College says “NO COBing” - is this legal?

[alphabug02]

Okay GCers here’s the situation, I’m helping to advise a chapter that would like to hand out COB bids to PNM’s outside of Formal Rush, but the school constantly is telling them that this is not allowed and is against policy. The way the system is set up now, you can only join a Greek Life Organization if you 1) go through Formal Recruitment in the Spring (there is no enforced total so organizations take as many members as they want) OR 2) GLO’s may participate in open rush for two weeks, during this time they can only ask students of Sophomore or above standing to join, or Rushee’s who dropped out of Formal Rush after attending two rounds.

Here’s the kicker, I have reviewed all of the school and student life policy’s and Greek Council bylaws and there is nothing written down to prohibit the women from handing out bids at any other time of the year. All of the above rules are basically hearsay. I have contacted the Greek Life Advisor, but the only answer I receive is that Professors don’t want students pledging year round and that’s why GLO’s can’t hand out bids 24/7/365.

I guess my question is where do I advise the chapter to go from here and what else can be done. My thinking is if the rule isn't written, then is it really a rule. Any impute either from a personal pov or just opinion would be appreciated, I feel like I'm starting to chase my own tail with this issue.

[nhpgator]

one step would be to contact your chapters regional adviser and/or National Panhellenic Delegate - I would do so anyway so as to keep her in the loop - but additionally she can then contact the other NPC delegates as well as the regional panhellenic person

- do you have contact with other advisers for other chapters - you might see how they feel as well.

just some thoughts!!

[33girl]

If the issue is "not pledging all year round" make it clear that if someone is given a bid in say April, she will begin pledging with the next class. NPC isn't nuts about this, but it is permissible.

Clarion had this same dumb rule (might still have, but hopefully since the dingbat who enacted it is out, it has gone) because supposedly the girls not starting pledging within 48 hours was hazing, which is ridiculous.

[tunatartare]

I'd say you should bring this up with the Greek Council on campus. This was an issue at my school this past semester because one of the nationals on campus got only one NM so their nationals flipped and called the school telling them they had to let ABC open bid. Our school has a policy that in order to be eligible for a bid you have to come to at least 2 out of the 3 nights of rush. So this became a controversy with us, and it was brought up to Greek Council and they could find no rules against it, so they were allowed to open bid.

[PenguinTrax]

You REALLY need to talk to the NPC advisor for you campus. You can find out who that is at www.npcwomen.org. Click on the College Panhellenic link.

[alphabug02]

PenguinTrax

If the college does not have an NPC, will it still have an NPC advisor? The girls in the chapter want to start an NPC on the campus, but I don't know where or how to tell them start, any suggestions?

[GtownGirl98]

Okay Georgetown is the same way. This has been the first year that they have allowed Fall COB because the faculity didn't want pledgeing to interfer with classes. So they have a 3 week period where the chapters that didn't make total the semester before can give bids to sophomores and higher. If you don't have a NPC advisor, I would just show that those bylaws and rules are all hearsay because you can't find the documentation anywhere.

Here is my question... if they don't really have "rules" for recruitment then why do you have to follow them here? Why can't you have informal recruitment, of the upperclasswomen? How would they punish you, without a council to dictate what you can and cannot do?

[nhpgator]

"PenguinTrax

If the college does not have an NPC, will it still have an NPC advisor? The girls in the chapter want to start an NPC on the campus, but I don't know where or how to tell them start, any suggestions?"

National Panhellenic Council (NPC) advisers are assigned regionally so there should be one even if you don't formally have a College Panhellenic Council (CPC or PC) and someone correct me if I am wrong but i believe there are even NPC advisers assigned regionally for new College Panhellenic COuncils (CPC) - so if the do want to create a college panhellenic council one of these ladies would be perfect to contact...

[PenguinTrax]

Originally posted by alphabug02
PenguinTrax

If the college does not have an NPC, will it still have an NPC advisor? The girls in the chapter want to start an NPC on the campus, but I don't know where or how to tell them start, any suggestions?

Yes, there will still be an NPC advisor assigned to your region. If you want to PM me your campus information (College and NPC groups on campus) I can assist you in finding your NPC Advisor or contact person.