Which is the lesser of 2 evils?

ForeverRoses · #1 01-24-2008, 04:46 PM

The best solution I saw during rush was when it was 2 rushees to 2 rushers. One of the rushers was from that chapter and the other was from a different chapter. It was more of a group conversation but at least you were able to speak with someone from your school (most of the chapters had group conversations for the first round).

KSUViolet06 · #2 01-24-2008, 05:25 PM

I'd prefer double rushing to having sisters from other chapters rushing PNMs. Our Panhellenic didn't allow alumnae to "rush" PNMs anyway, so we had to work with the # of actives we had. When we had to double rush when we were smaller, we did it 2:2 as opposed to 2:1. Oddly enough, the year we had to do the most double rushing was the year we made quota and went on to double our chapter size.

M reasoning is, yes the chapter is small, but at least those woman can actually speak to the experience of being a member of that chapter.

I've always thought it would be really awkward if a PNM was being rushed by a sister from another chapter and the PNM asked something like "What makes your chapter unique?" As much as the sister from another chapter wants to help, she can't really answer that question the way a sister from that particular chapter really can.

I also think that having women from another chapter rushing PNMs actually does the chapter a disservice because those women aren't going to be around anyway. A PNM might really connect with some sisters, but they're from another chapter and won't be there once they get bids. It creates a "bait and switch" situation.

ThetaPrincess24 · #3 01-27-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I also think that having women from another chapter rushing PNMs actually does the chapter a disservice because those women aren't going to be around anyway. A PNM might really connect with some sisters, but they're from another chapter and won't be there once they get bids. It creates a "bait and switch" situation.

This happened to a friend of mine that rushed at another school. She got a bid from a chapter who had one of their chapters from not far away come to help them with recruitment.When the girls from the other chapter left and my friend found out several of the girls she liked during recruitment were not in this chapter she depledged and went through recruitment again the following year.

SWTXBelle · #4 01-27-2008, 12:06 PM

There just isn't an easy answer. Once a chapter gets noticeably smaller than the other chapters, they immediately have an obstacle to overcome. PNMs think something must be "wrong" with the chapter, even if it is filled with wonderful women. It's hard to avoid the death spiral - the chapter is small, takes in fewer members through formal recruitment, is unable to cob to get the numbers up . . . I've lived through it, and it's the pits. I was able to help another chapter as an alumna adviser avoid it - but it took a lot of work on the part of the actives, and massive cobbing.

lilzetakitten · #5 01-27-2008, 11:11 PM

We're actually facing this situation this year. We had a tough graduation (the sophomores and a few of the freshmen, now seniors, from the original colony) and the largest group of PNMs that have ever gone through recruitment thus far in school history. We're planning on having our best conversationalists pick up two girls at the door, and then having group conversations from there (i.e. 5:4 instead of 2:1).

As for the size issue, for the first two parties we're having recent alumnae attend the parties so the room doesn't appear empty. As the parties go on, we've been assigned smaller rooms (our recruitment is held in the student union since we don't have houses) so it's not really an issue after the first two parties.

RushLeader08 · #6 01-28-2008, 02:18 AM

on no! dont ever do the 1 on 2 situation!! one chapter on my campus always brought girls from another chapter nearby because they were good on that campus. they tricked me during rush and i told everyone because it was so fake!!

violetpretty · #7 01-28-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RushLeader08

on no! dont ever do the 1 on 2 situation!! one chapter on my campus always brought girls from another chapter nearby because they were good on that campus. they tricked me during rush and i told everyone because it was so fake!!

Well, for a chapter with smaller numbers, what do you suggest? Did you read the OP? Do you suggest the small chapter just give up and be like "yes we suck don't join our chapter" because your previous posts would indicate that.

It's not like they are trying to "fool" PNMs into thinking their chapter is "top tier" by having sisters from another chapter help, it's that the number of sisters available to recruit is lower than the number of PNMs coming through their door for each party, so they either need to double/triple rush or bring in more women (from another chapter, or recent alumnae if rules allow) to recruit.