Quote:
Originally Posted by EvanWilliams
I'm on the same page as you, EE.
The problem I have with a dues increase is that we are losing out on many quality guys because of finances. I see your point because you are right. There are plenty of guys to choose from even after we jack the prices up.
And I agree that dressing appropriately is very important. Sure, I rock the sperrys and polos- but only because that's what I grew up on. Not everyone did, and again, sometimes we are missing out because someone wore an Izod.
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I hope the dues increase is not creating hardships for guys already in the chapter. That would be a bad thing.
In terms of missing out on somebody because of the cost, I personally think that is the hardest thing about doing rush. It sucks, but the only solace I can offer is to point out how bad the alternative is.
My GLO does not let a chapter put people on alumni status before graduation because they cannot afford the fraternity. We do have a hardship option, but it is hard to get a waiver like that and it is temporary in nature only. So for us, if someone can't pay dues anymore and leaves, we have two choices. Either the chapter continues to pay the national part of his dues until graduation, or we have to take his roll number.
And either way, the guys ends up embarassed and distanced forever- or is kicked out altogether.
Again, does not make turning down a good guy during rush any easier, but it is vital to know people can afford it before they come in.
As for your last comment about someone wearing Izod, that brought to mind something that came up in a discussion I had years ago when I was an active.
Some of us voted down a potential rushee because he wore a wierd rock T-shirt to a rush party (I think it was Marilyn Manson but I forget.)
His supporters argued that he just needed molding and guidance etc.
His detractors argued that the fact he wore that shirt to the event in the first place showed that he had no concept at all of what we were about or our environment.
And considering back then almost all of our rushees were committed to pledge before school even started- that was the winning argument.
This goes back to the whole earlier argument about where guys in a fraternity come from.
At a small private school with students from around the US, the Izod vs. Polo thing seems ridiculous.
But at a big southern state school where the top tier houses recruit out of a handful of high schools and those people in those high schools come to college with a full understanding of the social norms of the greek organizations if they are suitable candidates- Izod versus Polo means everything.
(Funny you mention Izod. When I was in college they were long gone having been the "poor man's Polo" for as long as I can remember. But recently they are back in the US- and about 6 times the price of Polo. That should be interesting.)