Alabama Recruitment

[carnation]

I guess that someone thought this would stop the calls to Panhellenic from panicked or lazy last-minute PNMs. Only it'll bite them in the butt anyway.

[clemsongirl]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If anything, it sounds like these letters will make things worse, not better for rushees who aren't as "hep" to the business of recs. "Oh yay! Idon't have to knock myself out finding recs in my small Rhode Island town! I can just do this instead!"

For what it's worth, I wrote a recommendation for a PNM from a small Rhode Island town who went to Alabama and had a very successful recruitment this past year. I hope you don't assume that all small-town girls or Rhode Islanders are not "hep" to the rec business.

[Hartofsec]

I guess if a chapter is interested or impressed with the letter, they can have any alum write the rec (even collegians in some NPC orgs can write recommendations). Since there is often no requirement that the rec-writer actually know the PNM personally, this would be the functional equivalent of an alum writing a rec for a PNM they don’t know after checking with with a PNM’s neighbor, teacher, pastor, etc. Based on my reading here this seems like a fairly common practice, but IMO, over time this practice has eroded the relevance/importance of a “personal” recommendation.

Just speculating, of course, but this may be an effort to increase diversity in the PNM pool by encouraging girls who may not have or know family, extended family, or women in their communities who were Greek. Securing personal recommendations to so many chapters may be a perceived barrier to their participation in recruitment.

[Benzgirl]

bumping to push down spam

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by carnation

I guess that someone thought this would stop the calls to Panhellenic from panicked or lazy last-minute PNMs. Only it'll bite them in the butt anyway.

I won't be surprised if they receive a thousand emails and calls that go something like . . .

"Can I upload a letter from my guidance counselor even though I have recs?"

or

"My daughter secured recommendations to all chapters, but we can't know for certain that all were sent and received. Should we secure a letter from her high school principal just in case?"

[33girl]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

For what it's worth, I wrote a recommendation for a PNM from a small Rhode Island town who went to Alabama and had a very successful recruitment this past year. I hope you don't assume that all small-town girls or Rhode Islanders are not "hep" to the rec business.

Of course. I was just trying to think of the most un-SEC place as possible (other than the dive bar a block from my house).

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

Just speculating, of course, but this may be an effort to increase diversity in the PNM pool by encouraging girls who may not have or know family, extended family, or women in their communities who were Greek. Securing personal recommendations to so many chapters may be a perceived barrier to their participation in recruitment.

I think that's exactly what they're trying to do. But unless the sororities are told that they must regard these letters exactly the same way they would a rec from an alumna, it's not going to work.

This is yet another ill-conceived attempt at eradicating barriers by pretending they're not there, and pretending what you wish is the actual situation. It's not kind or inclusive, it's an ostrich with its head in the sand.

[Sciencewoman]

I would like to know how involved the sororities were in implementing this new option...I'm guessing it wasn't conceived and announced in an administrative bubble. Maybe the chapters feel this is another option to get more information, especially with the increase in out-of-state PNMs. One of the PNMs I wrote a rec for said that none of her suitemates secured recs.

The "hep" PNMs will probably make sure they have a glowing "academic" rec uploaded, along with 2 recs for each sorority....

[SoCalGirl]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

Something new this year:

• While chapter specific letters of recommendation are preferred, for women unable to find an alumna from each of the recognized sororities at UA to write a letter of rec, we have added a new option to the recruitment application. This year as part of the recruitment application, women participating in recruitment may elect to submit a generic, supplemental academic letter of recommendation from a teacher, guidance counselor, or principal. The individual writing the letter of recommendation does not have been a member of Greek organization; however, the letter should speak to your character as it applies to leadership, scholarship, community service, and friendship. Please note that this is an optional feature and as such, is not a required part of the online application form.
• Supplemental academic letters of recommendation can be uploaded directly to the PNMs online recruitment application in Innova Campus Director or they can be mailed to the Alabama Panhellenic Association at the address provided below.

Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life

Attn: Hannah Mancer

Director of Recruitment

The University of Alabama

Ferguson Center 2512

Box 870298

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0298

Nit pic: Is an academic letter of rec really about leadership, community service, and friendship? In my mind it's about academics, end of discussion. Best used in the "4.0 student was in a coma half her junior year", and other rare situations, to explain away low GPAs. What can a teacher, guidance counselor or principal speak to a girl's friendships? Can someone other than a "teacher, guidance counselor or principal" write one since they really aren't trying to address academics anyways? What about coaches, employers, the local mayor? How about Congressional appointment a la the academies? Where does it end?

