Dirty Rush

I hate dirty rushing. I heard MANY times girls drop out because XYZ promised them they'd be in their sorority and they got cut by them after Round 2. My favorite was hearing girls come back later and tell us, "I really liked your chapter and would've joined but ABC (the group they joined) told me you guys were getting kicked off campus."

[LaneSig]

Originally Posted by ADPiZXalum

I hate dirty rushing. I heard MANY times girls drop out because XYZ promised them they'd be in their sorority and they got cut by them after Round 2. My favorite was hearing girls come back later and tell us, "I really liked your chapter and would've joined but ABC (the group they joined) told me you guys were getting kicked off campus."

This reminds me of my school. When I was at Arkansas State, our Kappa Delta and Zeta Tau Alpha chapters were both struggling with numbers. One chapter on campus kept telling pnms that both of the chapters were going to close. Unfortunately that has happened. But, guess who is the struggling chapter now? That's right: the chapter that kept spreading rumors about KD and ZTA.

[lillady85]

I figured I'd bump this because my question is about dirty rushing.
So...
Is it considered un-Panhellenic to advertise sorority events that won't take place until the school year, now in July, when no other group/organization is even on campus? Is this considered dirty rushing or just...bending the rules a bit? I understand wanting to get out your sorority but, when no one but potential rushee's are on campus?

Here's my question, when is is considered 'dirty'? What have y'all done with this kind of situation? I just don't know if it's really an offense.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by lillady85

I figured I'd bump this because my question is about dirty rushing.
So...
Is it considered un-Panhellenic to advertise sorority events that won't take place until the school year, now in July, when no other group/organization is even on campus? Is this considered dirty rushing or just...bending the rules a bit? I understand wanting to get out your sorority but, when no one but potential rushee's are on campus?

Here's my question, when is is considered 'dirty'? What have y'all done with this kind of situation? I just don't know if it's really an offense.

I'd say just ask your campus Panhellenic, since they all have different rules regarding what is "dirty rushing" and what isn't.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by lillady85

I figured I'd bump this because my question is about dirty rushing.
So...
Is it considered un-Panhellenic to advertise sorority events that won't take place until the school year, now in July, when no other group/organization is even on campus? Is this considered dirty rushing or just...bending the rules a bit? I understand wanting to get out your sorority but, when no one but potential rushee's are on campus?

Here's my question, when is is considered 'dirty'? What have y'all done with this kind of situation? I just don't know if it's really an offense.

That's kind of interesting. VioletPretty is right that your CPC will know for sure, but it sounds like it could either be a good PR move to get the word out about your group to PNMs (if for example, it was a philanthropic event you were advertising) or it could be in really bad taste if it made all GLO look like wild partiers or something.

If it's allowed, all the groups will just need to do it next year.

[adpiucf]

I can't see why it would be against the rules to advertise an event that won't be held for several months... but the question is, is your target audience even on campus right now and will your time and effort be wasted? Definitely check with the campus Panhellenic.

But common sense suggests that you aren't holding any events during the silence period, and you should be allowed to generally promote your organization to the campus-at-large 365 days a year.

Oh and as a follow up to my original post, our PNM happily pledged her first choice (ZTA) at Baylor and is loving her sorority and university!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

I can't see why it would be against the rules to advertise an event that won't be held for several months... but the question is, is your target audience even on campus right now and will your time and effort be wasted?

I'm guessing that their target audience (freshmen) is on campus right now, for orientation.

It's actually a good idea, but it would be better to promote Panhel in general rather than one sorority doing it individually. But hey, if they thought of it first....

[adpiucf]

I guess it depends on what and how you are advertising.

The sororities at my school used to put up home-made banners during the summer orientation that would say things like, "ADPi welcomes you to UCF!" and "Tri-Delta <3's UCF" or even "Sorority Recruitment Forum: UCF Arena 8/24 @ 3 PM" outside of our houses or around campus. I don't see how that could be construed as dirty rushing.

ETA... I even think a direct mail piece shouldn't be considered dirty either, if its purpose was to invite you to a future event. But if the message's purpose is to acquaint a non-affiliated woman with your sorority during the silence period, I think that would be considered not only unusual, but also a bit suspect. So I think if it's a simple "You're invited to a tea at XYZ! DATE/TIME, etc.," then that should be fine. I wouldn't suggest an RSVP mechanism until after silence has ended. And I woudn't suggest any literature about XYZ sorority being distributed directly to a PNM by XYZ sorority-- the campus Panhellenic is doing this with their recruitment materials, anyway.

You can, however, sneak your web URL onto any advertisments-- your web site would include all kinds of info about the organization and recruitment, etc.

And I agree, if you thought of it first, and it's a general public announcement in the school paper, a banner, etc., go for it... as long as you're not breaking any personal contact rules for the purpose of acquainting non-affiliated with your sorority, there should be no problem. But as a show of good faith, it doesn't hurt to loop in your chapter adviser and the campus Greek adviser before you act.

[Stef the Pef]

Originally Posted by ADPiZXalum

I hate dirty rushing. I heard MANY times girls drop out because XYZ promised them they'd be in their sorority and they got cut by them after Round 2. My favorite was hearing girls come back later and tell us, "I really liked your chapter and would've joined but ABC (the group they joined) told me you guys were getting kicked off campus."

So this is my question--how can a chapter combat this kind of crap? Honestly, the dinners, signs, and everything else seem pretty "clean" compared to the smear campaign some chapters wage against others. So what do the other chapters do, then?