Indiana University 2014 Recruitment

[BlueCarnation]

I'm sorry for the young women at IU--or anywhere--who didn't get bids into a sorority. Sorority membership has made me a better person and has introduced me to some of my best friends. I am still active as an alumna.

That said, some of the posts in this thread makes me cringe. Sure, we may not like how things are done at IU or some other school--I personally can't imagine a pledge class of 100 girls--but who am I to say that something MUST change? You know what? Sorority membership is, and always has been, exclusive. Isn't that part of the reason why people want to be in them? Each sorority was founded on a particular premise: mine was initially a professional music society. By the mere practice of "membership selection," a sorority is exclusive.

Why should we force any chapter to take girls it doesn't want? What if your group was told "well, you have to take 20 extra girls because the girls who didn't get bids are sad so we need to make them happy." I don't think you'd be too happy about it.

You know what? Life stinks sometimes. If you go to IU and you want to join a sorority, you know you might now get a bid. If not getting a bid is going to ruin your college experience, then that is not AXO or ZTA's or Panhellenic's fault.

Big companies only have a certain amount of spots for jobs. Should we force them to hire more people than they have work for?

Again, I'm sorry that a large number of girls didn't get bids. Hopefully they will find other ways to get involved or will strongly consider joining the new Delta Phi Epsilon chapter. But for any of us who are not a part of the current system to say that it needs to be changed is insulting to the current members and their organizations. We would not appreciate outside involvement in our organizations, so why do we feel we have the right to get involved in theirs?

[silver_blue]

Originally Posted by BlueCarnation

I'm sorry for the young women at IU--or anywhere--who didn't get bids into a sorority. Sorority membership has made me a better person and has introduced me to some of my best friends. I am still active as an alumna.

That said, some of the posts in this thread makes me cringe. Sure, we may not like how things are done at IU or some other school--I personally can't imagine a pledge class of 100 girls--but who am I to say that something MUST change? You know what? Sorority membership is, and always has been, exclusive. Isn't that part of the reason why people want to be in them? Each sorority was founded on a particular premise: mine was initially a professional music society. By the mere practice of "membership selection," a sorority is exclusive.

Why should we force any chapter to take girls it doesn't want? What if your group was told "well, you have to take 20 extra girls because the girls who didn't get bids are sad so we need to make them happy." I don't think you'd be too happy about it.

You know what? Life stinks sometimes. If you go to IU and you want to join a sorority, you know you might now get a bid. If not getting a bid is going to ruin your college experience, then that is not AXO or ZTA's or Panhellenic's fault.

Big companies only have a certain amount of spots for jobs. Should we force them to hire more people than they have work for?

Again, I'm sorry that a large number of girls didn't get bids. Hopefully they will find other ways to get involved or will strongly consider joining the new Delta Phi Epsilon chapter. But for any of us who are not a part of the current system to say that it needs to be changed is insulting to the current members and their organizations. We would not appreciate outside involvement in our organizations, so why do we feel we have the right to get involved in theirs?

Sorry, but no. I know how their system works as I went through recruitment there before transferring. It is absolutely Panhellenic's fault. They are so attached to their antiquated bed rush system that it leave FORTY PERCENT of women who want to be in a sorority without bids. I'm guessing you didn't go to IU and know nothing about how it works there.

These groups wouldn't be taking 20 girls "they don't want." It's not like they'll have full pledge classes and then just take 20 random girls that didn't end up somewhere. They'll just invite more girls to pref and take a larger pledge class out of women they obviously liked enough to invite to pref.

Is this so hard to understand? It shouldn't be. It's how EVERY OTHER SCHOOL conducts recruitment.

[BlueCarnation]

Originally Posted by silver_blue

Sorry, but no. I know how their system works as I went through recruitment there before transferring. It is absolutely Panhellenic's fault. They are so attached to their antiquated bed rush system that it leave FORTY PERCENT of women who want to be in a sorority without bids. I'm guessing you didn't go to IU and know nothing about how it works there.

These groups wouldn't be taking 20 girls "they don't want." It's not like they'll have full pledge classes and then just take 20 random girls that didn't end up somewhere. They'll just invite more girls to pref and take a larger pledge class out of women they obviously liked enough to invite to pref.

