FAQs

[AZ-AlphaXi]

Maybe add something along the lines of

>>>
Participation in recruitment does not obligate you to join any group. You are not obligated to sign a bid card or join. However, accepting a bid to join a sorority at the end of the process commits you to membership.
>>>>>

but I wouldn't put anything in recruitment FAQs about depleding or termination of membership.

[amanda6035]

THAT is AWESOME. =) I like that.

[adpiucf]

I would keep it simple on the web site and elaborate further on the night before Preference and then again after Preference (before card signing). You could pass out a letter to the women and train the recruitment counselors to discuss this.

In my experience, too much information confuses them even more. I don't think a PNM going through formal recruitment needs to concern herself with snap bids, total, quota, etc.-- just getting her recs, preparing her wardrobe and good answers to questions she may be asked at recruitment. The rest will come with time if it needs to at all.

The only potential problem I see with saying However, accepting a bid to join a sorority at the end of the process commits you to membership indicates that they MUST join and can never drop out.

[amanda6035]

It's not that they can't drop out that we're worried about. If someone is really not happy, then yes, they should leave, if that's what they really want. But for someone to quit just because "it's a hassle" or whatever other lame excuses I've heard in the past year is ridiculous. I understand that it is pressure when you join, and it's a lifetime commitment. Girls need to realize that before they go through the pledging ceremony. The New member period should not mean trial period - it's not a test drive. They need to realize that it is a commitment, and quitting should only be a last resort.

[Drolefille]

I don't think it's to stringent. Yeah. It's a commitment. If they really want to leave, they'll find out how to leave.

No need to lay depledging and all of that out for them.

[adpiucf]

Your website, marketing materials, Greek Forum prior to recruitment and pep talks from the recruitment counselors as they go into prefs and card signing can help drive home the idea that this is a serious committment through your college years, and membership is for a lifetime. If you undertake this as a PR effort and have cooperation from the chapters, you can begin to help shape their (PNMs) thinking.

[tunatartare]

I agree with saying that signing a bid card commits you to membership. If you don't put depledging on the website, it might not cross some girls' minds. Putting it on there, makes them think that it is an option and therefore a sorority isn't a commitment because they can just leave if they don't like it.

[amanda6035]

Based on AZ-Alpha Xi's response. I reworded it a bit.

If I go through Recruitment, do I have to join?

No, many women choose to go through Recruitment to meet people and make new friends. Recruitment is the opportunity for you to visit the sororities, get a glimpse of Greek life, and assess whether or not you would like to be a part of the SPSU Greek community. Participation in recruitment does not obligate you to join any group. You are not required to sign a bid card or join. However, at the end of the process, if you sign a bid card and accept a bid to join a sorority, you are committing yourself to membership in that sorority.

I totally agree with adpiucf about the website, and the pr and everything being a driving factor for these girls to understand what a commitment this is. That's why I'm trying to find a nice way to get the point across.

Any other thoughts or comments?

[AOIIBrandi]

I understand where you're going with not wanting the women to depledge, but at the same time, do you want a woman that feels it's a hassle to stick around and initiate? I would think that would cause larger problems later. The NM period is kind of like a test drive in some ways. It lets both sides have a feel for what it will really be like. I think we would rather have women realize that greek life is not for them before initiation because at that point both are kind of stuck.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by AOIIBrandi

I understand where you're going with not wanting the women to depledge, but at the same time, do you want a woman that feels it's a hassle to stick around and initiate? I would think that would cause larger problems later. The NM period is kind of like a test drive in some ways. It lets both sides have a feel for what it will really be like. I think we would rather have women realize that greek life is not for them before initiation because at that point both are kind of stuck.

Yeah but we're just talking about recruitment here. The idea is to keep girls from pledging and, three days later, saying... eh. not for me.

OR accepting the bid and never showing up again.

If it turns out that the sorority isn't for them, they'll find that out, but hopefully those people who were never really interested won't promise themselves beyond what they can fulfill.

[AOIIBrandi]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Yeah but we're just talking about recruitment here. The idea is to keep girls from pledging and, three days later, saying... eh. not for me.

OR accepting the bid and never showing up again.

If it turns out that the sorority isn't for them, they'll find that out, but hopefully those people who were never really interested won't promise themselves beyond what they can fulfill.

I was actually just commenting on her previous post that they should figure it out before the pledging ceremony - which would be post recruitment.