Fraternity Recruitment Standards

[DTD Alum]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Mine is a little bit more complicated as I believe we are one of the few (if not the only) fraternity systems who utilize the sorority system of one round, cut, second round, cut, third round, cut, then finally we have our pledge class. We're much larger than a hundred people in a Greek system where we typically have around 600 rushees come through rush every year.

For the first two rounds of rush, the rush chairs are allowed to act dictatorially. Members will give names of people they want cut or protected, but really the rush chairs have a firmer grasp of the entirety of 600 people and who we want to cut in order to target our core group of rushees.

When it comes down to the final cuts, one blackball will cut someone...theoretically. But in practice if the chapter feels like that "one blackball" is someone whose just being a dick, we'll take it to a vote. We try to limit a person to one blackball each. If several throw their black balls in the ring, then the guy is probably eliminated.

One blackball can take out a pledge before he's officially made a pledge. Once someone is made a pledge, then it takes 50+1% to get him kicked out. A pledge (or pledge class as what usually happens) needs 75% to get initiated in the final vote.

Elephant Walk, I would love to hear more about this process. I've always wanted to hear more about those rare campuses where fraternity rush works like this. I think from your old posts you are at Arkansas, correct? What are the rounds like...are they progressively more formal? How does the rush chair get the idea of who to pledge...I'm assuming summer rushing? How does "pref" work...do they rank and is there a quota system, or does a fraternity just hand out bids to who they want to bid and then the rushee gets to pick from his bids? If that's the case, how much do chapters "over-bid" to get their desired pledge class size...I'm guessing that it varies wildly from "top" to struggling chapters.

[pshsx1]

In my chapter, there are a few different steps to voting on PNMs.

Firstly, we use Facebook as a way to review different PNMs. Their photos and stats are posted in a members only group and Brothers are free to say whatever they want. Then, during Rush, the VP of Recruitment hands out invitations to exclusive events for people we are considering very seriously. Throughout the two weeks, the VPR will announce different PNMs he is considering bidding and, if there is any negative discussion, it is brought up then. Finally, before a bid can be given, Standards Board reviews the PNM. The bid can only be given if all 5 members vote in favor.

Traditionally, though, the VPR and Rush Chair can blackball anyone they want to. Usually, the only person who can fight that is the President.

My school's Greek system is fairly small: 12 different orgs ranging from 5-60 members. Only 3 orgs have over 30 members.

[DTD Alum]

Thanks Elephant Walk, that was really interesting.

[WreckinTechsan]

Like Elephant Walk I went to a school that had formal IFC rush. The setup was practically identical to sorority rush and the entire rush week was "dry" (with IFC conducting random house inspections to enforce the policy).

Monday: PNMs visit the 10 or so fraternities that do not have a house on Greek Circle. The parties are 30 minutes but the day is longer as PNMs have to travel around town to houses or wherever events are held. I heard that now all the non-Greek Circle fraternities host their parties in the Student Union. This seems like a huge disadvantage because PNMs don't get to see where they actually meet.

Tuesday: PNMs visit the 10 fraternities that have a house on Greek Circle. The parties last 30 minutes. The attire is polos and shorts for PNMs and most active members usually wear a date party shirt or something showing interaction with sororities.

After Monday and Tuesday cuts are made. Because of the sheer amount of guys going through rush and the short time of the parties cuts were usually made quickly and on a trust system (i.e. I went to high school with him and he wouldn't be a fit) with most everyone going along with the cuts. We generally cut 30% of the total group.

Wednesday: PNMs are given a list from IFC showing which fraternities invited them to that day's parties. PNMs then sign up for 8 parties. PNMs must attend all eight parties. Not showing up for a party or scheduling less than 8 was grounds for dismissal from rush and not being able to accept a bid (most of the smaller fraternities don't make cuts so scheduling eight really isn't a problem for anyone). The parties last longer and attire is generally the same as Monday and Tuesday and are usually held at the house. For voting purposes we worked on a buddy system so that at least two brothers talk to a PNM. We also set up a camera to videotape the PNMs telling their name, hometown, high school, what dorm they are living in and a hobby. After the parties end we watch the video and vote. It generally went pretty smooth as you had two people that generally agreed or disagreed on the same person. We also cut anybody that did not choose to visit us on that day.

Thursday: PNMs are again given a list of fraternities that have invited them to that day's parties. They choose and sign up for four parties. The rules are the same for having to attend all four parties. This day is an "activity day" and can involve anything from hosting skeet shooting to renting out a bar/restaurant. Attire is khaki's and an oxford or a polo. The PNMs are again videotaped. This is the day that is the most intense in voting as it is generally accepted that if you invite a PNM to Pref Day they will be getting a bid and usually lasted around 4 to 5 hours. Like Elephant Walk's chapter one person could blackball a PNM. 50% of time the vote was respected and the PNM was cut - the other 50% resulted in a discussion and essentially devolved towards Animal House. Again, we cut anyone who didn't attend that day's party.

Friday: PNMs receive a list of fraternities that have invited them to Pref Day. Attire for PNMs and actives is suit and tie. The party lasts an hour and a half and is generally held at a prominent alum's house or a nicer banquet hall. While it is technically the most formal day it is actually the most relaxed - the day is the shortest and for the most part you have invited only the guys you are willing to bid. Virtually the only cuts that are made that day are people who did not attend your party.

Saturday: Bid Day. Unlike sororities and Elephant Walk's school the guys nor the fraternities do a ranking sheet. PNMs are given their bid invitations and virtually every PNM will have one from each fraternity they saw on Pref Day. At 1:30 fraternities are given a list of PNMs that accepted their bid and at 3:30 the new pledges are released to their houses, alcohol is again allowed and the Bid Day festivities begin. We generally had a brotherhood event that afternoon and then a party at the house that night.

Everyone I knew that rushed at a different school had a completely different experience and I hadn't really ever heard of anyone else that had as formal of a rush as we did.

The numbers usually fall along the lines of 700 PNMs on Monday/Tuesday, 450 on Wednesday, 250 on Thursday and 100 to 110 on Friday. We usually had about 45 - 55 bids accepted with the exception of one year when 65 accepted.

The exact same process is used for Spring rush.