Is this so hard to understand? It shouldn't be. It's how EVERY OTHER SCHOOL conducts recruitment.

If joining a sorority is your main reason for going to college, then go to one of those OTHER SCHOOLS. I have plenty of friends from IU who were in sororities. I know how it works.

[silver_blue]

Originally Posted by BlueCarnation

If joining a sorority is your main reason for going to college, then go to one of those OTHER SCHOOLS. I have plenty of friends from IU who were in sororities. I know how it works.

I agree, and I would encourage high school ladies lurking around GOMI to go somewhere other than IU if sorority membership is crucial for their college experience (nothing wrong with that, that's how I felt and still feel, hence why I transferred).

However, I don't think that IU gets a free pass on never changing their stupid bed quota system. First of all, I don't think a lot of potential freshmen know just how competitive it is or they are typical 18 year olds who know that THEY can get into a sorority. Unfortunately the numbers aren't on their side.

Sort of beating a dead horse in this thread at this point, but the only way things will ever change is if the IU administration makes panehl change things, and I just don't see that happening.

[BlueCarnation]

Originally Posted by silver_blue

I agree, and I would encourage high school ladies lurking around GOMI to go somewhere other than IU if sorority membership is crucial for their college experience (nothing wrong with that, that's how I felt and still feel, hence why I transferred).

However, I don't think that IU gets a free pass on never changing their stupid bed quota system. First of all, I don't think a lot of potential freshmen know just how competitive it is or they are typical 18 year olds who know that THEY can get into a sorority. Unfortunately the numbers aren't on their side.

Sort of beating a dead horse in this thread at this point, but the only way things will ever change is if the IU administration makes panehl change things, and I just don't see that happening.

Agreed. It's interesting...the administration here is trying to force some changes to recruitment that we don't think we're going to want. Maybe we can convince them to go down and work with IU instead?

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by BlueCarnation

If joining a sorority is your main reason for going to college, then go to one of those OTHER SCHOOLS. I have plenty of friends from IU who were in sororities. I know how it works.

Not everybody has $15,000 - $20,000 extra dollars to spend every year to go to an out-of-state school or a private school. IU is a deal for in-state students. They shouldn't be forced to choose between tuition dollars and Greek Life.

Not when this problem is an artificially created problem that can be easily corrected.

[Blue2]

Originally Posted by KDCat

Not everybody has $15,000 - $20,000 extra dollars to spend every year to go to an out-of-state school or a private school. IU is a deal for in-state students. They shouldn't be forced to choose between tuition dollars and Greek Life.

Not when this problem is an artificially created problem that can be easily corrected.

Out-of-state schools? Private schools? Why? The state of Indiana has at least four other public schools that have a thriving Greek Life. Purdue is adding more chapters. Ball State's new member classes have surged in numbers. IUPUI is adding not one but two new chapters. Also, Indiana State is building housing for 8 sororities...right now.....with elevators! You have choices. If you are not happy with IU's system then transfer.

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by Blue2

Out-of-state schools? Private schools? Why? The state of Indiana has at least four other public schools that have a thriving Greek Life. Purdue is adding more chapters. Ball State's new member classes have surged in numbers. IUPUI is adding not one but two new chapters. Also, Indiana State is building housing for 8 sororities...right now.....with elevators! You have choices. If you are not happy with IU's system then transfer.

With the exception of Purdue, none of those are the same quality/ranking/reputation as IU.

If you want a similar school, you'd have to go out of state to University of Illinois or another flagship state university.

This is an artificial crisis which is easily correctable. Women shouldn't have to choose between going in-state to IU and being Greek.

[silver_blue]

Originally Posted by ZTAIUalum

I am sorry, but Silver Blue...you had a BAD experience, it is QUITE obvious. But you transferred, you need to let it go. Every system is competitive...I have friends who rushed at Bama, Purdue etc, and they are all tough and leave MANY with no fate. It needs to be improved no doubt, but to say that without Greek you are nothing is so untrue. I had so many friends who went to all our parties, and are living great lives, happy with families, successful careers etc, who weren't Greek. I get you had a bad time, but to say don't go to IU if you want Greek?? That is just a bad idea.

