[southbymidwest]

I'm going to stick my size 11 feet in here. I don't think D Mom was whining. I think she was trying to paint a picture of how girls at Dartmouth (and oh, so many other universities) feel going through recruitment, how they perceive the chapters, and how others perceive the chapters, and by extension, them. There is so much out there on the internet about sororities at individual schools that is just cruel (even for the "top tier" ones) and mean-spirited. She offered some suggestions for the system instead of just pissing and moaning. If she was a true helicopter mom, she would have called the Greek Office and/or national sorority offices and raised cain. She didn't, or at least didn't mention it.

Munchkin03 and Dartmouth Panhell got it right- these girls are 18. They are still teenagers, and are still heavily influenced by their peers. Simply because they are admitted to a very elite university does not mean that they are more mature than your average 18 year old. I do agree with Dartmouth Panhell in that these girls were part of the elite at their high schools- they are used to being at the top of the food chain-academically/socially/athletically/whatever combination. To go to college and be in the middle of the pack academically/socially/athletically/whatever is probably something that is quite new and unsettling for a lot of the girls. And if some of those girls decide to drop out of recruitment, so what? They put their big girl panties on and made a decision. Of course, they must keep those big girl panties on and not whine and moan and view themselves as victims of the Greek system, either.

I like how Dartmouth Panhell has discussed the situation, her writing shows grace and sensitivity. Dartmouth and the Greek system were lucky to have her as a member of the university.

I will jump off my soapbox now.