Rush - What to NOT do or say

[winnie_tuck]

The talk of religion on here is stated as something obscure and weird to bring up. I would make sure any chapter I was considering had some kind of Christian based beliefs.

[Greek_or_Geek?]

Originally Posted by winnie_tuck

The talk of religion on here is stated as something obscure and weird to bring up. I would make sure any chapter I was considering had some kind of Christian based beliefs.

Uh huh.

[jazing]

Originally Posted by winnie_tuck

The talk of religion on here is stated as something obscure and weird to bring up. I would make sure any chapter I was considering had some kind of Christian based beliefs.

I would figure for a group like AEPhi it would be imperative to bring it up, right? I don't know about sorority recruitment so this is my question. Same thing goes for Sigma Delta Tau, another Jewish based organization.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by jazing

I would figure for a group like AEPhi it would be imperative to bring it up, right? I don't know about sorority recruitment so this is my question. Same thing goes for Sigma Delta Tau, another Jewish based organization.

NO. Not necessarily. Historically Jewish sororities now have members from many religious traditions; historically Christian sororities have the same. Much depends on the individual campus.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by winnie_tuck

I do not agree that religion is not a part of almost all members' lives.

Couldn't you fit one more negative in there somewhere?

Originally Posted by winnie_tuck

The talk of religion on here is stated as something obscure and weird to bring up.

Not appropriate to the time or place =/= obscure and weird to bring up.

[jazing]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

NO. Not necessarily. Historically Jewish sororities now have members from many religious traditions; historically Christian sororities have the same. Much depends on the individual campus.

While I get what you are saying, I find it very hard to believe a group like AEPhi won't question a girl about it. I say this because when we rush we ask about it, being in a similar situation. I just want to know how a sorority deals with it.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by jazing

While I get what you are saying, I find it very hard to believe a group like AEPhi won't question a girl about it. I say this because when we rush we ask about it, being in a similar situation. I just want to know how a sorority deals with it.

Sorority recruitment =\= fraternity recruitment.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by jazing

While I get what you are saying, I find it very hard to believe a group like AEPhi won't question a girl about it. I say this because when we rush we ask about it, being in a similar situation. I just want to know how a sorority deals with it.

I think that it is pretty obvious, on the sorority side, which PNM's are Jewish. Remember that we have their full names, hometowns, high schools, and often parents' names and affiliations as well. We also have lists of activities, like BBYO, USY, NFTY, etc., and "I was a camp counselor this summer" usually means Jewish up here (GC was the first time I'd ever heard of people going to camp that wasn't Jewish summer camp).

In fact, I'm pretty surprised that you say you ask guys if they are Jewish, because I would assume most of the guys you rush are people you already know, and through similar networks.

I think the larger concern, at my school, was the information going in the other direction. AEPhi and SDT were diverse, but still predominantly Jewish, and I think they would typically bring this up with non-Jewish women at 2nd invitational. By then, I think there was enough chatter among PNM's for everyone to know they were the "Jewish houses", but I definitely understand why they would want to be certain the PNM's had that information before deciding with preference parties to attend. At schools where those chapters are not predominantly Jewish, I doubt it would even be a conversation.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by jazing

While I get what you are saying, I find it very hard to believe a group like AEPhi won't question a girl about it. I say this because when we rush we ask about it, being in a similar situation. I just want to know how a sorority deals with it.

1. There are 26 NPC sororities.

2. There are 75 NIC fraternities.

3. One of NPC's functions is to create a "level playing field" for all of its groups, as far as rush and expansion are concerned. This is not true in the NIC.

4. Many NIC fraternities have a narrow focus, such as Beta Sigma Psi (you have to be Lutheran) or Triangle (you can only join if you are pursuing one of several majors).

5. 3 and 4 would by necessity be mutually exclusive.

In other words, there may be chapters of AEPhi and SDT with nary a Jewish woman in them.

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by winnie_tuck

The talk of religion on here is stated as something obscure and weird to bring up. I would make sure any chapter I was considering had some kind of Christian based beliefs.

If a PNM brought this up during recruitment in front of me, I would assume that a person who is looking for "some kind of Christian based beliefs" would be uncomfortable in our chapter because we had sisters of other faiths. It would make me assume that the person was not a good match for our chapter.

PNMs should NOT bring up religion. It's too loaded a topic and they just don't know enough about the people to whom they are talking to raise such a sensitive subject.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Okay, but to be clear, these disclosures of information (we're predominantly Jewish, we're founded on Christian principles, etc.), are very different from religion as a real topic of conversation. Further, they should be happening at later invitational rounds, and I know at least one chapter that does the "Jewish disclosure" has a pretty tight script and the rusher is well-trained in what to say and how to handle the conversation so as to prevent, as much as she possibly can, the PNM from feeling uncomfortable.

It's like the difference between the a rusher saying "Our dues are XXX per semester" and a rusher saying "So, do you come from money?".

On the flip side, if a PNM is concerned about how a chapter will react to her religion, it is really quite simple to somehow subtly bring it up in such a manner that the info is out there, and the chapter can decide if they wish to release her. There isn't a single NPC group that doesn't have a significant number of Jewish members, but if a local chapter was really all about bible study and didn't think a Jewish woman would fit in, they can obviously pick up on "I'm going home for Rosh Hashanah next weekend".

So, I think some of these conversations can be totally necessary and appropriate, but it still doesn't mean we should throw out the "Don't talk about religion" rule.

[amIblue?]

I wish our ritual had the phrase "super turbo awesome." As in, I promise to be.

[WCsweet<3]

It basically boils down to: we were formed based on these principles. We are now all inclusive. Yes, historically we are based off of (fill in religion), however a qualified pnm does not have to be of said religion to join. It is only said religion in founding and is not a religious organization. Welcome to NPC sororities. We are based on principles, but are not necessarily (perhaps some chapters are) exclusive.

Does someone have to be Jewish to follow Jewish principles. KD was based on Christian principles and I can guarantee you that about half (probably more) of the members in my chapter were not Christian. Does this mean they didn't follow the Christian principles listed by the chapter in our ritual? No.

[jazing]

I see I overstepped my bounds. Sorry to get in the way.

[misscherrypie]

I was looking at the Chapters' Websites and immediately became intimidated. The ladies in every photo seemed to be so gorgeous and polished and.....and they all seemed so individual....but cohesive as a whole at the same time.

I've been told by many people, even strangers, that I am stunningly beautiful....when I want to be. When I mentioned to my Mom that I had registered for recruitment, she immediately said "You won't even get a bid. You're too old and not pretty enough to be in a Sorority."

Boy, that hurt. I mean....really hurt. People talking behind your back is one thing....and I can take it. Yet, for my Mom to say that....it was like a knife.

So, the question that came from that vent is: How do I compliment the Sisters in the houses without sounding
A: Like a fakey-McFakerson
B: Like a kiss-ass ?

I am reading of the accomplishments of each chapter, and I'm just in awe. Completely in awe.