re-rushing as a sophomore @ UF

[Thetagirl218]

A healthy tan is one thing, but orange is quite another. I am an alumna of another Florida school, and we were also requested to have tans for recruitment. I never got a tan! I am very pale, so pale my dermatologist calls me "her pale person". I cannot get a tan because of some scares with Melanoma. I just addressed this to my VP of membership and it was never a problem.

As a PNM, I would try to get your skin to look as healthy as possible and be yourself. It is unrealistic to think that every PNM is going to have tanned skin. Everyone's skin tone is different and some people have a naturally pale or darker skin.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by Thetagirl218

A healthy tan is one thing, but orange is quite another. I am an alumna of another Florida school, and we were also requested to have tans for recruitment. I never got a tan! I am very pale, so pale my dermatologist calls me "her pale person". I cannot get a tan because of some scares with Melanoma. I just addressed this to my VP of membership and it was never a problem.

As a PNM, I would try to get your skin to look as healthy as possible and be yourself. It is unrealistic to think that every PNM is going to have tanned skin. Everyone's skin tone is different and some people have a naturally pale or darker skin.

The thing that gets me is that it is being suggested and/or requested for members, and as it is a health issue (skin cancer) and we have a huge focus on risk management, it is contradictory. If it wasn't coming from sorority leadership I wouldn't take such an issue with it. Skin cancer is a huge issue, not just for the people without "a healthy glow" but for everyone regardless of the melanin expression and I don't think we should be promoting it without making the dangers clear. How many women are unaware of the issue, and then the VP Recruitment says "we want you to look healthy" and indirectly we're not giving women all the information they need to make an educated decision (we give information on alcohol, which some of us even have a third party vendor serve) yet are encouraging a potentially dangerous behavior. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a risk management program on skin care and the dangers of tanning so women can make educated decisions, just like we do for food, dating, smoking, alcohol, and other issues that affect us, and other women.

How hard is it to get a dermatologist and someone who has been affected by melanoma to come in for a presentation? I could throw that together in my small rural town with two phone calls.

[Thetagirl218]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

The thing that gets me is that it is being suggested and/or requested for members, and as it is a health issue (skin cancer) and we have a huge focus on risk management, it is contradictory. If it wasn't coming from sorority leadership I wouldn't take such an issue with it. Skin cancer is a huge issue, not just for the people without "a healthy glow" but for everyone regardless of the melanin expression and I don't think we should be promoting it without making the dangers clear. How many women are unaware of the issue, and then the VP Recruitment says "we want you to look healthy" and indirectly we're not giving women all the information they need to make an educated decision (we give information on alcohol, which some of us even have a third party vendor serve) yet are encouraging a potentially dangerous behavior. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a risk management program on skin care and the dangers of tanning so women can make educated decisions, just like we do for food, dating, smoking, alcohol, and other issues that affect us, and other women.

How hard is it to get a dermatologist and someone who has been affected by melanoma to come in for a presentation? I could throw that together in my small rural town with two phone calls.

I totally agree! However, I should have used the word suggested. I never saw anyone get in trouble for not having a tan, but was just a few comments about the fact that we live in Florida and to look healthy with a nice tan. Of course I do understand that healthy is having no tan at all.

[Blue Skies]

Originally Posted by Thetagirl218

A healthy tan is one thing, but orange is quite another. I am an alumna of another Florida school, and we were also requested to have tans for recruitment. I never got a tan! I am very pale, so pale my dermatologist calls me "her pale person". I cannot get a tan because of some scares with Melanoma. I just addressed this to my VP of membership and it was never a problem.

As a PNM, I would try to get your skin to look as healthy as possible and be yourself. It is unrealistic to think that every PNM is going to have tanned skin. Everyone's skin tone is different and some people have a naturally pale or darker skin.

Thank-you for saying this!

I'm over fifty and my skin is completely smooth and in great shape (no surgery as yet, though I'm not opposed to it.) I regularly get carded when I go out, in an area of the country that doesn't card everyone.

I use sunscreen every day of my life (in a range of SPF 8-40+, though 15-30 is my norm.) I often wear a hat, but never lie out in the sun. I'm active in sports, but I just slosh the sunscreen on and try not to be out at the height of midday. I use bronzers, etc. to add a little extra glow. This time of year I'm usually sporting a very, very light tan from my sporting activities, but my skin is pale in the winter months.

I've seen girls in their mid-to-late twenties with wrinkles (they are usually from sunny locales such as California or Florida.)

I don't think that sororities should be in the business of encouraging tanning, but that's me.

To the OP -- give it another shot, stay open, be prepared to take a few lumps...and good luck!