Let's Be Honest Here.....

[irishpipes]

With all due respect, I don't think that the discrimination a Jewish chapter faces from PNMs is quite the same as the discrimination a bottom-tier chapter faces. The end result (as in numbers) may be the same, but I think the reasons would be different. In the case of the bottom-tier group I think it really is what you described - a lack of humility that the PNM could lower herself to be associated with that group. I went through rush a million years ago and we had several Jewish chapters. I never thought of them as bottom-tier, but I didn't feel comfortable because the Jewish culture was an important part of those chapters.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

With all due respect, I don't think that the discrimination a Jewish chapter faces from PNMs is quite the same as the discrimination a bottom-tier chapter faces. The end result (as in numbers) may be the same, but I think the reasons would be different. In the case of the bottom-tier group I think it really is what you described - a lack of humility that the PNM could lower herself to be associated with that group. I went through rush a million years ago and we had several Jewish chapters. I never thought of them as bottom-tier, but I didn't feel comfortable because the Jewish culture was an important part of those chapters.

Exactly. Plus, at some schools, there are tiers within the several chapters that are primarily Jewish.

Now, if the chapter really ISN'T that Jewish anymore (i.e. if only half the women in it are Jewish) and that isn't being conveyed, that's a different matter.

As for the question, I had it answered when I was still in college, when girls who'd been torn between the "top" house and ours were saying they made a mistake and wished they'd pledged us instead. But then again I went to a smaller school w/ a smaller Greek system.

There was a thread a couple years back from a very honest poster at a very big Greek school where she said that yes, if you join one of the "bottom tier" houses, you DO suffer as far as your social life is concerned. At some (but definitely not all) schools it's like that and I certainly wouldn't tell a girl "hey, the sisterhood as an adult is worth it" if you're sitting at home w/ your sisters while everyone else is out at mixers and homecoming pairings. It's NOT worth it if you're going to be miserable for 4 years.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Plus, at some schools, there are tiers within the several chapters that are primarily Jewish.

Absolutely

[violetpretty]

I'll quote irishpipes in her recruitment story (one of my favorites) because I think she says it well...

Originally Posted by irishpipes

The rest of the rounds I have been pretty sure who I wanted to select and didn’t waste time mulling over it. This time though, I am truly torn. I know absolutely for sure where I want to go, but I think that the other chapters may be more popular – at least one of them for sure. I wouldn’t mind being the envy of my rush group and girls like Pam and Joelle. The thing that clinches it for me is a fleeting thought back to my high school. My high school was filled with very wealthy people. My own family had once done pretty well, but after my parents divorced things became more difficult. We weren't poor, but I was aware that things weren't as easy for us. I know in HS I intentionally worked at Marshall Fields because between the money I earned and the employee discount, I could “keep up” with the girls in school. Did I want that underlying feeling that I didn’t really fit in for 4 more years? I think too, I wanted to take control over the situation and rather than give them the opportunity to disappoint me, I would just cut them first. So, after thinking long and hard, I decide to just put one name down…





Kilkenny