Ole Miss drops GPA exceptions for rush

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

I'm sorry for butting in again, but when did learning disabilities automatically = dumb? I think some of you are assuming that. And, I don't think that is the case at all, that LD = dumb. Sure, some students may have to work harder because of their LD, but that does not make them dumb.

I don't think anyone has assumed that people with learning disabilities are dumb. I certainly don't think so at all.

I do think that some have assumed that sorority members at Ole Miss must think that women with learning disabilities are dumb or otherwise undesirable. A baseless assumption, IMO.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I don't think anyone has assumed that people with learning disabilities are dumb. I certainly don't think so at all.

That is the feeling I got from reading a few posts.

I do think that some have assumed that sorority members at Ole Miss must think that women with learning disabilities are dumb or otherwise undesirable. A baseless assumption, IMO.

Agreed.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I don't see any such suit being successful.

I
Not all standards = discrimination.

No, that is not what discrimination is. Discrimination is "treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit." (Thanks, dictionary.com.)

that is exactly what is going on

once again, you have your head so far up your own ass you can't see the point

[CBU Jeff]

I pretty sure this standard was set in place not to discriminate girls from joining. The Greek Life office implemented this both for sororities and fraternities. I realize a 2.5 might be high from some people, but to compared with some other institutions, Ole Miss is still far behind in regards to academics. And as someone stated earlier (can't remember who), but the likelihood of an organizations accepting a girl below a 2.5 is minimal anyway.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by CBU Jeff

I pretty sure this standard was set in place not to discriminate girls from joining. The Greek Life office implemented this both for sororities and fraternities. I realize a 2.5 might be high from some people, but to compared with some other institutions, Ole Miss is still far behind in regards to academics. And as someone stated earlier (can't remember who), but the likelihood of an organizations accepting a girl below a 2.5 is minimal anyway.

then why not let them decide?

[Ole Miss Phi Mu]

I'm just going to put my two cents in. Most girls that go through have 4.0s, were the homecoming queen, captain of the cheer squad, and were involved in what seems like everything else. If someone has below a 2.5, then they aren't going to cut it here. Being in a sorority is time comsuming and if you can't keep a 2.5 in highschool then how are you going to do it in college while balancing sorority life. I don't think it's discrimination. As AOII Angel said it's called standards. Besides the reason a girl gets cut is MS which is private. I don't think that this is going to affect many girls, but it will save the few money and the heartache of getting cut.

[CBU Jeff]

it's an effort to raise the overall Greek cumulative GPA. Greek organizations were bidding freshmen with histories of poor academic performance, and once in school the poor performance continued and therefore reducing the overall GPA. The 2.5 rule for fraternities and sororities is set as a benchmark to determine preliminary expectations of the PNM and if they can handle academics and Greek Life. And although it is not too common for a girl to go through recruitment after their first fall semester, that option is in place for them to obtain a 2.5 at the college level in order to meet the qualification. New standards for the Greek system are being implemented this fall with scholarship being a main component. All chapters will eventually have to maintain a 2.6 cumulative average. The 2.5 requirement for recruitment will aid these chapters in obtaining that standard.

[gee_ess]

Minimum requirements to join organization, get a job, get accepted to college, etc are a way of life. I don't see the big discrimination here...

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

that is exactly what is going on

once again, you have your head so far up your own ass you can't see the point

Are you serious?

Give me just one fact to back up your claim that intentional discrimination against students with learning disabilities is "exactly what's going on" or give it a rest. 'Cause I really don't think I'm the one who needs to adjust the placement of his head.

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

We may not be honorary societies, but academic success is part of our missions, Dionysus!

I understand that. But as someone mentioned upthread...being in a sorority may actually help a student who was struggling. Don't sororities require study hours anyway? Mind did. Plus, it's not uncommon for students within the same chapter to have the same classes. They can help each other.

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

Minimum requirements to join organization, get a job, get accepted to college, etc are a way of life. I don't see the big discrimination here...

But how often do you hear of people not getting jobs because of a low GPA (when everything else was OK)? Most places care far more about experience.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

But how often do you hear of people not getting jobs because of a low GPA (when everything else was OK)? Most places care far more about experience.

I don't know about jobs, but most academic institutions, where they are looking for measure of continued academic success have minimums for the next level.

Are you really advocating that GLOs have no minimum standards for GPA?

[gee_ess]

Okay, I will pull getting a job from my list as experience probably does count for more, However, I feel pretty confident that gpa plays a large role in several other selective processes.

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I don't know about jobs, but most academic institutions, where they are looking for measure of continued academic success have minimums for the next level.

Are you really advocating that GLOs have no minimum standards for GPA?

No, again I said the 2.5 minimum GPA is reasonable. But I do think many people overestimate its importance.

I mean...what would really happen if those GPA standards were removed? If you still recruited students who were active on campus, good leaders, had a high amount of service hours, etc. what serious negative consequences could there be?

My chapter (the service GLO) has gone without GPA minimum requirements for a long time. We still managed to attract students who were academically successful anyway. Being active on campus and being successful academically is highly correlated in the first place. The few who did have really low GPAs, weren't any different from members who had high grades...in terms of participation, how well they did their jobs as officers, and how well they got along with other members.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

No, again I said the 2.5 minimum GPA is reasonable. But I do think many people overestimate its importance.

I mean...what would really happen if those GPA standards were removed? If you still recruited students who were active on campus, good leaders, had a high amount of service hours, etc. what serious negative consequences could there be?

My chapter (the service GLO) has gone without GPA minimum requirements for a long time. We still managed to attract students who were academically successful anyway. Being active on campus and being successful academically is highly correlated in the first place. The few who did have really low GPAs, weren't any different from members who had high grades...in terms of participation, how well they did their jobs as officers, and how well they got along with other members.

Did you all recruit first semester freshman?

I think that when you're taking in kids new to college, it's harder to know who is going to make it or not.

Once you can be sure someone's not going to flunk out and leave, I can see what you are saying.

I suspect that's why, back when we had initiation grades, I think they were lower than what you had to have to extend the bid. And I think, in some cases what it takes to stay in good standing with the organization is probably also lower than what they look for in a pledge.

I think the difference is that there's some washout/dropout factor that you're trying to control for in first semester students.