Listing Legacy Chapters

[greekdee]

I've had another question come up and don't really know the answer.

Upon registering for recruitment, are PNMs required to list any chapters they are legacies to? My first thought was, "why wouldn't you want to list them?", but some PNMs are concerned that legacy status may actually be detrimental to their recruitment...that they will be released by all or most chapters except those they are legacies to.

It's a legit concern. Three PNMs I've done recs for were released (early) by all houses except those where they were legacies. The current PNM I speak of is open to the legacy chapter, but doesn't want to be left with it as the only possibility, especially considering that so many legacies don't get bids these days.

I know a lot of registration forms request legacy info, but don't know if divulging it is optional.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

[adpiucf]

There's no such requirement to divulge legacy status to any sorority, even to the legacy sorority. There's no way to make this a requirement, and there's no way to verify if someone opts out purposefully or by accident.

[AOII Angel]

If the applicable sorority member sends in a Legacy Form (or whatever each group calls it) the line on the form is superfluous. Many computerized recruitment systems (ICS) won't give out legacy status to chapters unless it pertains to them anyway.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

If the applicable sorority member sends in a Legacy Form (or whatever each group calls it) the line on the form is superfluous. Many computerized recruitment systems (ICS) won't give out legacy status to chapters unless it pertains to them anyway.

But a lot of Panhellenics do include that legacy info. on the party lists for all to see, which can work against a PNM just as greekdee said. A better solution is for the alumna writing the recommendation for a legacy PNM to make sure legacy status is included with the information she passes along to the chapter, as AOII Angel suggested. That way only the legacy chapter knows.

[Titchou]

I always include that on my recs whether she is a legacy to my group or another. In fact our form has a place for that. So if I know it,and I always ask if I don't already know, it's going on the rec.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Titchou

I always include that on my recs whether she is a legacy to my group or another. In fact our form has a place for that. So if I know it,and I always ask if I don't already know, it's going on the rec.

Sneaky.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Sneaky.

No, I just ask up front. Like, what all sororities are represented in your family, sweetie? Followed by batting my eyes....

[Old_Row]

Originally Posted by Titchou

I always include that on my recs whether she is a legacy to my group or another. In fact our form has a place for that. So if I know it,and I always ask if I don't already know, it's going on the rec.

I don't think this is unusual at all at least at some of the more competitive schools or houses.

[MaryPoppins]

One of the topics at Ice Water a million years ago when I was a Rushee was, "Tell me about the Greeks in your family?"

[ADPiEE]

So if a PNM lists her legacy chapters, she could be released by other chapters. But then she also could be released by her legacy chapter. Does this happen often or just at competitive/SEC schools--where legacies remain bidless?

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by ADPiEE

So if a PNM lists her legacy chapters, she could be released by other chapters. But then she also could be released by her legacy chapter. Does this happen often or just at competitive/SEC schools--where legacies remain bidless?

This is why I think it is more considerate of the legacy chapter to release the PNM at the earliest possible time. Waiting too long in the process seems to work against the PNM. This has happened to a couple of PNMs I know. These girls were carried through the last party before prefs. and were not invited back for prefs. I won't name the schools, but will say this happened at schools where recs. are a must!

[WCsweet<3]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

This is why I think it is more considerate of the legacy chapter to release the PNM at the earliest possible time. Waiting too long in the process seems to work against the PNM. This has happened to a couple of PNMs I know. These girls were carried through the last party before prefs. and were not invited back for prefs. I won't name the schools, but will say this happened at schools where recs. are a must!

Would the other chapters know though? Like if everyone was dropping Suzie because she was an XYZ, but XYZ dropped her first round, would the other chapters know? I don't remember my chapter knowing what PNMs went to another group unless the PNM told me.

[adpiucf]

No, they wouldn't know who dropped whom.

I've seen things go a few different ways with legacies. I have known some legacies who didn't even inform their legacy sorority of their status because they wanted to get in "on their own." I've seen legacies dropped by every other sorority because their legacy status is well-known. I've seen legacies dropped from their legacy chapter just before prefs. And then I've seen sororities brag about poaching multi-generational legacies away from their legacy sororities. Legacies can also feel enormous pressure to join their legacy sorority, so I can understand why other sororities would cut them.

Without a doubt, the legacies with an active upperclassman sorority member at the same school are at a significant disadvantage. I can think of quite a few girls from UCF who really had no choice during their recruitments. It's a little hard when your sister is the recruitment chair AND your mom is one of the alumnae volunteers serving refreshments, for example...

[AXOrushadvisor]

I'm on the fence about this. I would only NOT list it if the PNM has a sitting sister in a Chapter at the same university the PNM is going through. We did that with my niece when she went through recruitment. The legacy chapter knew she was a sister (obvi) but we did not put that information on any other documentation.

[amIblue?]

I think that with so many legacies getting dropped, that it's best to leave it off. Also, I wouldnt include it for a rec girl that I know.