If No Deferred Recruitment, What's A Good Alternative?

[ASTalumna06]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I think what I should have included in there was whether or not your chapter received/required recs and/or resumes (if you can share that information). I think that when I pictured PSB turning away from deferred recruitment, the entire process would be a lot more organized. For the fraternities, it's not really that much of a problem. But for the sororities, it's kind of a different story.

From what I understand (and someone correct me if I'm wrong), the majority of schools without deferred recruitment are generally ones with larger chapters, more competitive recruitment periods, and numerous recs being received for PNMs. PSB still has none of these things.

The other thing I'm confused about... Generally our larger new member classes have come in the spring. There has been talk about implementing minimally/partially structured recruitment for the upcoming spring semester. Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it a little backwards to be allowing first semester freshmen to receive bids AND having a more formal kind of recruitment in the spring? I can't think of any campus where this occurs.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Thanks everyone for your responses. I think what I should have included in there was whether or not your chapter received/required recs and/or resumes (if you can share that information). I think that when I pictured PSB turning away from deferred recruitment, the entire process would be a lot more organized. For the fraternities, it's not really that much of a problem. But for the sororities, it's kind of a different story.

From what I understand (and someone correct me if I'm wrong), the majority of schools without deferred recruitment are generally ones with larger chapters, more competitive recruitment periods, and numerous recs being received for PNMs. PSB still has none of these things.

You have it right - the chapters at Bama, LSU etc have girls signing up 6 months in advance and are receiving recs - so when the girls walk into rush parties, they really aren't complete strangers. As opposed to the girls having up until the day before or even the day of to sign up, as I assume you guys have.

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

The other thing I'm confused about... Generally our larger new member classes have come in the spring. There has been talk about implementing minimally/partially structured recruitment for the upcoming spring semester. Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it a little backwards to be allowing first semester freshmen to receive bids AND having a more formal kind of recruitment in the spring? I can't think of any campus where this occurs.

It is VERY backwards, for girls anyway. See my earlier post. It should be one of two ways:

-If first semester freshmen can rush: fall rush should be structured and formal, this is when most people join, women rushing must visit every sorority at least once. In the spring, a minimally structured or completely nonstructured rush can be employed.

-If freshmen have to wait till second semester: fall rush is primarily for upperclassmen and is minimally structured. Spring rush is formal.

The whole point is - freshmen should NEVER be allowed to join a sorority without meeting all the groups at least once. (Again, this applies to girls.) It completely flies in the face of all the regulations NPC has made over the years to make things fairer for the sororities and for the rushees.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by 33girl

You have it right - the chapters at Bama, LSU etc have girls signing up 6 months in advance and are receiving recs - so when the girls walk into rush parties, they really aren't complete strangers. As opposed to the girls having up until the day before or even the day of to sign up, as I assume you guys have.

It is VERY backwards, for girls anyway. See my earlier post. It should be one of two ways:

-If first semester freshmen can rush: fall rush should be structured and formal, this is when most people join, women rushing must visit every sorority at least once. In the spring, a minimally structured or completely nonstructured rush can be employed.

-If freshmen have to wait till second semester: fall rush is primarily for upperclassmen and is minimally structured. Spring rush is formal.

The whole point is - freshmen should NEVER be allowed to join a sorority without meeting all the groups at least once. (Again, this applies to girls.) It completely flies in the face of all the regulations NPC has made over the years to make things fairer for the sororities and for the rushees.

This is the problem... no one even has to sign up. The one thing that they added to the upcoming fall recruitment period is a kick-off recruitment event (like the one we have in the spring). The PNMs are required to attend parties put on by each chapter, but there's no sign-up, so if a PNM doesn't attend that event, it doesn't matter. They can just show up at the next one put on by which ever chapter they like.

My chapter doesn't do this, and I'm not implying that the others do either, but it leaves room for people to believe that other chapters are telling girls who are interested in their particular chapter, "Don't worry about showing up to this event.. just come to the next one."

And another huge problem is that sisters here don't understand the whole concept of "meeting every chapter" and "mutual selection" and "we're all Greek together". Hell, I didn't when I was at school, either. Only having COB puts everyone into a competitive mindset. However, I try to explain things like this to them, and they look at me like I have two heads. And because COB is all they've ever known, I try to tell them that the point of COB is basically to "fill in the empty spaces after formal", but they don't understand.

I tend to be believe that this whole system of first semester bidding/spring formal will throw off the entire total/quota process.

And I also think that waaay too many things are changing at once, without any of the smaller details being given a second look.