Rushed a chapter for the wrong reasons?

[Manders]

Hello all!

I was recently talking to some sisters of other chapters at various campuses of various GLO's and we started thinking back to rush. We realized that even though most were ultimately all happy with our choices for sisterhood, some of us admitted we may have initially chosen our GLO for the wrong reasons. I.E. - reputation on campus, appearance of sisters, etc. Some of the sisters even admitted that they regretted their choice. Do you think that we as a greek system should strive to provide better (if any) educational programs for prospective rushees about the importance of choosing the right GLO for you and for the right reasons? Do you think it would help to begin fall rush almost immediately the semester begins to attempt to rush girls before the rumors and reputations fly around campus? Or do you just think this that none of this is necessary at all? I'd be really interested to hear your opinions! thanks again.

Amanda

[PenguinTrax]

Amanda -

I agree that the pre-recruitment education of potential members needs to be improved, but at the same time, the way individual chapters recruit has to change as well. Looks, social skills and reputation still play too large of a role in recruitment, in my opinion.

In my replies to various young women that ask me questions about recruitment, the one thing I always stress is to go where you feel most comfortable, with a chapter that is already like you, not one you want to be like. You can't and shouldn't change yourself just to fit in. You need to be happy with who and what you are and seek out friendships that reinforce you socially, spiritually and academically.

I've admitted in another thread, that I fell prey to this problem. Luckily for me, the 2 groups that I wanted to be like, didn't want me and I ended up the chapter that was the best fit for my personality and goals. I couldn't be happier with the turn of events.

Fraternally,
Barbara

[Manders]

You're lucky it turned out that way for you! I agree with your statement:

go where you feel most comfortable, with a chapter that is already like you, not one you want to be like


I think that's really key for people to understand. Thanks!

[matthewg]

Hi there,
this topic brings up a question that was on my mind since I learned about American fraternities:
Why is rush limited to such a short period of time and why is it that potential members cannot join the fraternity/sorority all year round after having got an idea of what they are like. After that you could have a temporary membership of a fixed period of time?
Can anybody tell me how this system of rushing has developed and why?
Thank you in advance!

matthewg
http://www.kdstv-bodensee.de

[Manders]

well I'm not the "rush expert" but an educated idea would just be time constraints. Each year people graduate and leave a campus...therefor they aren't paying dues anymore. the chapter needs to get new members as soon as possible in order to fill housing, and make payments etc. I know at my campus we have over 25 sororities not including service ones. Formal fall rush lasts a little over a week I think. I agree that more time is definitely needed to make a decision but on the other hand it may only make a decision harder .

amanda

[AlphaChiGirl]

I agree that more time is definitely needed to make a decision but on the other hand it may only make a decision harder .
amanda[/B]

--I totally agree. I went through Spring Recruitment. I had assumed that I would be able to make the right decision after the Pref Parties, but I really wsan't able to make the decision by 11 PM that night, and I had a flight to catch the next morning. So, after I returned, I received COB's from the sororities on my campus--which made it even harder for me to decide, having to choose from all of the sororities on the campus! I ended up making the right decision, but it was the same group that had been contacting me since before Rush even started, and they were the girls with whom I felt more familiar and comfortable.

"Do you think it would help to begin fall rush almost immediately the semester begins to attempt to rush girls before the rumors and reputations fly around campus?"
--Isn't this what a lot of schools try to do? I know of a lot of schools (primarily in the South) whose Fall Rush begins prior to school even resuming, but I don't know how I feel about this, per se...I understand why schools do this, but I also can understand why they shouldn't (i.e., forcing girls to make a huge decision before they really experience life as college students).


[This message has been edited by AlphaChiGirl (edited June 29, 2000).]

[Corbin Dallas]

At my school, rush lasts 7 weeks, yes SEVEN! I know it would suck to only have a week, or a weekend, but 7 weeks is a bit long! I think 4-5 weeks would be just about perfect. About that time we have a good idea of who we want and for the next 2-3 weeks, we are just trying to keep them occupied so the other fraternities don't get to them. Our rush system is pretty strict. It's dry, you can't say ANYTHING about other fraternities, and there are quite a few closed days where contact can only be in class, or at work, and you have to be careful what you say. It almost seems that after that long of a period, people start to lose interest, plus a few of the houses dirty rush. One of my brothers was dirty rushed our freshman year, but he didn't turn the house in because then he wouldn't have been able to join our house for another year.


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Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Zeta Chapter
Ros-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

[mgdzkm433]

I think educating girls as to what they are 'getting into' is very important. Knowing what you will be doing and how you will be doing it should be the #1 reason you join a sorority. I think a little pre-recruitment/ pre-rush information would be very helpful. Facts are, there will be girls that don't care what a sorority is all about and they won't know their facts, but we should make them available BEFORE rush/recruitment or even ALL the time for those people that are curious to know what each sorority is 'all about'. Pamplets, information nights, posters, etc etc are all a good way to get your organization 'out there' for the public to see. One thing that concerns me is that when it comes time for fundraisers or philanthropy projects, who knows about it other than the members and pledges? Usually nobody. It might sound concieted, but ADVERTISE your philanthropy projects and community service projects because THAT will draw in people. Making them aware that you ARE doing the projects can bring so much more to your sorority. We can SAY all we want that we support this and that, but unless they see it--they don't know it for sure. You want people to remember your name and what you stand for when it comes rush/recruitment time.

[kmullini]

Manders,

Looking back I never ever regret making the decision I made going with Beta. I thought Spring Rush was a much better route and I would highly recommend it. I agree that It might be a good idea to have more of a pre-rush education emphasis on the campuses and my opinion stressing to the rushee its important to look at other houses too.

Kevin Mullinix
Beta Theta Pi Alum
Epsilon Mu Chapter
George Mason university

[sigmagrrl]

I would want to see a less rigid, but longer recruitment period implemented. I think on a day2day basis, I cannot calculate whether or not a woman is going to be a good sister in 4 40-60 minute parties. Truthfully, our chapter was not very good at rush!!! We were SO SAD!! I can laugh now, but it was painful to hear the potentials snickering at us at our first rush! So, I think diehard rush practice is important as well...Also, stop the sketches! I cannot have a conversation with you if I am also acting like Gilligan for 20 minutes!! PHONY FAKE AND OUTDATED!!

[equeen]

I would agree that a longer rush makes for getting to know the sorority/prospective members a much more thorough process. My sorority has a three-week rush, and it's worked very well for us.

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equeen
A Lioness has her Pride!
@>--;--
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies