Quote:
Originally Posted by dnall
I say that because I recently saw a similar situation with my fraternity chapter in which they voted not to bid a guy that was about 25 I think and recently out of the military. Being in the military myself, I was kind of pissed about that. If you're going to hold military service against people, then we have a problem. Yeah, the guy is a few years older and in some ways is going to be different, but he also brings a lot of leadership and life experience to the table that 18-19yo pledges don't. Yeah, in some respects he may look or feel a little bit out of place in social settings with 18-19yo freshmen, but at the same time he gave up his chance at that college experience to be in the fight overseas, and now he's here going through rush trying to get a little bit of that back. I just don't think it's right for the organization to tell him he isn't entitled to that chance. I'd take a few guys like that over a few traditional freshmen any day. It's different, but they make the chapter better. I would want to see my org do the right thing in that situation rather than just be superficial.
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I never said anything about holding military service against anyone, and not giving them a chance. What I said was, I do not know how someone who is at that stage in their life could find a way to really relate to people 7+ years their junior. What would someone who has been out in the world, probably lived and worked on their own for a little while, really have in common with a bunch of younger people who (mostly) are away from home for the first time, getting their first real taste of freedom?
As for the right thing in that situation, what is that exactly? Should we bid all non trads purely because they are non trads and everyone should get to be greek? That's not how it works. Not everyone gets the chance to be Greek for a multitude of reasons. A chapter should bid a non trad for the same reason they should bid a traditional student; they feel that that woman would fit well in their chapter, and make a valuable member, regardless of age.