Pan-Hellenic Council Regrets To Inform You...

RedRover · #1 09-03-2007, 12:43 AM

I was reading a LIFE magazine article from 1945 about sorority rush at the University of Colorado. The article, in describing Bid Day activities, noted that young women who didn't receive any bids found a card in their envelopes that began "Pan-Hellenic Council regrets to inform you..." . The article said that women receiving such cards never finished reading them and barely had the energy to walk away from the room in which the bids were distributed.

I have read in various threads that Rho Chis/Rho Gamma personally inform the young women that they have been released from the rush process. I am curious if any college/sorority/Pan-Hellenic Council still gives the bad news via cards. I am also curious when colleges/sororities/Pan-Hellenic Councils decided to stop using the cards and letting the Rho Chis/Rho Gammas be the bearer of bad news, hopefully softening the blow.

BTW, in Edward Cohen's memoir about growing up Jewish in Mississippi, he describes a similar scene concerning Bid Day at the University of Miami. He said that rushees who didn't receive bids to any fraternity had a note in their envelopes suggesting that they join the Pep Club, the Student UN, etc.

ladygreek · #2 09-03-2007, 01:08 AM

In the NPHC, the indiviual org is the bearer of such news. In Delta we do it by letter and include the reason(s).

But the blow may not be as hard it is with NPC or IFC, bcause the way we are structured you can always try again. For example it took me two tries and it took my daughter two tries.

carnation · #3 09-03-2007, 09:37 AM

At Auburn in the seventies, we had rush counselors who informed the girls if they didn't get a bid so it's been around at least that long.

DeltaBetaBaby · #4 09-03-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladygreek

In the NPHC, the indiviual org is the bearer of such news. In Delta we do it by letter and include the reason(s).

Really? You give specific reasons? Like, "Sorry, no membership for you, you have BO!"?

carnation · #5 09-03-2007, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Really? You give specific reasons? Like, "Sorry, no membership for you, you have BO!"?

-rolling hysterically on the floor at the idea of putting this in a letter--

tld221 · #6 09-03-2007, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnation

-rolling hysterically on the floor at the idea of putting this in a letter--

(only speaking for Sigma here) IIRC, we will send an interested member a letter if they are not selected for membership. If specific reasons are listed, i don't know. I would hope that if an interest made it as far as an interview, they wouldn't be the type that would receive such letter.

But we know stuff happens...

ladygreek · #7 09-03-2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tld221

(only speaking for Sigma here) IIRC, we will send an interested member a letter if they are not selected for membership. If specific reasons are listed, i don't know. I would hope that if an interest made it as far as an interview, they wouldn't be the type that would receive such letter.

But we know stuff happens...

Really? Until the interview all you have seen is what is on paper.

PhoenixAzul · #8 09-04-2007, 11:02 AM

I was a PX twice over, my Sophomore and Senior years. Sophomore, my PX partner handled the "no matches" because she was simply more tactful and better at delivering it. Senior year, I handled it because I had had more time being involved in the Panhel stuf, knew the rules, etc. We called girls who didn't match or didn't receive invites. If they wanted to, I would go and meet them.

Although, I will say that it was really frustrating that girls didn't list their REAL phone numbers!!! Room extension, cell phone, homing pigeon, SOMETHING! I'm trying to get in touch with you, and you are not meeting me half way, kids!

ladygreek · #9 09-03-2007, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Really? You give specific reasons? Like, "Sorry, no membership for you, you have BO!"?

LOL-- no, more general.

honeychile · #10 09-04-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladygreek

LOL-- no, more general.

"You have BO and bad breath?"

AlphaFrog · #11 09-04-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeychile

"You have BO and bad breath?"

That would be more SPECIFIC.

More GENERAL would be "You smell".

REE1993 · #12 09-04-2007, 01:36 PM

(at my first school) I COB'd and on Bid night, we waited for THE KNOCK. There were 3 of us in our 10-person suite who rushed. Two of us got THE KNOCK, and one of us didn't. I was the first, my neighbor was the second (she heard me scream), and we waited for the third for the girl two doors down. I felt so bad.

I beleive that those who were not chosen received a phone call after all of the bidees were notified and escorted from our rooms.

Tom Earp · #13 09-04-2007, 02:18 PM

Is there ever a good way to say sorry?

Someones heart and or ego will be broken.

DSTCHAOS · #14 09-03-2007, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladygreek

For example it took me two tries and it took my daughter two tries.

Same here.

Deuce Deuce.

KyleMcGuire1983 · #15 09-03-2007, 11:40 PM

IFC is informal year round at my school so bearing the bad news to a rushee is the job of the chapter president and recruitment chair or pledge educator.

It totally sucks and it's a job I wouldn't want to have.