Indiana University 2014 Recruitment

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

The information I have picked up makes me believe the campus Panhellenic community like being perceived as exclusive and elitist. There have been statements that the administration, individual Inter/National Organizations, and NPC are not fans of the bed rush quota and have advised to move to a quota/total systems. It was the collegiate membership who decided to stay with the bed rush tradition. Sasmofi

^I have also heard this.^

This system is driven by occupancy. They hold rush in the winter before students would sign housing leases for the following year, so the PNMs who make it thru to bid day know they have a place to live next fall.

The goal is to keep the houses at maximum occupancy.

I wonder what happens to this plan when members unexpectedly don't return and vacancies occur?

Believe me, all housed chapters have this issue and they address it in their bylaws or standing rules.

[Thetaphimom]

Irish pipes, oh I remember so well- the pain and heartache, but I am hoping to get the word out and let others learn from my experience that it all can work out. The unhoused chapters are filled with fabulous girls, they aren't filled with nobodies they are filled with phenomenal some bodies.

The bottom line is that it is NOT okay to bash any sorority or any sorority member in an open forum. Trust me when I read that "theta phi and the other unhoused sorority and the new one coming are just a club" and "I feel sorry for those girls" I too showed emotion and got very angry - how dare anyone?

No one can be expected to know my daughters experience that is why I am trying to let you moms know that it CAN be okay! I promise! IU is trying to include more girls and someone has to be willing to help with the process. I can't get across how great it has been for my daughter. They truly have not skipped a beat!

NO MATTER HOW GREAT THESE GIRLS THINK THEY ARE - the bottom line is 18 houses turned them down if they were lucky enough to get three!

We just need to stop being negative toward girls and sororities many know nothing about. Save the sympathy for the 1000 girls who get nothing or sit at little 500 and "wish" they would have.

[AZTheta]

If it is a fact that IU holds winter rush and uses bed quota as a justification to ensure that their facilities are at full occupancy, I find that to be specious reasoning.

Data needed: How many can actually live at each facility? Historically, has any chapter had difficulty filling? I'm sure I'll have other questions once I get started on the research (if someone can direct me on where to search for this data, I'd be appreciative. Cursory searching has not been productive.).

Should the system move to quota/total, based on the number of interested PNMs, it is more than reasonable to think that the chapters will have no problem supporting the facilities. Let's be honest: it's working at hundreds of campuses. Typically there is a strong competition to be able to live in the facility.

What we're talking about is a massive culture shift at Indiana. Someone needs to lead the way. I do know that internal change is challenging if it is not supported by those most impacted by the change. Yet, something is occurring to perpetuate the bed rush system; there is support coming from somewhere. Where's the locus of control? Who has the power? That's what I'd also like to know.

OK, time to stop thinking scientifically. Wait…that's what I do. Oops.

[irishpipes]

It was only a few years ago that another huge Big 10 institution had a strange quota/total policy. Remember Ohio State and the firm cap at 100 members and quota of 25 every year? How did that get changed? Who drove that?

[hopeful mom]

Originally Posted by Thetaphimom

Okay I have read all the blogs and I can no longer sit back and listen to the negative comments about the un- housed sororities. I am actually a mother of a daughter in the theta phi sorority. My daughter like all of yours thought she would get in "a house" she had all the rec letters, was a h.s. cheerleader, a national honor society student , is beautiful, etc..... Just like all of yours.

Well she got a bid from theta phi. Was she disappointed at first - yes, but I will never forget the line she said to me when I said are you going to drop out? She said, MOM, I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT GIRL, I AM NOT TOO GOOD TO GIVE IT A TRY! Proud moment for me!

Well, she LOVES it ! Most of the girls live in the same apartment complex, they pair with all the frats, they have chapter every Sunday, they have semi and formals, moms weekend was a blast as was dads weekend, etc etc......they didn't miss a beat, and furthermore because they are still establishing Panhellenic is very helpful and goes above and beyond to make sure they look great. Lets see, they had tshirts and all ordered converse for their 21 and 14 party. Only one other house matched shoes. They all ordered the same dress in three different style for three party! I could go on and on...... They are a fabulous bunch of girls! And, don't sit around and judge all the other houses.

Remember it is not about the mansion you live in, it is about the sisterhood and friends you make that last a lifetime.

So those of you that have daughters invited back that might be lucky enough to get a bid, don't be too upset when they call you and tell you they are very happy.

1900 girls went to 975 went to 350 went to 55. Good luck. Just remember while your daughter is crying , there will be approximately 1000 girls that will get nothing and won't be wearing any letters tonight. So those of you saying no one went to their parties 350 did!

How about we encourage these young women and stop being so judgmental!!!

Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle!

And might I add Miss Greek was just crowned from her sorority ( what many of you sadly believe is below your daughters ) one of the cheerleaders in Orlando winning the national championship is in her sorority and an executive board member for iu is in her sorority and I could go on and on. I am just appalled that many of you moms think your daughters are better than all of these girls, including mine. Shame on you!