Unfortunately, this is life, this is the world. You win some you lose some. You get a great job, you lose a job, you get a promotion, you get overlooked. This is all life. LET IT GO...you obviously transferred for a reason, Greek cannot be the only reason. I am so sorry for those that didn't get in who wanted to, I was on pins and needles for friends going through this year.

I wonder, did you accept all your bids?? What house did you get into eventually at this "transfer" school.

Many girls are great girls, in a sorority or not, my best friend didn't get in her freshman year. So you know what I did...I invited her to everything! She knew everyone and got in sophomore year. Today she is still like a sister to me...

But the way you talk you have unresolved issues that are not going to be resolved by you taking it out on this thread!

And you had a charmed experience and therefore cannot understand what it's like to be in my shoes. It should be obvious based on my username that I am a Pi Beta Phi, but I'm not sure how that matters to the topics discussed on this thread.

I would absolutely say don't go to IU if you want to go greek. Bully for you that you had a successful recruitment and ended up in a highly sought after house. But how sad for you that you lack the empathy and reading comprehension to grasp that IU's recruitment is UNIQUE. I'm sure your friends at Bama and Purdue did have competitive recruitments, nobody disputes that. Do you even understand that IU's bed quota system is NOT the norm? Can you explain how traditional quota works? I can, I served as Vice President of Recruitment.

How nice that you were able to get ONE girl in that you knew as a sophomore. At any other school, a girl who gets into a chapter as a sophomore at IU would have gotten into one as a freshmen at any other school.

I have "unresolved issues" because it breaks my heart to see this happen to PNMs year after year after year, because I was once in their shoes. YOU have no idea what it's like to be on the losing end of IU hunger games recruitment.

Sit in your ivory IU sorority tower all you want and claim it's just as competitive at other schools, but while you're up there you might want to take a look at placement statistics at every other school.

It's cute that you tell people "win some lose some" and to "let it go" while you get to prance around in your letters at IU. Again, empathy. You don't know me, but I LOVED IU, but I couldn't stay at a school that had dealt me nothing but heartbreak. Every girl I knew as a freshmen joined a sorority and being in other clubs and groups couldn't replace that.

[WhiteRose1912]

Originally Posted by BlueCarnation

Why should we force any chapter to take girls it doesn't want? What if your group was told "well, you have to take 20 extra girls because the girls who didn't get bids are sad so we need to make them happy." I don't think you'd be too happy about it.

They're cutting girls they invited to pref. They DO want these girls, they just don't want to lose the reputation of exclusivity. It's not a Tufts situation.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by WhiteRose1912

They're cutting girls they invited to pref. They DO want these girls, they just don't want to lose the reputation of exclusivity.

This is what it boils down to for me.

No chapter should be required to take girls they don't want. I don't think anyone here is advocating that.

But it is flat out wrong and rude to allow women to complete the entire process and even have a FULL schedule for pref and end up with NOTHING. It's WRONG. It's rude. It's completely contrary to the most basic of human kindness such as the Golden Rule which I'm sure is stated in some form or another in the values we all espouse to hold.

If chapters don't want those women, then drop them beforehand. I have no problem with that. If a woman is released completely before preference, it is sad and unfortunate, but it is part of the selection process. But there is NO WAY women should play by the rules and do everything asked of them and then get nothing after attending pref and listing all the groups on their cards.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

I think you're on point that SOME girls wouldn't be interested because of the loss of the extreme level of exclusivity the system now holds. But based on the success of Greek systems around the country of all different sizes and stripes, it would still be wildly successful in anyone's estimation. Would it leave out the huge byotch who is only in it because it proves she's better than everyone else? Maybe. Loss to anyone? Absolutely not. Instead of 1600 girls rushing, maybe 1575 would. Let's even say 1500 would. But then what about the girls who won't rush now because this system is lunacy? Then we go right back to 1600 and my guess is it would jump to 1700.

And it might jump even higher if girls knew they didn't HAVE to live in the house. Not everyone wants to have 40+ roommates.