Quote:
Originally posted by localsororities
That system is the Hogwart's Sorting Hat. 
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bwah hahaahaa
Seriously though, Alabama is trying something new this year with a seperate "upperclassman quota".
http://www.cw.ua.edu/vnews/display.v...9?in_archive=1
New quota system looks to attract sophomores and upperclassmen
by Amanda Dawkins
Senior Staff Reporter
August 29, 2002
Upperclassmen may get a better shot at experiencing sorority life this fall due to a new quota system within the Panhellenic Association.
"The Panhellenic Association adopted a new quota system to make it easier for sophomore and upperclassmen to join," said Panhellenic spokeswoman Lydia Seabol. "We're trying to make recruitment more enjoyable."
During the past years of Rush, sophomores and other upperclassmen often found it difficult to obtain a bid from a sorority because sororities have typically tried to fill their quotas with freshmen. In an effort to make the process fair and less stressful, Panhellenic adopted a new quota in addition to the usual quota of new members that can be invited.
This year, houses can accept a certain number of non-freshmen in addition to their traditional quota, based on the number of sophomores, juniors and seniors participating in fall Rush.
Seabol said some of the criteria houses will look for in sophomores and upperclassmen are college grade point average, leadership and involvement.
Associate Dean of Students Rick Funk proposed the new system after witnessing how well it worked at Penn State. One representative of each sorority voted last spring, and the delegates decided they wanted to adopt the system for this fall's Rush.
Panhellenic President Kathryn Rutledge said some sororities were concerned about how the new quota would impact the smaller houses.
"They thought it would help the bigger houses get bigger," Rutledge said.
After a discussion, all opposition was dropped.
Seabol also said that if having more upperclassmen join sororities dramatically affects the houses, the new plan would be dropped.
"We're going to have a two-year trial period," Seabol said. "If it works out well and hasn't hurt any of the smaller houses, I think we'll continue using this system."
Seabol said the new system cuts down on competition between freshmen and upperclassmen recruits.
"If a chapter had to choose between two girls they liked equally and one was a freshman and the other an upperclassman, they would probably go for the freshman because they would be a part of the organization for four years," Seabol said. "The reason is partly financial. It's wrong, but that's the way it was and we're trying to change that. This [the quota system] takes them out of the freshmen competition."
Seabol said the new system is beneficial to houses, as well.
"They are able to get the girls they really want, but hadn't been able to take in the past because of quota," she said. "Some houses thrive on sophomores and upperclassmen. It'll be a good thing, because they'll be able to bring their own University experiences into the sorority since they've been here before."
Rutledge agreed that adding more veterans of the University would benefit sororities.
"They'll be good role models within the pledge class," she said. "We have about 50 sophomores and upperclassmen going through recruitment."
The exact number of upperclassmen that can be admitted into each sorority will not be determined until after the sixth Rush party. After that, a computer program will be used to figure out how many students each house will be allowed to accept.
Rutledge said Panhellenic will do more advertising for the system next fall.
Because of the significant number of transfer students entering the University, Panhellenic representatives will go to transfer sessions to encourage girls to go through Rush.
Anyone interested in learning more about the new quota system can call 348-6077. Applications for fall Rush are available in the greek life office in the Ferguson Center Room 343 or online at
www.sa.ua.edu/dos.
Applications are due today, and Rush begins with an opening convocation tonight at 7 in the Ferguson Ballroom.