Legacy

Phi Sig Princess · #1 09-28-2001, 05:29 PM

Hello everyone!

I was just wondering how your chapter handles legacies? For example, does your chapter generally extend them a bid? Are they extended a bid before other potential new members are considered? With one question in mind, why would we ask if they were a legacy if it was not going to be considered?

With recruitment coming to an end and being a Rho Chi this year, I saw many upsetting situations with regards to legacies and believe that those chapters should be ASHAMED that they would not allow those legacies to experience the same joys that their family member experienced. I am embarrassed that I would encourage a family member to "rush" the same sorority that brought me so many good times, only to be crushed as she received a bid at structured recruitment from a different chapter. Please give me feedback to help me understand this situation.

AngelPhiSig · #2 10-05-2001, 10:20 AM

Gamma Gamma has three legacies in our chapter at the moment... Maura (my 2 big) who is an alumna and her sister Kylene (rectuitment chair), Kirsten (on status) and her sister Stephanie (panhel), and Stephanie (MAL) and her sister Kristen (new member)

we have never had a problem with legacies, they have all been known before they had chose Phi Sig

I can get you in touch with someone who can help you more if you would like, PM me and let me know!

Phi Sig Princess · #3 10-05-2001, 07:13 PM

Thanks for the reply. My concern is how many chapters actually turn women away that are legacies of their sorority? And what would constitute the need to turn them away?

SapphireSphinx9 · #4 09-17-2002, 02:44 PM

I just wanted to say that we have a legacy that will hopefully go through recruitment with us. One of the founder's little sister is now going to Dominguez, and has expressed some intrest in Phi Sig... So let's just keep our fingers crossed!

PSLAM~Beth

PenguinTrax · #5 09-17-2002, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phi Sig Princess
Thanks for the reply. My concern is how many chapters actually turn women away that are legacies of their sorority? And what would constitute the need to turn them away?

Not every legacy PNM is a good fit for the chapter.

On some campuses, a chapter's legacies could potentially fill up more than one new member class - some cuts need to be made and your legacies may not have the academics/activities, etc. that a non-legacy has.

It's a tough situation - for most NPC orgs, legacies are given extra courtesy (usually in the form of one additional invitation), but can't be guaranteed a bid.

jess_pom · #6 09-17-2002, 03:49 PM

One of our NM's aunt was a sister at our chapter back in the 70s! We thought that was really cool. Of course, she isn't a legacy, but still!!

phisig140 · #7 09-17-2002, 03:57 PM

I saw the same things happen with our recruitment this year. One of the sororities on our campus had 2 legacies come through and they cut one of them the 2nd night. They had to call her mother (her mother was a founder of the their chapter on our campus!!!!!).

As far as we are concerned, our legacies get special consideration. And the only reason we wouldn't take them would be extreme circumstances. If we didn't take them, we would write the legacies family member a letter and national a letter explaining the situation.

Leah

Glitter650 · #8 09-25-2002, 08:54 PM

I think we have a national policy that they are extended extra invitations,( I think they have to be asked back through the 2nd round of invitational parties if there is that many) but they are by NO means guarnanteed a bid

binks · #9 09-27-2002, 10:21 AM

We toke a legacy this semester. i feel bad cause she doesn't really fit into the chapter AT ALL!!!
I know she is a legacy and her sister is from the closest chapter to us, but i honestly don' t think she will be happy!
i was not there when we gave her a bid and i am MRC. I told the chapter to wait to give her a bid but they give it anyway. Yes, she is a legacy But she doesn't fit into our chapter! I don't think it will be a good thing in the end. If they have an aunt that was a sister they are a legacy due to NPC rules. Our DCP told me that when we were writing the recruitment policy.

jess_pom · #10 07-09-2005, 01:25 PM

Alright sisters!

I need help! My youngest sister just came back from college orientation and is asking me all these questions about other sororities. I don't know what to say or do. I don't want her to join my sorority just because I'm a member but I really don't feel comfortable with her joining any other sorority because of their reputations. And I know that they're just that, legend, but come on! I've witnessed some stupid hazing at other sororities at my school so I know it happens, and it might be stupid stuff that doesn't cause any harm but it's still hazing.

So, how should I deal with this? I've been telling her their reputations and saying that it's her decision but I don't want her to get burned. And I don't know if she'd fit in with PSS -- she's more a preppy girl than what our chapter is.

Glitter650 · #11 07-09-2005, 05:35 PM

Jess, I don't think you can do anything else than what you have been doing; Telling her what you know, and letting her know that ultimately, it's her decision.
hopefully if she does join somewhere else, she'll realize and have the strength to say something if they do haze her. It's not like she's stuck once she gets a bid either if she does join somewhere else. Just make sure she knows she can/should get out BEFORE initiation if it's not working out for her, and that she CAN say something if they are doing something wrong and making her uncomfortable. Who knows maybe after rush she'll realize she DOES fit in with Phi Sig.

whittleschmeg · #12 07-09-2005, 08:14 PM

I think your doing a great job Jess telling her how you feel. Ultimatley it will be her decision... I am sure she will make the best one and you have to trust that you know your sister well enough to make that decision. It is a rough situation but I'm sure it will all work its self out......

Nieng17 · #13 07-14-2005, 11:23 AM

This past recruitment we had a legacy come through our chapter. After taking over the MRC position i was told that our "national" policy was to invite the PNM back for at least one round and if we continued to invite her back, because we liked her and she liked us, and she made it all the way to preference round she had to be #1 on our bid list.

Again i was "told" and never really read up on it, but that's how our chapter handles legacies. At our campus PNM's can cut sororities and if legacies get an invite from the sorority that they are a legacy of they can always cut them from their list if they are not interested. Apart from family pressure, I think that if a PNM wasn't interested in her legacy sorority she could always opt to refuse an invite.

The same applies for the sorority, if after inviting them back after one round, or how many national requires, the chapter can opt not to invite her back. The problem i see is if the legacy is a legacy because of a sister at the same campus she is rushing at. Blood sisters could pressure their chapter into continuing to invite the PNM back.

Glitter650 · #14 07-14-2005, 11:57 AM

OUr legacy policy says she must be invited to to I think at least 1 or two invitational rounds and must appear on our #1 LIST if she makes it to pref , not the number 1 spot on the #1 list. Does that make sense ?

#15 07-14-2005, 12:14 PM

SOrry to crash here, but this is an interesting topic. THere were some chapters at Baylor who had more legacies than quota. Their chapters have been around since the early 1900s and with that you have tons of in house and regular legacies. In those situations, it is inpossible to give everysingle legacy special preference in bidding. Especially when some of them just DON"T fit or DON"T want to be in their g grandmother, grandmother, mother, and 3 sisters's sorority! I think it's pretty common to invite them back to second round, to give them a fair shot, to try to get to know them. There's a certain point where you either need special permission to release a legacy or you must put them on the bid list. I know it's horrible, but seriously impossible to give special treatment/take every legacy that comes through the door. ESPECIALLY in schools that have had greek systems for over 100 years.