Why doesn't NPC deal with the lack of info?

[TriDeltaSallie]

Maybe I'm just naive, but given that there have been SO many threads over the past couple years that clearly indicate a communication breakdown regarding signing preference cards, ISP, COB, quota additions, etc... Why doesn't NPC do something to deal with this?

I know there are many national leaders who read here, NPC leaders who read here, etc. They have to be aware of the problem. I don't understand why every. single. campus panhellenic doesn't use the same NPC issued document that clearly explains the process with a signature line for the PNM and the Rho Chi to indicate they have read it and understand it. It's too important to leave it to chance and hope that the campus panhel and rho chi explains it correctly.

How hard is it to clearly explain the process and the eventual outcomes given the choice the PNM makes? If it is this much of a problem (and we only hear a small percentage of it, I'm sure), why isn't it dealt with on the national level?

[Titchou]

Well, first of all, the bid card is very specific about this. But, secondly, NPC really has no power. It can't sanction a campus for these issues. All NPC can do is ask the individual groups to educate their chapters and also provide training to the CPH.

But the overwhelming reason why the message doesn't really get understood is, and I'm using a phrase used by one of my collegiate chapter presidents to describe herself and her chapter at the time, that they are all "hormone driven twits."
As much as we would like to think otherwise, we are talking about a group of 17-19 year olds who think that they are "different" and "it won't happen to them." They are special. Sorry, welcome to reality.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

Maybe I'm just naive, but given that there have been SO many threads over the past couple years that clearly indicate a communication breakdown regarding signing preference cards, ISP, COB, quota additions, etc... Why doesn't NPC do something to deal with this?

I know there are many national leaders who read here, NPC leaders who read here, etc. They have to be aware of the problem. I don't understand why every. single. campus panhellenic doesn't use the same NPC issued document that clearly explains the process with a signature line for the PNM and the Rho Chi to indicate they have read it and understand it. It's too important to leave it to chance and hope that the campus panhel and rho chi explains it correctly.

How hard is it to clearly explain the process and the eventual outcomes given the choice the PNM makes? If it is this much of a problem (and we only hear a small percentage of it, I'm sure), why isn't it dealt with on the national level?

FYI: I'm pretty sure that if you're using ICS (computer program) the MRABA (final ranking card/thingie) is standard for pretty much every school.

It's standard. The issue is that I don't think it's being explained well enough to the PNMs. Or Rho Chis are just glossing over it and saying "oh but everyone gets their first choice anyway so you don't need to worry about all this stuff."

It's not the Rho Chi's fault though. In general (and I'm sure this isn't true of all schools), I find that recruitment couselors are undertrained. Too often, Panhellenic leadership (Greek Life staff/advisaors) focus on the "fluff" of being a PX like "what shirts are we going to wear?" and "I bet you can't guess what chapter I'm in" kinds of things. Not on the importance of having the knowledge to help PNMs who are making a lifetime committment to an organization.

Part of the issue is that many times, the person training the Rho Chis and advising Panhellenic is someone who works in Student Life but is more of a general student activities coordinator and not someone who is familiar with Greek Life. Or the Greek Life Director/Administrator is a male who is more familair with fraternity life and hasn't a clue about recruitment.

[katydidKD]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

It's not the Rho Chi's fault though. In general (and I'm sure this isn't true of all schools), I find that recruitment couselors are undertrained. Too often, Panhellenic leadership (Greek Life staff/advisaors) focus on the "fluff" of being a PX like "what shirts are we going to wear?" and "I bet you can't guess what chapter I'm in" kinds of things. Not on the importance of having the knowledge to help PNMs who are making a lifetime committment to an organization.

huge. problem. I got so many e-mails after recruitment when i was president from PNMs not happy with their bid saying their rho gam encouraged them to email presidents of chapters they liked to see if they could get a snap bid
I had a mouthful for PHA about rho gam training. Just giving girls false hope on something the rho gams should have known.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by Titchou

But, secondly, NPC really has no power. It can't sanction a campus for these issues. All NPC can do is ask the individual groups to educate their chapters and also provide training to the CPH.

See, this I don't understand. NPC has all kinds of power. It has a tremendous amount of control over how recruitment is done. I don't understand why this is any different.

Why isn't there a training manual for Rho Chis? I realize things do vary from campus to campus to a certain degree, but when it comes to the recruitment process, some things don't vary. We all agree to the same membership guidelines as NPC member sororities.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

It's not the Rho Chi's fault though. In general (and I'm sure this isn't true of all schools), I find that recruitment couselors are undertrained. Too often, Panhellenic leadership (Greek Life staff/advisaors) focus on the "fluff" of being a PX like "what shirts are we going to wear?" and "I bet you can't guess what chapter I'm in" kinds of things. Not on the importance of having the knowledge to help PNMs who are making a lifetime committment to an organization.

This I believe. But the Rho Chi's aren't just supposed to be their buddy for the week. They should be a source of accurate information or the one who gets that accurate information for the PNM if they don't know the answer.

I'm just a big believer in procedures and going by the book. That's why I don't understand why something this important isn't clearly handled on every campus across the board. Procedures and written policies are there to protect everyone. It seems like they would be utilized. I don't get it. But then I also think Robert's Rules of Order is the greatest gift ever for a sorority president.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

IMO, it goes even further back to Rho Chi selection. How is it done on most campuses? Illinois used to do it by interview with the PHC recruitment chair and her assistants. So, great, you are getting the women who are out-going and enthusiastic about the Greek system, but you may or may not be getting the women who understand all this stuff.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

See, this I don't understand. NPC has all kinds of power. It has a tremendous amount of control over how recruitment is done. I don't understand why this is any different.

Why isn't there a training manual for Rho Chis? I realize things do vary from campus to campus to a certain degree, but when it comes to the recruitment process, some things don't vary. We all agree to the same membership guidelines as NPC member sororities.

Reread what I said. It can't sanction a campus where it's not working. There is NO penalty. They can and do encourage training and have materials available. Whether or not the particular campus follows thru is the question. And whether or not the PNM REALLY listens to what she's told, is another issue altogether. How many do we get here who, in the final analysis, say that they "knew" that but thought it would work out anyway?

[psusue]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

IMO, it goes even further back to Rho Chi selection. How is it done on most campuses? Illinois used to do it by interview with the PHC recruitment chair and her assistants. So, great, you are getting the women who are out-going and enthusiastic about the Greek system, but you may or may not be getting the women who understand all this stuff.

This is a very frustrating issue for me. At Penn State, you can only be a Pi Chi if you yourself have been through formal recruitment as a PNM. This was frustrating for me because while I did not go through the process as a PNM, I have as a sister and I know for a fact that I understand a lot of the Green Book rules better than most of the Pi Chis that were chosen. I know this because I ended up explaining a lot of the rules to the Pi Chis from my own sorority (some who did not truly understand the fact that if you put a sorority down on your MRABA card, you have to be willing to accept a bid from them). If the sisters themselves cannot understand it, how can they be expected to make a hyped up 18 year old PNM get it?

In some ways, I get it. Recruitment is a hectic week and no I couldn't get exactly where a PNM was coming from in some ways. But it comes down to this-- when you're looking for a Pi Chi, are you looking for more of the buddy-buddy aspects, or are you looking for women who truly understand and can explain vital information?

[AOIIalum]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Reread what I said. It can't sanction a campus where it's not working. There is NO penalty. They can and do encourage training and have materials available. Whether or not the particular campus follows thru is the question. And whether or not the PNM REALLY listens to what she's told, is another issue altogether. How many do we get here who, in the final analysis, say that they "knew" that but thought it would work out anyway?

This is so true. The materials and suggested verbiage is out there. If everyone actually READ what they are signing throughout the process (meaning registration and MRABA, etc) and took the time to actually comprehend it (meaning some variation of: If I sign this I'm stuck for the next year, even if I refuse my bid to a chapter I listed on the MRABA), perhaps we wouldn't have what appears to be quite so many unhappy PNMs on bid day.

Also, there are some schools who do not use RFM. I work with two, and they still hand-match and pretty much use either Minimally and/or Partially Structured formats. I'm talking small schools with 2-3 NPC chapters, but they are still out there.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by psusue

In some ways, I get it. Recruitment is a hectic week and no I couldn't get exactly where a PNM was coming from in some ways. But it comes down to this-- when you're looking for a Pi Chi, are you looking for more of the buddy-buddy aspects, or are you looking for women who truly understand and can explain vital information?

To be clear, I would posit that you need both. I just think that most selection methods are heavily slanted toward the former.

[33girl]

I think Titchou hit it on the head: hormone driven twits.

You can explain to some rushees until you're blue in the face that if they write a sorority down, they're bound to them for a year, and you will STILL have girls on bid day who say "But that's not the one I WANTED!! Why did I get them?"

You can give the PHC and the Rho Chis the manuals, they can read them back and forth, and there can STILL be girls who think "but I love my sorority so much! Of course it's for everyone! I can gently nudge people to it and no one will ever know! They'll love it in time!"

I wanted to be a Rho Chi really badly. Our chapter president wouldn't let us apply because we were one of the smaller groups and "needed everyone in the room." This was a huge mistake on her part. I sucked at formal rush and everyone would have been better off if they'd let me the heck out of it.

Rush is not going to be perfect because 17-21 year old girls are not perfect. That's life.

[carnation]

What I would like to see: the end of recruitment counselors saying, "You have to list all the sororities whose pref parties you went to on your bid card or the computer will throw out your card". Or, "Putting both sororities on your card will enhance your chance of getting your first choice".

[agzg]

Originally Posted by carnation

What I would like to see: the end of recruitment counselors saying, "You have to list all the sororities whose pref parties you went to on your bid card or the computer will throw out your card". Or, "Putting both sororities on your card will enhance your chance of getting your first choice".

But how do you know who this is coming from? On my campus, stuff like this was undoubtedly tent talk based on rumors from older sisters.

[carnation]

Mmmm, I'd say various places. We hear it on GC but I've heard it from new members (maybe there will be several from one Rho Chi group who are discussing recruitment afterwards) and members ("remember when our Rho Chi told us that we couldn't put only 1 choice on our cards?")

I've heard it enough over the years that I figure that it couldn't be an urban legend.