How much should I try to avoid controversial topics during rush?

Soma · #1 08-01-2008, 06:52 AM

I'm headed to a quite conservative school this fall, and I'm planning on rushing.
I've been very heavily involved with Planned Parenthood throughout high school. I interned there this past summer, at it was sort of just what I spent a lot of my summer doing.
It's not something that defines me. It's a cause I really believe in, but a big part of why I ended up spending so much time there is that I really clicked with some of the employees. I'm in no way a radical, and I think that people could easily get the wrong impression.
But if someone asks what I did this summer.... that's sort of what I did.
And if they ask if I volunteer anywhere or anything... that's basically it.
Someone suggested that I say I volunteered at a clinic, but I was involved more with the political and financial departments then the actual patient center.
I really don't want anyone to think I'm trying to be dishonest, I just don't want to bring something up that I know could offend or alienate people.

FSUZeta · #2 08-01-2008, 07:13 AM

what if you say" i did a lot of volunteering over the summer". if they then ask you what you did, you could tell them what your duties were-"i helped out with their fundraising" or "i mailed out literature", w/o mentioning that you were with planned parenthood. if you are pressed further, you could say you worked for a community health clinic.

SigKapSweetie · #3 08-01-2008, 07:44 AM

It's not dishonest to avoid a controversial topic during a job interview, so IMHO it's not dishonest during recruitment either. I wouldn't have been offended if I'd found out that a PNM intentionally didn't mention the name of the place where she volunteered because she worried it would affect her rush - I'd be impressed by her political savvy!

SWTXBelle · #4 08-01-2008, 09:03 AM

Co-sign to both of the above. I seriously doubt that an active is going to relentlessly continue to interogate you until you "confess" you worked at Planned Parenthood - they too are going to try and avoid controversy. Say you volunteered at a clinic over the summer, if pushed describe specfically what you did, and if an active asks the name of the clinic just say Planned Parenthood and move on. I wouldn't stress out about it. You might also plan to discuss other things you did this summer - "I went to the beach with my family, volunteered at a clinic and spent time with my friends". Slipping it in with other activities gives the active some other options to use to continue the conversation. Good luck.

ForeverRoses · #5 08-01-2008, 09:27 AM

co-sign everything stated. May I also suggest that you "practice" the conversation maybe with some friends. Maybe have them mock rush you. that way when the topic comes up during actual recruitment, you won't get a deer in the headlights look on your face before you stumble through an answer. If it sounds natural, then the convo will naturally move on to other things

KSUViolet06 · #6 08-01-2008, 02:16 PM

I see nothing wrong with saying something like "I volunteered at a women's health clinic." I doubt that is going to raise any eyebrows and you wouldn't be lying.

Now depending on who you're talking to, "I worked for Planned Parenthood" IS going to raise some eyebrows. So I wouldn't come out and say that.

Soma · #7 08-01-2008, 03:56 PM

Thanks, guys.

You were all really helpful. I'm starting to get nervous and second guess myself, haha.

FSUZeta · #8 08-01-2008, 05:23 PM

that's pretty normal. best wishes for a successful recruitement for you.

#9 08-01-2008, 05:29 PM

The OP's username is a muscle relaxer pill I used to take.

Good luck with recruitment.

tinydancer · #10 08-01-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTW

The OP's username is a muscle relaxer pill I used to take.

Me too! That was the first thing I thought about when I saw this thread.

BabyPiNK_FL · #11 08-01-2008, 08:23 PM

Soma Intimates is a lingere store...that's what I think of. They have the best stay in place seamless undies (if anyone is looking)?

CrackerBarrel · #12 08-01-2008, 08:37 PM

Muscle relaxers and lingerie? Sounds like quite the night.

Soma · #13 08-01-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTW

The OP's username is a muscle relaxer pill I used to take.

Haha, really?
It's what my parents called me when I was little, but it's also the name of the drug in the book Brave New World that their entire society is addicted to.
I think it's quite interesting that a pharmaceuticals company would name a drug the same thing, haha, but I'm probably just overestimating how many people read that book.

epchick · #14 08-01-2008, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soma

Brave New World

That's the first thing I thought when I saw your username.

I love that book!! It was probably my favorite book that I read in HS.

breathesgelatin · #15 08-02-2008, 12:08 AM

I went to a conservative school and was generally considered far-left by everyone I went to school with. A few weeks ago a PNM posted a thread asking if it would be OK to discuss Democratic fundraising/interning with Democratic politicians during recruitment. I actually said that in that instance I think that would be OK at a conservative school. For a variety of reasons. But in the case of Planned Parenthood, I do strongly feel that's something you want to suppress during recruitment at a conservative school.

Another thing I posted was that even at schools that are very conservative or have conservative Greek systems, every sorority is going to have a few devoted and active liberals/democrats/left-wingers. I have seen that both at my undergrad and grad institutions.

You might want to look up that other thread and see if there's any interesting or different advice there.