Safety Questions?

[purplewindex]

Hey all --

I apologize if this is in the wrong sub-category of Recruitment, but here goes anyway. We are holding Recruitment during the weekend of September 14-17th, and just had Recruitment workshops last week. Most girls that were just initiated or have never been on this end of Recruitment before were having a hard time thinking of "safety questions". That is, if you're talking to a girl and are either nervous or there is just a moment of silence in the conversation. We like to have a safety question to ask that would get the conversation back to speed and where it is comfortable again.

I was wondering what some of your safety questions were, or if you had suggestions of really interesting questions to ask PNMs, rather than the boring "what's your major" blah blah blah boring stuff that they hear all day.

[33girl]

Favorite band.
Last movie you saw.

[ThetaPrincess24]

I always asked about hobbies whether I was stuck or not. USUALLY they had at least one hobby in common with me and the conversation was easy from there.

[PenguinTrax]

Do you play an instrument?
Do you like to attend plays/musicals/ballet/symphony?
What sports do you enjoy watching or playing?

Hobbies, movies, tv, etc. are all good, too but you need to be careful to phrase the question in such a way that you can also learn about the PNM.

[WhiteDaisy128]

I'd suggest the name trick...in a chapter meeting or recruitment workshop before recruitment starts give out white sheets of paper...have every girl write their names vertically...then beside each letter of their name write a topic or question. Then when they get nervous during rush, they just have to think of their name...for example:

C -- Career -> HS jobs? Part time jobs? What do you want to do when you grow up?
A -- Athletics -> HS sports? Club sports? Varsity sports?
R -- Role Model -> Who has been a role model in your life?
O -- Object -> What is your favorite possession? Thing you can't live without?
L -- Live -> Hometown? Dorm? Do you like your hometown?
Y -- Youth -> Favorite childhood membories?
N -- Novels -> Favorite novels? Favorite classic?

Obviously, some questions would be easier to weave into conversation than others...but at least it'll give you a starting place...

[texas*princess]

WD - that's an awesome idea

[BamaDad DZ]

What if a pnm is asked about sports and she states her intention to participate in varsity sports at the university. Does she raise a red flag to the sorority due to potential time and scheduling conflicts, such that they may not wish to consider her? Same idea with respect to other students who intend to develop other serious interests. I understand that the sorority commitment is a serious one, but the sister's participation in the sport may in fact bring accolades to the sorority. Do the sororities attempt to work with the new pledge if they participate in a varsity sport?

Bottom line, can the sports questions possibly put the pnm on the spot?

[adpiucf]

I'd love for you to meet more of my sisters today! Let me introduce you to my sister __________.

[AlphaFrog]

If you could dress up as any video game character, who would you be?

If you could be any vegetable or fruit, what would you choose?

[SoCalGirl]

The safety question that I still remember after all these years, "What's your favorite cereal?"

[KSUViolet06]

*What did you do this summer?

If she says she worked, ask where. If she went on a vacation, ask her what her favorite memory was from her vacation.

*Why did you choose Whatever State University?

*Do you have any brothers or sisters?