Too fat to recruit: or, DePauw, the Sequel

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by SECdomination

They can't stand being at the selection meetings.

I guess that they'd prefer the unhappy, crying girls to at least be near-strangers?

Seriously, this is one that I don't think you can win, but being a recruitment counselor is probably less likely to make you want to quit your own group.

[susan314]

I'm just curious as to how many people in this thread have ever had to be a part of recruitment with a struggling chapter. (Whether as an active member or an alumnae volunteer/advisor.)

I've had to go through the wringer with 2 chapters, and I tell you - unless you've been there, its hard to understand.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by susan314

I'm just curious as to how many people in this thread have ever had to be a part of recruitment with a struggling chapter. (Whether as an active member or an alumnae volunteer/advisor.)

I've had to go through the wringer with 2 chapters, and I tell you - unless you've been there, its hard to understand.

And to me, it seems kind of jerky to say, well if you don't end up with quota, you just didn't work hard enough.

For 85% or more of chapters it might be true that saying "quality over quantity is just an excuse for not working hard at recruitment." But for a small percentage of chapters, their problems have been around longer than the present members, and are beyond the scope of what even four years of working harder than everyone else on campus at recruitment can correct.

I think one person mentioned the example of a group with 80 members when the average was around 200. Let's be honest, this group faces this choice probably even after doing everything they can: do we only put PNMs that we'd be proud of on the bid list and know there's no chance we will be close to quota or do we list everyone we can and get more new members but have some new members we're not crazy about? When you're down that far on as SEC campus (or any other highly competitive place), working hard might be the difference between missing quota by 15 instead of 20. But they're going to face the quality vs. quantity issue no matter what. Don't be jerks about how they present what they decided. It's not like they're delusional and haven't seen their return rates, but they are happy about the new members they got this year especially. Let them enjoy it.

[ChildoftheHorn]

I know someone who decided to be a Rho Chi because she wanted to get some sleep those weeks. Last year, her group was up debating until 8-10AM the next day, each day!

In her case, I would say it is favorable.

I also know that some groups have rules about what you can say about PNM's. EX: Only positive things or that you cannot say anything really mean. A few of my relatives groups had this mandated by nationals from what they said, others just had it as a general policy.

I guess somethings got out of the grapevine at some places.

Originally Posted by AlphaGamUGAAlum

I guess that they'd prefer the unhappy, crying girls to at least be near-strangers?

Seriously, this is one that I don't think you can win, but being a recruitment counselor is probably less likely to make you want to quit your own group.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I'd say do what works for you to get the results you need. Such is the fight of life. Nothing's ever fair or right and in sororityland things can get downright ugly whether it's this or some other situation (homecoming with those guys ?! hell no! We're not having formal at that hotel! If she gets initiated, I'll give back my badge!) We've all been there, done that, seen it, heard it, experienced some drama that in the end we look back and go . I'm not there to know the situation to judge. Use what you got to get what you need.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by ChildoftheHorn

I know someone who decided to be a Rho Chi because she wanted to get some sleep those weeks. Last year, her group was up debating until 8-10AM the next day, each day!

In her case, I would say it is favorable.

I also know that some groups have rules about what you can say about PNM's. EX: Only positive things or that you cannot say anything really mean. A few of my relatives groups had this mandated by nationals from what they said, others just had it as a general policy.

I guess somethings got out of the grapevine at some places.

Yeah, I think everyone tries to make it as pleasant as they can, but ultimately if the group votes to cut your best friend, it's not going to matter very much what language was used to discuss it.

I do think it's probably 100 times better than it was before computers were used as much as they are now. More stuff can be done, I imagine, with less direct confrontation.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by AlphaGamUGAAlum

Yeah, I think everyone tries to make it as pleasant as they can, but ultimately if the group votes to cut your best friend or keep the girl who slept with your boyfriend, it's not going to matter very much what language was used to discuss it.

I do think it's probably 100 times better than it was before computers were used as much as they are now. More stuff can be done, I imagine, with less direct confrontation.

I was pretty disillusioned during the selection process. But on the other hand with the recruitment system we're given to work with...sometimes there is no choice but to make snap decisions, even if they aren't always the right ones. It's hard to stick 60-200 tired, over caffineated, irritable, possibly PMSing girls in a room for hours on end to discuss possible future sisters and NOT have confrontation.