[valkyrie]

Getting back to the point I think James was originally trying to make -- aren't recs really stupid most of the time?

Bear with me -- I can understand the value of a rec written by an alumna who knows the PNM really well. However, when a PNM is going around asking for recs from women in the community -- these alumnae can't possibly know this PNM very well, even if they meet for lunch to talk about what sorority membership means to the PNM and the alumna looks over her resume. What is the point of that? I don't see how this is meaningful at all, nor do I see how it's meaningful for a group to require recs, but the collegiates can find one if they really need one (which is basically saying that we have a rule that recs are required, but if you're really awesome we can sneak around it). It seems like it's another silly hoop for PNMs to jump through, at schools where there is already more than enough drama as far as rush is concerned. Women who come from the south where Mama has 900 sorority friends have a huge advantage in this case over women from the north who may know one woman who was in a sorority. The bottom line, IMHO, is that the woman with no recs may make a far better sister, but nobody will ever find out because they're too concerned with silly pieces of paper.