Maybe this deserves a discussion

k

[carnation]

Originally Posted by elip...sis

There's this petition I've been trying to promote (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/npc-time-to-change )

I know it's really taboo and it's frowned upon, but I witnessed a lot of young women dropping or staying and feeling "stuck" because they wouldn't get a second chance some place else. Every chapter has issues, totally get it, but sometimes it's too much to overcome. For me, that line was crossed after watching girls get harassed for speaking up about wrong doings, getting harassed and bullied for doing what they were told to do, watching girls get ignored, and having concerns ignored. I spoke up as a new member and an active and was constantly told "it gets better" or "it's getting handled" with none of the mistreatment ever really rectified. I think nationally, my former organization does great things (as all orgs do), but I can't be a part of it knowing that they knew about the treatment and took the word of one over the word of many.

I disaffiliated because of my experience as a whole, even with the good memories I had during three semesters. I had always wanted a group of girlfriends because I moved around a lot as a kid and the idea of having that bond seemed incredible. It killed that I had a bad experience and that I witnessed what I did because I KNOW that Greek Life is an amazing time. It's beneficial to our lives. I'm doing this because everyone who transfers to a school without their organization or who drops for whatever reason deserves a second chance at finding a sisterhood.

Lets be honest, disgruntled members have posted ritual and other secrets online already. Truthfully, other than our word, there's nothing stopping women from sharing secrets anyways (if they want to), but there could be an electronic form signed before a young woman goes through recruitment again. It's not costing the NPC anything, no monies in dues would be refunded BECAUSE going through recruitment and initiating was voluntary.

Some schools don't have a long new membership period, my school had recruitment in Feb. and we were initiated in April, and if we're being real here we know new members get treated differently than active members. We're asking lifelong commitments in a short period of time and sometimes who we are no longer matches up with the organization.

Please, before responding in anger or incredulous disbelief someone would even suggest this, take a moment and read the petition and the comments. In my mind, if we have women who actually want to be a part of the greek community why are we stopping them? They are/were our sisters and we should want to help them.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/npc-time-to-change

QFP. This is so full of mierda that I don't know where to start.

What exactly is wrong with this?

I'm not saying it's a large number of women compared to those who are happy within their organization the first go 'round.
I'm saying that those who aren't happy deserve a second opportunity

[carnation]

No, they don't.

What a self-serving petition.

I'm no longer able to do this as a grad. student.

It's okay that you don't understand because that means you had a great experience. That's great for you. Unfortunately there are those who don't get to experience that.

Even those who transfer aren't that blessed.

[carnation]

Entitled much? Do you think everyone should get do-overs for everything?

[SWTXBelle]

The chaos that would ensue would be phenomenal.

The member GLOs have, over the course of over a century, come together and created a system which, while not perfect, insures a quality experience for the vast majority of those who wish to join. I do not see all 26 chucking it for the kind of free for all which existed in sorority recruitment before the Agreements.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

The chaos that would ensue would be phenomenal.

The member GLOs have, over the course of over a century, come together and created a system which, while not perfect, insures a quality experience for the vast majority of those who wish to join. I do not see all 26 chucking it for the kind of free for all which existed in sorority recruitment before the Agreements.

There would be some initial chaos, I agree, but only because I think there are that many women who are unhappy with their organization. Just think of all the active alumnae organizations would have should this actually happen.

I simply think this warrants a serious discussion.

[MaggieXi]

A second opportunity does exist if the new member chooses not to intiate after 6 weeks (give or take) and go through recruitment the following year. And even if the NPC were to change this rule, that doesn't mean organizations would be required to issue a bid to someone who was a former initiated member of another organization.

Correct. Just because they change the rule doesn't require a bid be issued, they'd still be going through recruitment again and all the same risks apply.

For those that I know and myself, our new member period was VASTLY different than our active membership treatment.

[MaggieXi]

Originally Posted by elip...sis

Correct. Just because they change the rule doesn't require a bid be issued, they'd still be going through recruitment again and all the same risks apply.

For those that I know and myself, our new member period was VASTLY different than our active membership treatment.

New member activities and time frame vary between organizations and college campuses. This sounds more like a organizational issue or campus problem, not an NPC problem.
As I understand it, the NPC is the governing body made up of the member organizations. The member organizations propose and agree on rules such as a the one you are petitioning against. You essentially would need to get the majority of organizations to agree with you before such a change could be made.

Originally Posted by MaggieXi

New member activities and time frame vary between organizations and college campuses. This sounds more like a organizational issue or campus problem, not an NPC problem.
As I understand it, the NPC is the governing body made up of the member organizations. The member organizations propose and agree on rules such as a the one you are petitioning against. You essentially would need to get the majority of organizations to agree with you before such a change could be made.

I've tried talking to my former organization about such an idea and they directed me to the NPC. I understand that, it's not that I expect the change to happen quickly, I just want the organizations to be aware that this is something that they could benefit from. Not only would they have happier members, higher alumnae involvement, they could make money. Imagine if it was only 300 young women who transferred or dropped- they go through recruitment again and pay dues again versus no dues coming in from them at all.

[carnation]

Um, benefits? No. Here's what would go down.

New member 1: "Crap! I got my second choice and was initiated and now there's a space in the org I wanted! I'll claim harassment, quit, and join them."

New member 2: "I didn't realize there are so many dogs in my sorority. They must've been in the kitchen during recruitment. I want to join a better group!"

New member 3: "My sorority at this college isn't the best of the best. I will rush again at another college and get into the best one."

Etc.

And you think that the NPC members would rush to okay this and pick up a bunch of women like my examples?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by elip...sis

For those that I know and myself, our new member period was VASTLY different than our active membership treatment.

Then you need to sit down and write a letter to your former sorority that says:

Dear XYZ:

I am a former member of your sorority. I disaffiliated because the new member program did not adequately prepare me for membership. My NM period was filled with {insert fun stuff here} and nothing else. Once I was initiated, it was all {insert crap here} which I was completely shielded from as a NM.

In my opinion NM period should be less fun and more work and reality.


You'll find those sentiments all over this board. Shortened and easier pledge periods have not worked for our organizations. But that should be your focus, not changing the rules so you can get a bid from another NPC who does the same thing.

Some could, nothing on the internet is perfect, but prior to starting this petition and reading those comments I never even thought about the transfer students not being able to be a part of their sisterhood.

It opened my own mind on how I was so focused just on those dropping that I didn't think about those losing their sisters for another school.