[Tippiechick]

For the record, I am from the South and have seen rush at big and small schools. I have first hand experience with the Southern Greek System.

When recs are used as a means of selecting PNMs at the big schools, it is the easiest way for the traditionally Greek families to perpetuate their legacies.

It is extremely unfair to those who live in communites that aren't Greek b/c it is a means for the elite to just stay elite and it prevents others from joining. And, those from non-Greek families already have a harder time getting in b/c of legacies. The rec requirement just adds to the difficulty.

You can't truly know someone through a few minutes in rush and the same is true for those with recs. Having a rec simply means that the PNM had found someone to write a rec. I can write a rec for someone but they have just as good a chance of being a good sister as someone without a rec. Yes, they can say that some member of the sorority has vouched for this person. But, does that really guarantee that the person will be a more involved/better sister? No.

Isn't the New Member period supposed to both educate the NM on the sorority AND to let the sorority make sure that the person is dedicated to sorority XYZ before they initiate the NM?

The rec system is a way of letting the big schools out of some work. They are able to screen out girls from the start. And, isn't it their DUTY to get to know every PNM? The rec system seems to make the playing field incredibly uneven for those who are unable to secure recs or are unaware that not having a rec will get them cut after first round?

I do not agree with the rec system.