Selectivity And Apo

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by naraht

I've seen pledge programs with Objective Criteria that fulfill the National Pledging Standards that take more time for students than classes (including homework) in their major. 2 hours for the pledge meeting, 2 hours for the chapter meeting, and at least 2-3 other hours per week. While the quizzes may not be as tough as those for their classes, still, add additional study time for that.

Hmm. Pledge quiz as tough as those for classes...
1. Name the first chapter chartered for whom the school name has changed since they chartered. Give the old name of the school.
2. Name the last State to have a chapter chartered in it.
3. Name the only National President for whom the end of their time in office did not co-incide with a National Convention.
4. Name any student who initiated in the 1925-1926 school year *other* than the 14 student founders.
5. Name any section in the Fraternity whose borders have not changed since it was established at Con-con.
6. Where was the 1942 convention *supposed* to be?
7. Where was the 1994 convention *supposed* to be?
8. Name any charter at a closed school.
9. Name the calendar years since the Fraternity was founded in which we did not charter any chapters
10. What were there six of in the fraternity's original crest.

Such quizzes with questions to the effect of the above are most definately a start, though I like taking it one step further: questions that allude to the Monty Python treatment, such as "When was Alpha Phi Omega founded--to the nearest second?" and "Which Alpha Phi Omega brother is more deceptive: the foolish wise one or the wise fool?"

There is a difference between requiring objective criteria and having easy criteria.

While your post still doesnt adequately address the issue of fit being a critieria of being an APO brother, and since objectivity is such an issue of weeding out members, I got some really good objective criteria that will stop a lot of brothers at the door from further pursuing APO if their heart really isn't in it that would make the bidding issue a non-starter:

Have candidates submit their past record of service & volunteering on campus and the community and get letters of recommendation from such organizations and event sponsors and planners. Give additional consideration for candidates who served in a leadership capacity and who can quantify the projects and events with measureable numbers. Right there that's two of our three cardinal principles addressed and verified.

The third (friendship) ties into the "fit" issue: Has the candidate attended and/or volunteered at any APO events or service projects? Have they at least offered to help volunteer with APO in some capacity? Do they have strong social rapport with any of the brothers (I personally prefer at least three, but 1-2 will probably suffice)? Can any of the brothers vouch for the candidate and their commitment to service?

And there you have it: objective and measurable criteria to determine if a candidate is fit to be a brother of APO and that addresses all three of our cardinal principles. I doubt if any candidate being taken to task on being screened who isn't serious about joining would further pursue APO. If they did, there's enough evidence that should stop them from being initiated. And for those who are serious and saavy, they should be discerning enough to know why they weren't selected and make any and all necessary corrections to try again in a future semester with their ducks lined up beak to tail to ensure a prompt initiation into the brotherhood on their next go-round.