"No Frills" Recruitment - Need advice

[emily0325]

I personally don't like the sound of no frills recruitement.. it sort of takes the fun out of it although I do see the reasoning... I just see it as if a girl wants to be in another sorority because they have cool shirts or cool themes then I don't want her. Girls going through that are quality and have honorable intentions aren't going to care about that stuff. So why not just let us do it?

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by emily0325

I personally don't like the sound of no frills recruitement.. it sort of takes the fun out of it although I do see the reasoning... I just see it as if a girl wants to be in another sorority because they have cool shirts or cool themes then I don't want her. Girls going through that are quality and have honorable intentions aren't going to care about that stuff. So why not just let us do it?

Well, I guess it depends on what your chapter sees as "fun." Some chapters enjoy doing the skits, but many don't. My chapter would have hated it. In our case, taking out the skits made things more fun. When it came to identical outfits, that really wouldn't have worked on our campus, where each chapter had women of all shapes and sizes. It was hard enough convincing my chapter that we should coordinate colors/outfits. Sure, it would have been fun to be able to decorate the whole room, but any of us that had spent hours decorating the preference room knew how long it took and we were happy to spend those hours earlier in the week sleeping.

[AGDee]

I think the biggest advantage of "no frills" is financial. You've got to consider the return on your investment. The money we spent on food, favors, name tags, invitations, etc. was outrageous and my school was a mid-west, blue collar type of school. Without all those expenses, we actually had more money to cover formals, mixers, and sisterhoods. And, as several people pointed out earlier, the time involved in all that planning and implementation. It was exhausting. And, you can spend more time during each event actually TALKING to the PNMs so they get to know you and you get to know them.

I still find it a little odd that, no matter which sorority you got a bid from, each PNM had numerous favors with letters on them from all the different groups. It seemed ok at the time, but seems strange in retrospect, especially when the debates go on here about whether new members can wear letters.

Even at the "lowest frills" campuses that I'm familiar with, they still dress similarly, sing their songs and have formal preferences with ceremonies.

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by emily0325

I just see it as if a girl wants to be in another sorority because they have cool shirts or cool themes then I don't want her. Girls going through that are quality and have honorable intentions aren't going to care about that stuff.

LOL. Then clearly you have never been a teenager.

[Glitter650]

Originally Posted by emily0325

I personally don't like the sound of no frills recruitement.. it sort of takes the fun out of it although I do see the reasoning... I just see it as if a girl wants to be in another sorority because they have cool shirts or cool themes then I don't want her. Girls going through that are quality and have honorable intentions aren't going to care about that stuff. So why not just let us do it?

That sounds great to say, and it's true that it's a stupid reason to join just because you liked a chapter's outfits or decorations. But it's not reality. People DO look at decorations and such when they step into a recruitment party, they look at how everything is presented. If having no frills puts every chapter on more of an even footing than girls will be more likely to choose based on the connection they felt with the women they met. (In theory)

[33girl]

Some schools have taken "no frills" to mean counting balloons, calling rush infractions on other groups because a PNM walked out w/ confetti on her shirt, etc. That is NOT what it's supposed to be about and completely violates the whole spirit of the idea - just as making ridiculous rules about sorority members having any contact with freshmen completely violates the intended point and spirit of deferred rush.

I honestly think it would almost make things easier if the sororities could all get together and say "we're going to do so and so, show this movie, this is our skit" and be fair and open about it. The reason you have silly crap like counting balloons is no matter what, everyone's afraid they're going to be one-upped somehow. It's easy to make rules about no frills, to actually make people understand WHAT THE REAL POINT IS is the hard part.

Let me say I've got no problem with things like skits and songs - they're fun and let the rushees relax and just be spectators. But when you only have a total of 5 hours to spend with women in rush (i.e. a girl rushing you from Meet the Greeks on through till pref will be in your company a total of 5 hours) and you eat up 45 minutes of it with a skit, then is when you should stop and think. Especially if the rushees are 95% freshmen women you've never set your eyes on till they walked in the door.

[MSKKG]

The Kappas at USC (S. Carolina) had to remove something out of their centerpieces because the centerpieces could only be 8" tall (I think). The actual flower part of the arrangement was, but they had these gold twirls coming out of the arrangement that made the centerpiece exceed the limit. Things like that seem kind of petty to me.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by MSKKG

The Kappas at USC (S. Carolina) had to remove something out of their centerpieces because the centerpieces could only be 8" tall (I think). The actual flower part of the arrangement was, but they had these gold twirls coming out of the arrangement that made the centerpiece exceed the limit. Things like that seem kind of petty to me.

Doesn't surprise me. For example. the U. of Kentucky Panhellenic guidelines for 2006-07 recruitment go into detail about the size and number of floral arrangements. I'm having a vision of a dedicated Panhellenic officer or recruitment counselor marching around with a tape measure.

The UKY guidelines are in PDF:
http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Greek/06RECGUI.pdf

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by exlurker

Doesn't surprise me. For example. the U. of Kentucky Panhellenic guidelines for 2006-07 recruitment go into detail about the size and number of floral arrangements. I'm having a vision of a dedicated Panhellenic officer or recruitment counselor marching around with a tape measure.

The UKY guidelines are in PDF:
http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Greek/06RECGUI.pdf

Right, and this is why I wonder sometimes if "no frills" is actually worse. In full-frills rush, are there rules like this too, but we don't here as much about it?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

A couple thoughts on no frills:

The year I went through recruitment, they mandated that the PNM's wore the designated PNM t-shirt. Obviously, most of us paired it with some variation of jeans/khaki pants/skirt. So, when I walked into houses where the sisters were wearing sundresses, I felt ridiculous. It just makes sense for the sisters to be wearing something equivalent. (BTW, what other schools give the PNM matching shirts? In retrospect, it is a great idea, and Illinois is still doing it)

Yes, it was expected that most of the stuff you wore as a sister, you already had in your wardrobe, i.e. black skirts, pink tops, sundresses, etc. However, it is CRITICAL that you do a fashion show a week early and let the recruitment committee see everyone's outfits. You probably do this for pref dresses anyway, but let me tell you, there is always that one girl who thinks the slit all the way up the side of her skirt is not a problem.

If your first round lasts for more than one night (as ours does), and you all have matching t-shirts that you ordered, you better believe your rush chair is not going to let anyone wash those shirts in between. You won't want to show up on day 2 with eighty different shades of pink. Therefore, you spend about eight hours in the August heat wearing your shirt, and can do nothing but febreeze it overnight.

We went through a back-and-forth every year, because we hated doing a skit at open house. We only had 25 minutes, and when you have approximately 50 PNM's coming to each party, that is barely enough time to do an opening song, introductions, talk to the PNM, and get her back out the door. However, most other chapters did skits, and with as many groups as we had, we needed to do something that the PNM's would remember. It was even better if a chapter had a theme that they repeated for each stage of recruitment.

From the PNM's side, the skit is usually the part where you get to sit down in a real chair and zone out. If you get caught doing this, however, you may get released because they think you are not interested. It is like they've set a trap, and the more grueling the rush schedule, the harder it is to stay alert and smiling while someone dances around to "we are family".

One nice thing about decorations is that they sometimes hide flaws in older houses. Of course, if you are still allowed to hang photos and stuff like that, it can accomplish the same effect.

And finally...if you do no-frills for three rounds of rush, it makes pref that much more special. Remember the first pref you went to, and what the house looked like? I would never want decorations to overshadow the meaning of pref, but how many PNM's are certain they could only join one chapter, and pref helps them see all chapters in a whole new light? Pref night is magic, when you give the PNM's a glimpse of ritual, and it should be as special as possible.

[AUDeltaGam]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

(BTW, what other schools give the PNM matching shirts? In retrospect, it is a great idea, and Illinois is still doing it)

At Auburn during Philanthropy round (2 days) the PNMs all wear the same shirt, provided by Panhellenic.

[bluefish81]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

(BTW, what other schools give the PNM matching shirts? In retrospect, it is a great idea, and Illinois is still doing it)

Iowa State does and I think it's a great idea too. The PNM gets a white t-shirt with red letters to wear for the first day. Each chapter also has a shirt to wear for the first day, except the chapter gets to pick two different colors, i.e. purple with pink letters or whatever. The only difference in the shirts is that the respective chapter has their name at the top of the chapter "wheel" of sorts on the back of the shirt. I think this also helps so that the chapter nor the PNM is too dressed up on 14 party day.

[SECMom]

[quote=DeltaBetaBaby;1362366]A couple thoughts on no frills:


If your first round lasts for more than one night (as ours does), and you all have matching t-shirts that you ordered, you better believe your rush chair is not going to let anyone wash those shirts in between. You won't want to show up on day 2 with eighty different shades of pink. Therefore, you spend about eight hours in the August heat wearing your shirt, and can do nothing but febreeze it overnight.


This reminds me of what happened to my daughter when she went through rush at Ole Miss in October....they had really cute T-shirts to wear to the 2 nights of Philanthropy parties, and after the first night she was starving, got a hamburger, and managed to get ketchup all over her shirt. She took it to the basement to wash it and before she could get back down to get it someone stole it out the washing machine. Her Gamma Chi managed to get her another one to wear for the next night's parties, but believe me it was a "prozac moment!"

[EGAOPi]

Originally Posted by emily0325

I personally don't like the sound of no frills recruitement.. it sort of takes the fun out of it although I do see the reasoning... I just see it as if a girl wants to be in another sorority because they have cool shirts or cool themes then I don't want her. Girls going through that are quality and have honorable intentions aren't going to care about that stuff. So why not just let us do it?

I agree with adpiucf's point when she said "clearly you have never been a teenager." Though moderately surprising, girls here (and everywhere, I assume) truly do base their opinions (when it comes to ranking and choosing a sorority) greatly on the clothing and other "frills" involved in recruitment.
I remember hearing girls in various Pi Chi groups saying, "Oh, XYZ sorority was the only sorority to wear all dresses on the first day. That was so classy of them! That really stood out to me."
On the contrary, I'd hear girls saying, "That sorority had really ugly shirts and nasty tasting drinks. Their house was really drab. They didn't wow me, so what would make me want to join their sorority?"
The conversation can be fabulous, but great clothes, decorations and fun songs really are memorable.
Especially with that dress thing, I've hear recruitment chairs talking a great deal about going with that idea to impress PNMs. While conversation is important and girls SHOULD base their opinions on character, apparent strength of the sisterhood, etc. as oppossed to who had the cutest outfit and most memorable song...it sadly isn't that way.
As we all know, a lot of girls rank based on physical appearance (whichever sorority has the prettiest sisters), so obviously clothing comes into play. After that, they take into consideration the beverages, decorations and songs. They notice a carefully planned recruitment and consider sororities that go all out to be the most desirable.
On my campus, we are not technically allowed to ALL have identical outfits...I believe half of the girls can have one item and the other half can have a similar looking but slightly different item. Some people change the clothes around by throwing on different color ribbons or tucking in straps on dresses. We are, however, allowed to have other things that may or may not be considered "frills" like all matching t-shirts on one day, door songs, and drinks like smoothies, pina colodas, root beer floats, etc. for every day but the first ice water day. However, we do not have a skit and as of this year, house tours are no longer allowed. Instead, on the day they used to be given, they were replaced with a sisterhood video and longer conversation.
I can definitely see how a "no frills" recruitment can be more peaceful and easier, esp. financially, but some frills are fun and I appreciate that we can still have them!

[twinkle555]

Originally Posted by EGAOPi

I agree with adpiucf's point when she said "clearly you have never been a teenager." Though moderately surprising, girls here (and everywhere, I assume) truly do base their opinions (when it comes to ranking and choosing a sorority) greatly on the clothing and other "frills" involved in recruitment.
I remember hearing girls in various Pi Chi groups saying, "Oh, XYZ sorority was the only sorority to wear all dresses on the first day. That was so classy of them! That really stood out to me."
On the contrary, I'd hear girls saying, "That sorority had really ugly shirts and nasty tasting drinks. Their house was really drab. They didn't wow me, so what would make me want to join their sorority?"
The conversation can be fabulous, but great clothes, decorations and fun songs really are memorable.
Especially with that dress thing, I've hear recruitment chairs talking a great deal about going with that idea to impress PNMs. While conversation is important and girls SHOULD base their opinions on character, apparent strength of the sisterhood, etc. as oppossed to who had the cutest outfit and most memorable song...it sadly isn't that way.
As we all know, a lot of girls rank based on physical appearance (whichever sorority has the prettiest sisters), so obviously clothing comes into play. After that, they take into consideration the beverages, decorations and songs. They notice a carefully planned recruitment and consider sororities that go all out to be the most desirable.
On my campus, we are not technically allowed to ALL have identical outfits...I believe half of the girls can have one item and the other half can have a similar looking but slightly different item. Some people change the clothes around by throwing on different color ribbons or tucking in straps on dresses. We are, however, allowed to have other things that may or may not be considered "frills" like all matching t-shirts on one day, door songs, and drinks like smoothies, pina colodas, root beer floats, etc. for every day but the first ice water day. However, we do not have a skit and as of this year, house tours are no longer allowed. Instead, on the day they used to be given, they were replaced with a sisterhood video and longer conversation.
I can definitely see how a "no frills" recruitment can be more peaceful and easier, esp. financially, but some frills are fun and I appreciate that we can still have them!

during my time as a PNM, i heard about a girl that was basing her top choices on how nicely designed/decorated the houses were. Like, "oh this house had a piano and i really liked their color scheme,so im ranking it first. and that other house that was more victorian but didnt have a piano, are going second even though the girls were just as nice or nicer." that to me seems so silly, and u cant change the HOUSES themselves..like the color of the walls and such.

personally i cant wait to be on the other side of recruitment next year. im excited about the themes, the decorating and learning the songs. id be upset if it all was taken away..besides, where is the fun in that? if girls arent smart enough to see through the glitter and glam, then perhaps they arent mature enough to be in a sorority.