panhellenic age limits

KSUViolet06 · #1 11-13-2006, 06:26 PM

A sorority on campus took a 24 year old this year. She had a unique circumstance. She served in the National Guard for a few years after HS and just started college this year. In talking to her during recruitment, she seemed like she was really enthusiastic about finally living a college life and getting involved. So it's not like she was 24 and married with 3 kids and trying to join. From what I hear, she is quite the enthusiastic, contributing, sister.

PurdueZTA · #2 11-20-2006, 03:08 PM

It's interesting the difference in recruitment from place to place, even on something like age.
It was a big deal this year that we had a lot of sophmores go through rush, and a couple juniors instead of almost all freshman.
I'm pretty sure at Purdue it would be nearly impossible for someone older than 21 to recieve a bid from any of the 15 houses here; it was hard for the few girls that were rushing as juniors even to get a bid, and almost unheard of to have a senior rushing this year.
It might be in part how large and competetive our greek system is, but a lot of houses also have a concern with difference in maturity and years of commitment that an older memeber would be able to put into the house.
We had a junior on our list before rankings for pref day and it caused a huge debate over whether she would be able to live with girls two years younger than her her senior year (she would be one of the only seniors living in), and her ability to contribute to the house in just one year.
So I guess it's a case by case thing, but I've noticed that the standards here for older women to get into the house is significantly higher than those going through as a freshman and make it very very hard for anyone rushing after sophmore year to get a bid through formal recruitment

ZetaBaby87 · #3 11-30-2006, 02:53 AM

we had a 28 year old go through formal recruitment this year, and she really seemed very enthusiastic about it too. however, she was MARRIED and even if she wasn't, there were far more 18 year old freshman that were just as enthusiastic and could fill her spot.... so needless to say, she didnt get called back to any of the sororities the next day.

ASUADPi · #4 11-30-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZetaBaby87

we had a 28 year old go through formal recruitment this year, and she really seemed very enthusiastic about it too. however, she was MARRIED and even if she wasn't, there were far more 18 year old freshman that were just as enthusiastic and could fill her spot.... so needless to say, she didnt get called back to any of the sororities the next day.

Maybe I read your post wrong, but from what I understand basically every sorority discriminated against her because she was married and 28 and therefore cut her.

If the school allowed her to rush and the individual sororities don't have "rules" against it (like a rule that said no married women or a chapter rule saying that a new member can't be older than 25, etc...), she could claim discrimination.

I'm not saying that if she filed a discrimination lawsuit that she would have a "slam dunk" win, I'm just saying she could probably do it (sue).

People sue for lamer reasons than discrimination. (Remember the women who put her HOT coffee between her legs, than spilled it and then sued Mcdonalds for her stupidity, what was worse is that she won).

Drolefille · #5 11-30-2006, 10:29 AM

However she has no proof that this was why she was not invited back. People have tried that before, but this is why no one is supposed to know why they're not invited back.

33girl · #6 11-30-2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

However she has no proof that this was why she was not invited back.

She does if she reads this thread.

Drolefille · #7 11-30-2006, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

She does if she reads this thread.

Kinda. There's only a representative of one chapter on here, probably not enough to make a lawsuit work but yeah I know what you're saying.

33girl · #8 11-30-2006, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessXIca

But they did it for her own good...it's not like the chapter has something against married people, I mean, it would be because there's no way a 28 year old married woman would fit in and be comfortable with a bunch of 18 year olds.

Besides, I thought married women were forced to take alumni status anyway?

That's an extremely condescending thing to say. You have NO IDEA what this woman's status was, or whether she would have enjoyed being in the chapter. Everyone is different. Age is only a number.

That's like you going into a store and them refusing to sell you a pair of pants and saying "this is for your own good, you wouldn't like them or look good in them."

Some groups force married women to go alum, but not all (thank God). And I would bet even in those groups where it is "policy" that there are chapters who ignore it, because it's a really stupid rule.

Drolefille · #9 11-30-2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXiD670

No one is "forced" to take alumnae status unless:
1. the chapter is closed, or
2. they graduate

There are campuses where the Greek life culture would be conducive to having a married woman come through recruitment and be an asset to any sorority she joined. Not everybody joins a sorority just to socialize with boys.

ETA: And this is not directed at anybody in particular, but I'm sick of the attitude (mostly from non-married people) that married people are "different" or that they can't have a social life. Sheesh, it's not like once you're married your life ends or you develop some horrible disease that cuts you off from any socialization of any sort.

We give married sisters the OPTION of becoming an alum. It's not required. Not sure about other chapters' rules.

"It's for her own good" IS offensive no matter how much collegians think that married women don't have time for sororities.

/Ewww Marriage cooties

Drolefille · #10 11-30-2006, 01:36 PM

It does probably help that you were in said sorority in college. I kind of wonder how difficult it would be to relate if you were just starting college at 28 or so and had already been married/kids etc. It's certainly not impossible, but I think it would seem weird that these 18-22 year olds are in a completely different place in their lives.

You know, shouldn't you be with your husband instead of on GC all day?

/Don't hit me!

AChiOhSnap · #11 11-30-2006, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

It does probably help that you were in said sorority in college. I kind of wonder how difficult it would be to relate if you were just starting college at 28 or so and had already been married/kids etc. It's certainly not impossible, but I think it would seem weird that these 18-22 year olds are in a completely different place in their lives.

I agree.

I sometimes wonder why an older/married woman would want to go through recruitment on campuses that have mostly 18-22 year old sorority women. My chapter had a girl a few years ago that ended up taking 6.5 years to graduate and she said that it was sometimes hard being 25 and trying to relate to the freshmen sisters. I'd imagine it would be even worse if a woman had tons of life experiences (marriage, children) that none of her sisters shared.

Don't get me wrong, I think any chapter would benefit from bidding an older PNM. It just seems like it would end up being a bad deal for the older PNM! I think I'd honestly go crazy if I were 30 and I had to deal with things like recruitment t-shirt drama or neverending mock rock practices.

aopirose · #12 11-30-2006, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXiD670

ETA: And this is not directed at anybody in particular, but I'm sick of the attitude (mostly from non-married people) that married people are "different" or that they can't have a social life. Sheesh, it's not like once you're married your life ends or you develop some horrible disease that cuts you off from any socialization of any sort.

Your last sentence tickled me but so very true.