I am really glad you posted this, I am nervously waiting for my daughter to find out if she got a bid tonight, and Theta Phi was one of the 3 sororities that asked her back, 2 housed and Theta Phi for round 3. She would take any with joy!!! After reading this blog I was nervous as it did sound like the unhoused are not looked at as a real sorority, however this is our first experience with sororities so she was very open minded and did not have negative feelings about the unhoused. Her Rho Gamma NEVER made the unhoused sororities sound any different then the housed sororities, but there were plenty of girls she heard had dropped out all together because they either did not get the house they wanted or were asked back only to the unhoused sororities for round 3. She found this strange, and I did too, in my opinion you either want to be in a sorority or you don't and I find it hard to believe that girls are dropping because they did not get their house choice... I really believe that the girls will have a fabulous experience at whatever house they are lucky enough to be asked back to. I am praying that my daughter gets a bid tonight and if it is from Theta Phi, I hope to meet you in the future!!! thanks for the info!

[stbemtpynest]

Thetaphimom, I also really enjoyed your post. It sounds like such a wonderful group of women doing so many wonderful things. Going into recruitment, my daughter did feel strongly that living in a house was part of what she wanted in her “Greek experience”. She was not interested in status or reputation, she did not feel that she is “better than that”, but she wanted a house, right or wrong. It is interesting you mentioned that at first your daughter was disappointed with her bid from Theta Phi Alpha. Perhaps it was for the same reasons? So remember, that is where these girls are now – in your daughter’s shoes on bid night. My daughter and I had a long talk on Sunday when her preference party list did not turn out as she had hoped. We talked a lot about what she really wanted from her sorority experience, and whether or not a house should be a deal-breaker. Halfway through our conversation it’s like a light bulb went off, and she realized that maybe a house isn’t as important as sisterhood with a group of women where both sides feel a connection. Tears turned to laughter and by the end of the conversation she was really excited to be going to the party at the unhoused sorority. How convenient that our conversation was right before the party. I hope her newfound excitement was felt by the girls who met with her.I hope that if my daughter gets a bid from an unhoused sorority, she will find her true “home” and realize that living in a sorority “house” is not what makes or breaks the sorority experience.

[Thetaphimom]

Good luck to your daughter. I would love to meet you if you become a theta phi mom

[stbemtpynest]

Originally Posted by GratefulGramma

What time do the girls get their bids? I've been following along, and I am nervous/excited right along with them!

My daughter texted me - 5:30.

[IUHoosiergirl88]

For those of you that are curious, girls will begin arriving at their new homes around 6 pm!

[gatordeltapgh]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

It was only a few years ago that another huge Big 10 institution had a strange quota/total policy. Remember Ohio State and the firm cap at 100 members and quota of 25 every year? How did that get changed? Who drove that?

Nebraska also got rid of bed quota in 2010. So far, so good! They've grown but in a controlled way. I'm sure growth at IU would be more robust.

I think at Ohio State is was a combination of efforts on all sides. I also believe there was a staff change in the Greek life office and it all came to be. So far, so good. The cap was terrible!

[gatordeltapgh]

Originally Posted by pinkmama

Pi phi just tweeted they are welcoming 52 new memebrs

Last year their individually set quota was 44. If they are taking 52 it's a small but wonderful step in the right direction! It will be interesting to see where everything shakes out.

[Blue2]

I saw where Kappa Alpha Theta will be getting 37 new members tonight!!!! If you get any IU Bid Night pictures from tonight please post on the "Bid Day Pictures" forum. Also looking to see other just completed Indiana Bid Day pictures from Butler, Hanover and Valparaiso. Good luck to all the IU PNMs and MOMS waiting on pins and needles.

[IUHoosiergirl88]

I'll be posting pictures as soon as I can rip them off Facebook for all of you to see

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by Blue2

I saw where Kappa Alpha Theta will be getting 32 new members tonight!!!! If you get any IU Bid Night pictures from tonight please post on the "Bid Day Pictures" forum. Also looking to see other just completed Indiana Bid Day pictures from Butler, Hanover and Valparaiso. Good luck to all the IU PNMs and MOMS waiting on pins and needles.

Their twitter account says they are welcoming 37. I hope it is 37 and not 32!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Rhomom

It is however Panhel with direction from Nationals and alums who make the process decisions, not current members.

As gatordeltapgh stated above, Panhel (I don't know whether you mean the campus chapter or Panhel the national entity) doesn't have that kind of power. Panhel is like the company that owns the mall and the sororities are like stores in the mall. Just as the mall can't make Forever 21 stop selling skanky clothing, Panhel can't make the sororities vote for anything. Unless of course the reps from the chapters "go rogue" and just vote however they feel, and then, well, you get this.