Quote:
Originally posted by sugar and spice
Oh, and I wanted to bring this point up:
Think of formal rush. Apply that theory to the bigger, nation-wide picture. In formal rush, we do have "expansion caps" -- total and quota. We have limitations on how much you can spend. And we do this because the NPC supposedly concentrates on inclusiveness and we want everybody to succeed as much as possible. So why aren't we applying this on a national level as well?
Again, I'm not necessarily advocating this, just questioning.
|
Quote:
Originally posted by greeklawgirl
... I think it will be a cold day in h*ll before we see either one of those options happen, but I don't know if you can call the present way of doing things fundamentally fair. I LOVE the NPC, but as a fair-minded person...I can see where smaller sororities think that NPC is talking out of both sides of its mouth.
Please don't flame me, because I'm looking at this on a theoretical level. This is a GREAT topic, BTW.
|
A few random thoughts:
During the extension process universities and local panhellenics do, typically, provide guidelines for presentations (ie, limiting the number of members that can be present, limiting display items to one table, etc). Albeit, those guidelines come from the campus and not from NPC and no written NPC guidelines or rules exist that I know of.
Just like in formal recruitment, you have to find ways to put your best foot forward within those parameters. During formal recruitment some groups have better skits, better singers, more members to fill the room. During formal recruitment there may be a spending cap of $1000 - it's entirely possible that a smaller chapter may not be able have a budget of $1000 even though the rules say they could spend that much. You can only level the playing field so much without totally distorting what each of the groups truly have to offer.
During the expansion process, one group may appeal to the university/panhellenic more than another for any number of reasons - one group may simply do a better job showing what they have to offer. I don't think you can call it "unfair" that a group is selected because it can offer members more than another group. Why wouldn't you want a new chapter to have "the best"... whatever your definition of that is (my last comment below may be a reason).
Assume the number of current members that are allowed to attend an extension presentation is 10 collegians and 10 alumnae and a group showed up with 5 collegians and 3 alumnae, the Panhellenic may make an assumption that there are not enough alumnae in the area to provide support to a new chapter. That could be the truth OR the truth may actually be that 2:00 on a Tuesday isn't the easiest time for alumnae members to attend but there are more than enough local members to provide assistance at other times.
To play devils advocate regarding selecting a "big" or a "small" NPC group.... I heard of a local Panhellenic that wanted the new chapter to be well supported but did not want to bring on a "big" NPC group, with a "big" following because they were fearful of the competition. In this situation a bigger NPC was passed over for a smaller one.