[adpiucf]

I know you're a local, which may work a little differently. But the NPC sororities follow a strict set of guidelines. Once new members receive a bid, the only thing that should set them apart from the chapter is that they do not yet participate in meeting ritual and they attend new member education/take a standardized final exam to qualify for initation (and be paid up, naturally). Anything else can be seen as hazing. At no time must they prove themselves "worthy"-- that is what the recruitment selection process is for and why NPC sororities don't "black-ball" new members like fraternities can.

Initation is not supposed to be a challenge; it is supposed to be an evening of enlightenment. The new member period should be a time of getting acclimated and testing the waters. Sisters should do all they can to work on new member retention-- taking the new sisters out with them, studying together, calling them regularly to see how they're doing, developing their friendships and going the extra mile to integrate the new members into chapter life.

If you need a challenge--For an alternative, why don't you plan a chapter-wide event during initation week like a "ropes course"-- an outdoorsy obstacle course that challenges you to work as a team. This will deepen the sisterhood bonds, get the natural leaders to emerge and give the new members a chance to feel fully integrated into the chapter. I think you are trying to make initation feel more like an accomplishment than a challenge?-- this can be played up through your big/littles interaction, in chapter, with little awards, in new member ed, etc. Maybe it is too late with this new member class, but you could certainly start this with the next!

Good luck. And even though you may not be NPC, there are still guidelines you must follow as a GLO on your campus, I am sure. Don't cave in to controversy to satisfy a few because you risk your local getting called into question, put on probation or shut down. And that would be the biggest challenge of all.

I'm sure you'll do a great job! Again, good luck!