Univesity of Texas at Arlington- Greek Life?

[blackngoldengrl]

Why is it the men on here feel the need to comment on sorority or women's fraternity affairs? As some have said, many of us would like to keep things Panhellenic. Anyone who wants to could easily PM the OP with that info if need be, even the men on here. I agree with OTW. "Stay in your lane."

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by blackngoldengrl

Why is it the men on here feel the need to comment on sorority or women's fraternity affairs? As some have said, many of us would like to keep things Panhellenic. Anyone who wants to could easily PM the OP with that info if need be, even the men on here. I agree with OTW. "Stay in your lane."

I understand what you are saying, but guys' opinions about reputation matter a lot to PNMs, probably too much. The same way that fraternities will give rush shirts to pretty girls on some campuses, what guys say about the "good" groups matters a lot. We can pretend otherwise on GreekChat and just wait for them to get to campus. That's fine by me.

[alum]

Originally Posted by AlphaGamUGAAlum

I understand what you are saying, but guys' opinions about reputation matter a lot to PNMs, probably too much. The same way that fraternities will give rush shirts to pretty girls on some campuses, what guys say about the "good" groups matters a lot. We can pretend otherwise on GreekChat and just wait for them to get to campus. That's fine by me.

Is this a reason to go back to fall recruitment? Perhaps instead of following their instincts, the impressionable female freshmen listen to men saying ABC are wonderful,party-hardy girls while GHI are all sticks-in-the-mud and QQQ is composed of the overly-friendly girls.

[UGAalum94]

Overly friendly girls: whatever do you mean?

I'm accustomed to fall recruitment, so I can't really say.

I'm kind of a Greek life fatalist about some things. There's not a lot of tinkering that schools or Panhellenics can do to change the desires and behaviors of 18 years about social groups.

When I stop and think about it, I'm actually pretty impressed at what the NPC is able to do in terms of recruitment and ensuring the success of as many groups as possible, but there's probably a limit.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by alum

Is this a reason to go back to fall recruitment? Perhaps instead of following their instincts, the impressionable female freshmen listen to men saying ABC are wonderful,party-hardy girls while GHI are all sticks-in-the-mud and QQQ is composed of the overly-friendly girls.

At least with Spring Rush, they will have heard the stories, but if they're truely interested, they have time to check the groups out themselves, outside of formal rush, and form their own opinion.

[UGAalum94]

It just seems like it would be really hard at the scale that SEC rush occurs to do deferred recruitment. I know that some campuses manage and that the SEC schools aren't the only big Greek campuses. I guess you could do it over four weekends second semester if you wanted to.

(UGA involves 18 groups and 1200+ girls. They run buses to the houses and have to use most of the upper floor of the student center for Rho Chi group meetings, if they still do it like they used to. While you could figure out a way to do this while the rest of the students were around, it sure is easier to do it before they get back.)

And this is the main thing: I don't think it's really going to make a big difference. Most of the PNM hear tent talk and reputation talk anyway. It really isn't like a young woman is going to take a bid and then be horrified to learn the reputation of her group after the fact really.

You have to remember that groups who for whatever reason are below total are able to COB every year, so nobody's reputation is such a risk that if people knew they wouldn't join.

[adpiucf]

Spreading rumors or dirty laundry on the internet about a particular chapter is extremely damaging to a chapter that is struggling to overcome a poor local reputation.

Those rumors can be extremely damaging to the chapter that is attempting to bounce back and has spent countless hours working with one another, nationals, etc., and promoting the heck out of themselves IRL on their campus.

We don't need to advertise any one else's business. It undermines everything the sorority is doing locally to make itself better. Let the PNMs hear what they ever they like when they get to campus. But posting something on the internet about a specific chapter is effectively, broadcasting it to the whole world.

We jump all over negative PR about hazing or Greeks being highlighted in the news for bad behavior. We are essentially reinforcing the stereotypes by painting, "These sororities are the good ones, and these are the bad ones."

[banditone]

"I know that Tri-Delta at Oklahoma is a badass sorority. All the girls I have met in the past have been VERY impressive people."

See, now that's an example of something I'd say if someone asked on here about sorority's at OU. I still don't see the harm. Dirty laundry posts? I agree, they have no place here.