I would rather see a rec from an alumnae of another sorority than one from a random woman or man who knows nothing of the pressures of Greek Life. And how many of these women will have to face lectures from well meaning adults about how she shouldn't be part of a sorority anyhow?

These recs will fall into "Bless her heart" territory and could very well do more harm than good.

[carnation]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This is yet another ill-conceived attempt at eradicating barriers by pretending they're not there, and pretending what you wish is the actual situation. It's not kind or inclusive, it's an ostrich with its head in the sand.

All right, I must be tripping. Not only am I agreeing heartily with 33 but some 8-10 other GCers *who are too chicken to say so* also agree!

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

Maybe the chapters feel this is another option to get more information, especially with the increase in out-of-state PNMs. One of the PNMs I wrote a rec for said that none of her suitemates secured recs.?

Perhaps -- it would potentially provide a lead for an alum in the PNM's area to contact if asked by a chapter to write a rec. Interestingly the suggested topics to be included in the "academic" letter tread more so into the areas of character, which would be the resume area not covered in the online rush app.

It will be interesting to see how the suitemates fare. Maybe the efforts of the PNM you know will raise their level of concern!

[Titchou]

Cluck, cluck, cluck.....

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

What can a teacher, guidance counselor or principal speak to a girl's friendships?

I thought that was an odd choice of topic -- I'm not sure how anyone, alum or otherwise, could speak to that. As far as the general concept, however, I guess a teacher, guidance counselor, or principal would be considered a credible reference -- we do tell potential PNMs to tap these school resources when seeking alum rec-writers.

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

Can someone other than a "teacher, guidance counselor or principal" write one since they really aren't trying to address academics anyways? What about coaches, employers, the local mayor? How about Congressional appointment a la the academies? Where does it end?

Interpreting the statement as it stands, it appears that it ends with teachers, guidance counselors, and principals.

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

I would rather see a rec from an alumnae of another sorority than one from a random woman or man who knows nothing of the pressures of Greek Life.

Well, when you think about it, most alums around the country know little about the pressures of recruitment and Greek life on a campus like Bama, unless they have been involved on a campus with a similar recruitment and Greek atmosphere.

Again, just speculating, but the rationale/argument for including this option could just as easily be "I'd rather see a rec from a credible person who actually knows the PNM than a rec from an alum who knows someone who knows a credible person who knows the PNM."

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

These recs will fall into "Bless her heart" territory and could very well do more harm than good.

Not necessarily -- all chapters would receive the information uploaded, and no individual chapter would know if a PNM has recs to all chapters except one (theirs), no recs whatsoever, or recs to all chapters (and exercised this option anyway).

Clearly the best course of action is to obtain recs to all chapters if at all possible, as the info (gently) suggests ("While chapter specific letters of recommendation are preferred . . .").

What I find quite a bit more objectionable and misleading on the Letters of Recommendation info page is that this section is still there:

If you cannot find a letter of rec for each of the 17 NPC sororities recognized at UA, please do not worry! Recs are like extra credit—it’s great if you can get them, but they are not required by all chapters. If a sorority really wants to pledge someone and they have a policy that requires a PNM have at least one recommendation/reference form in order to be eligible for membership, they will find a recommendation for her. They won’t let her get away just because she can’t find her own recommendation!

[FSUZeta]

Good one Jen....and it is the end times for sure!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by carnation

All right, I must be tripping. Not only am I agreeing heartily with 33 but some 8-10 other GCers *who are too chicken to say so* also agree!

Well I am on some major painkillers right now and not entirely myself, so if you want to use that as an explanation you can.

In all seriousness, I think this sort of attitude happens in a lot of situations, from gentrification of neighborhoods to colleges or companies trying to change their image as to who they attract. When the kinder, more effective, and more expedient thing would be to just come out and say in plain talk what you're trying to do.

[als463]

I have to agree with everything that is being said. I will say that, if you get a recommendation from a teacher, school counselor, or principal, there is a likelihood that person may be Greek. In that case, that would hold much more weight with me than if you were never in a sorority or fraternity and said, "Patty PNM would be a great addition to XYZ sorority." Now, if you can say, "As an initiate of ABC sorority at State U. and the current school counselor for Patty PNM, I am well acquainted with her abilities to multitask and make great friends. I believe she would be a great addition to XYZ sorority because she is very involved in community service and would work hard to raise money for your national Pets R Us philanthropy." That would mean much more to me.

Simply saying that you think Patty PNM is a great addition to Greek Life at Competitive Rush University when you were never Greek and went to a commuter school with two sororities, does not give me faith that you are aware of what being Greek at a major SEC school entails. I think that this statement from the University of Alabama does give false hope. Whose idea was this?