[FuzzieAlum]

We had deferred rush and used alums and Greek life office employees for Rho Chis, and I felt that worked quite well. Our Panhel folks were disaffiliated, but not for the first semester, and I don't think that ever caused a problem. The chapters have to trust Panhel to conduct rush in a fair fashion, but Panhel doesn't have much influence over where girls join - they don't establish a bond like Rho Chis do.

The thing is it is impossible to keep all Rho Chi affiliations secret. You're bound to have a few upperclassmen rushing, for example, and they probably know the Rho Chis. Or a fraternity member might slip and say something.

The reason for disaffiliation makes sense, however. Even if my Rho Chi was a wonderful, unbiased woman, just knowing she was an ABC would make me feel uncomfortable crying to her because I was only invited back to ABC and DEF, and I hated both groups. It would close down one avenue of communication.

But it simply isn't fair to tell women they can't be a part of their sorority - they can't hang out with their best friends - for half a year. The price is too high for what you get out of it, especially if it fails and the rushees know what their Rho Chi is.

So you have a couple of choices:
-Use members of non-NPC sororities. Downside: They have a steep learning curve, and is there an incentive for them to participate?
-Use alums. Downside: Some alums are no more unbiased than actives.
-Use sisters who are not disaffiliated first semester. Downside: Most girls will know where those girls belong.