[macallan25]

I think there is a huge difference between commenting on who is typically strong or weak at a campus as opposed to stereotyping the groups and spreading rumors, talking about their dirty laundry, etc.

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Spreading rumors or dirty laundry on the internet about a particular chapter is extremely damaging to a chapter that is struggling to overcome a poor local reputation.

Those rumors can be extremely damaging to the chapter that is attempting to bounce back and has spent countless hours working with one another, nationals, etc., and promoting the heck out of themselves IRL on their campus.

We don't need to advertise any one else's business. It undermines everything the sorority is doing locally to make itself better. Let the PNMs hear what they ever they like when they get to campus. But posting something on the internet about a specific chapter is effectively, broadcasting it to the whole world.

We jump all over negative PR about hazing or Greeks being highlighted in the news for bad behavior. We are essentially reinforcing the stereotypes by painting, "These sororities are the good ones, and these are the bad ones."

[adpiucf]

Very true. Most people don't know anything about Greek Life, so they don't know even know what kinds of questions to ask. It seems natural that a teen seeking membership in an exclusive club on campus would ask, "Which one is the best?" They don't know any differently.

[UGAalum94]

Yep, so I think we should remember to try to be tolerant when they ask.

Now, I think there are jerks and weirdos on here who will ask and post stuff just to be offensive; we all know that.

But the less PNMs really know about Greek life, the more they actually need a source of information and will just need to be politely guided to the type of question that we think is helpful to answer.

A break down of chapters by average weight, not so much. A history of leadership on campus or socials, maybe?

(It seems like back in the day, we were limited in the number of socials we could have by Greek Life guidelines. Is that true?)

[blackngoldengrl]

Originally Posted by AlphaGamUGAAlum

I understand what you are saying, but guys' opinions about reputation matter a lot to PNMs, probably too much. The same way that fraternities will give rush shirts to pretty girls on some campuses, what guys say about the "good" groups matters a lot. We can pretend otherwise on GreekChat and just wait for them to get to campus. That's fine by me.

Considering why most of us were founded, I'd say guys' opinions definitely matter too much. But the times change and campuses vary...ah well.
OP: Good luck with recruitment, I hope you find the info you are looking for.

[banditone]

[quote=blackngoldengrl;1492159]Why is it the men on here feel the need to comment on sorority or women's fraternity affairs? [quote]


I guess because the title of the site is "GreekChat", and I'm greek. Perhaps they should change it to keep-your-opinion-to-yourself.com instead. (I checked, and it is available. $8.95/year).

Kidding of course. I probably wouldn't even have anything to say in most threads asking about GLO's on most campuses as I only have insight into a few, but not having the ability to speak up if I wanted is what bugs me I guess.

[blackngoldengrl]

I guess because the title of the site is "GreekChat", and I'm greek. Perhaps they should change it to keep-your-opinion-to-yourself.com instead. (I checked, and it is available. $8.95/year).

Kidding of course. I probably wouldn't even have anything to say in most threads asking about GLO's on most campuses as I only have insight into a few, but not having the ability to speak up if I wanted is what bugs me I guess.[/QUOTE]

I still maintain that for questions like these, perhaps the male opinion is not warranted. The OP (you still around FJ?) asked about sororities at her school. OTW gave an answer that we don't really talk about reputations or tiers or whatever on GC. That's something that many of the sororities just don't do here, and is not very "Panhellenic." I just wish that those of you who aren't in sororities would respect that, and not comment further on it. Whether you like it or not.
Similarly, if a guy here is asking about fraternities (in reference to which is "better") I wouldn't comment, since I have no idea about the fraternities AND my opinion doesn't mean a thing. (not sure if you guys feel it is also...um...non-interfraternal?)

I think most guys on GC don't tend to comment that much on that sort of thing, and I for one appreciate it. That being said, I'm not one to trample on anyone's right to say what they want.

ETA: banditone-read your most recent post. I would say it's nice, but again in talking to a PNM...keep that one to yourself. I do support telling another Tri Delta member that her chapter there was impressive. It's nice to hear good things about your sisters from across the country. That being said, we do have threads on here "which glo would you be in if you were the other gender or another council?" where i've seen plenty of comments like yours. *shrugs shoulders*