, they also have an extensive network of recommendation writers, a brochure and a website. Our AA is so meticulous that we are developing a database of area legacies so we can track where they're going to school and send congratulatory notes to their mothers when these women receive college acceptance letters, pledge a sorority, etc. I realize sorority life is very different in the northeast, midwest, west coast and the south-- but in some places, this isn't just a "college culture"-- there are alumnae women who LIVE this.