Quote:
Originally Posted by Firehouse
And in fact, more and more colleges and universities are operating year-round. Not long ago, fraternities got a free pass in he summer because the chapters weren't in session. Not now. Now - at least in Florida's public universities - many IFCs are fully operational in the summer. This weekend at FSU the major fraternities will hold huge parties at their houses. The chapters may not meet regularly but the officers are in charge and responsible. If you don't have an active rush program in the summer, and have your top rushees sign bid cards or take pins, then you're left to pick over whomever shows up in rush week.
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Most colleges and universities have summer sessions for current students and/or summer programs for incoming students. That has been the case for decades for many colleges and universities. However, it isn't fully operating year round because the campus climates and availability of faculty, staff, and students are very different than during the regular semesters or quarters, which is one reason why the chapters do not meet regularly. The chapters that you are citing most likely are not "fully operational," either, because being "fully operational" would be pointless (and could also be against GLO guidelines, depending on the GLO, and against college/university guidelines, depending on the college/university).
A lot of the things that you are typing about are not brand new (Drolefile already responded to that) and they are definitely not a fraternity vs. sorority thing. I am in an NPHC sorority and as a collegiate in the '90s we often held chapter events during the summer, that did not go against guidelines, because most of us lived in the area or were on campus for the summer. During the summer, we also interacted with nonmembers who were figuring out which sorority they wanted to join, as well as self-proclaimed aspirants who hoped to become a member in the next year or so.
We don't go through recruitment and do not have aspirants dropped off at our doors for recruitment; and not every NPHC aspirant is one who has researched the organizations and come to college with their eyes on a particular organization. So, it depends on factors beyond fraternity vs. sorority and the OP may want to see what other PiKE chapters and other organizations are doing (across councils and conferences) and see if they can find something that doesn't violate PiKE and college/university guidelines.
I still don't agree with members being paid by the chapter to be in charge of the membership intake/recruitment but it's understandable if it is mandated or permitted by the organization for the collegiate level. People need to check that and not just rest on what some chapters have been able to get away with. Creative minds in desperate need can get chapters in a whole lot of trouble if they don't check their organization's guidelines. It never fails and loose lips sink ships.