Dartmouth Sorority Recruitment "Spring" 2014 -- Strange Development

[exlurker]

It has been reported that officers in some sororities at Dartmouth have announced that there will be a boycott of "spring" recruitment. Other sororities have announced that recruitment will be held. See:

http://dartreview.com/dartlog/2014/1...nter-rush.html

[Maman]

One of the five issues: "the “exorbitant” expense of participation in Greek Life"

Panhellenic Council Dues:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~orl/greek-...hell_dues.html

$300 to $450 per term?

That is not even in the ballpark for the live-out fees at my daughter's sorority.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by Maman

One of the five issues: "the “exorbitant” expense of participation in Greek Life"

Panhellenic Council Dues:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~orl/greek-...hell_dues.html

$300 to $450 per term?

That is not even in the ballpark for the live-out fees at my daughter's sorority.

I'm not sure if you are an NPC alumna, Maman, so for the benefit of others who might not understand the various membership costs: this fee (council dues) may be assessed to the individual sororities to be members of the council - it isn't the entire cost of dues for each individual member. They are two different items.

Updated line - recruitment is continuing as planned.

There are other issues at Dartmouth.

ETA - nevermind, I see where you got that number. I'd like to know what that covers, i.e. I don't think that covers meals.

[Maman]

Greek Life at Dartmouth is in a period of change. Let's just hope it all works out for everyone involved.

[AGDee]

For what it's worth, that's in line with sorority dues at Columbia.

[AZTheta]

Um… it costs ~ $63K-$64K/year to attend Dartmouth (according to this). I don't want to derail the thread into a discussion of costs. It just gave me pause and perhaps that would explain the "exorbitant" cost of participation? Like, that's the tipping point for these students? Am I making any sense at all?

Nevermind.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Girl's recruitment? WTF? I'm pretty sure they are women.

Anyway, I hope they do make progress on the sexual assault issues.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by AZTheta

Um… it costs ~ $63K-$64K/year to attend Dartmouth (according to this). I don't want to derail the thread into a discussion of costs. It just gave me pause and perhaps that would explain the "exorbitant" cost of participation? Like, that's the tipping point for these students? Am I making any sense at all?

Nevermind.

It absolutely makes perfect sense to me.

[thetalady]

" In the email, entitled “A Call to Action,” the protesters outlined five issues they hoped to address by refusing to organize winter rush: the need to stop “blindly empowering fraternities,” the “exorbitant” expense of participation in Greek Life, the superficiality of the rush process, the need for a more inclusive environment, and the need to move beyond “drinking and alcohol” as a focal point for the Dartmouth Greek system."

It seems to me that several of these issues are COMPLETELY within the control of the sororities to change. No need to boycott anything.

[DubaiSis]

Yeah, let's see. How can we stop our sorority from being only about alcohol? That may be beyond the mental capacity of a 21 year old, who by the way was intelligent enough to get into a school as competitive as Dartmouth. And if you don't want to deal with douchy frat boys, then DON'T. They will be exactly as douchy as they are allowed.

I honor their wanting to make a statement, but this was pretty dumb.

[clemsongirl]

It also annoys me immensely that the Panhel exec council apparently didn't bother to notify the sororities before announcing that recruitment was cancelled. Why they didn't seek the opinion of the members they represent or at least their Panhellenic Delegates is beyond me...completely undermined their demands since they weren't presented as a unified front.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

It also annoys me immensely that the Panhel exec council apparently didn't bother to notify the sororities before announcing that recruitment was cancelled. Why they didn't seek the opinion of the members they represent or at least their Panhellenic Delegates is beyond me...completely undermined their demands since they weren't presented as a unified front.

I found that problematic as well. The council members are not dictators but are supposed to represent the interests of their individual groups. If their chapters were surprised by the vote, that means they didn't discuss this with their chapters. That is not the role of Panhellenic. It can't enforce a blockade of recruitment against the will of its member groups. The officers apparently are not aware of the purpose of Panhellenic and their role as officers in the organization. Hopefully their respective GLOs (for the ones involved with NPC groups) have addressed this issue with the women involved.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

Yeah, let's see. How can we stop our sorority from being only about alcohol? That may be beyond the mental capacity of a 21 year old, who by the way was intelligent enough to get into a school as competitive as Dartmouth. And if you don't want to deal with douchy frat boys, then DON'T. They will be exactly as douchy as they are allowed.

I honor their wanting to make a statement, but this was pretty dumb.

But it's really something that needs to happen as a united Panhellenic council. If one group changes, then they become *that group*. Sure, the tactics here are a little disorganized, but I understand the sentiment these women were going for.

[DubaiSis]

True, but again there are ways these very bright women can think of to fix a significant problem. And it doesn't take every chapter. If Panhel as a group can't come to terms with changes, 5 of the most competitive chapters can get together and none of them will be THAT chapter. Even little steps like 1 dry exchange per semester would be a start. Or 1 daylight exchange per semester. That doesn't solve a reputation for ridiculous excess at parties, but it's a start.

[exlurker]

Update with text of the message from the Panhellenic women who favor / call for a "boycott":

http://jezebel.com/boycott-threat-fr...pts-1500181356