Anonymous recruitment

[purpleparrot]

Are there any campuses that participate in anonymous recruitment? Meaning that girls do now know what houses they are visiting, just House 1, House 2, and so on. I heard something about it and am curious how/if that works (or if it even exists).

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by purpleparrot

Are there any campuses that participate in anonymous recruitment? Meaning that girls do now know what houses they are visiting, just House 1, House 2, and so on. I heard something about it and am curious how/if that works (or if it even exists).

Is it something you actually heard of happening? I honestly can't imagine that it actually exists within the NPC. I don't know how it would be possible to keep it entirely anonymous.

[carnation]

I don't either but I know I read something about that on GC awhile back.

[purpleparrot]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Is it something you actually heard of happening? I honestly can't imagine that it actually exists within the NPC. I don't know how it would be possible to keep it entirely anonymous.

I never heard of it actually happening, just someone saying it would be cool to do it. I never really investigated as to where they got the idea from. I think it would be really hard to keep anonymous because PNM's know girls in houses, plus I feel like a lot of girls would end up in a "bad" house then drop (or would there be no "bad" houses because of the anonymity?) That's why I am curious to see if people actually do it, or if it's even possible.

[FleurGirl]

I've never heard of that, but I wish that would catch on! It would definitely help with the pressure that some girls feel to want a "top" house, and would help the girls focus on finding where they fit.

[DTD Alum]

Even with my limited understanding of how sorority rush works, wouldn't anonymous rush really defeat the point of a HUGE part of rush? How would you do a pref ceremony? Philanthropy day? Songs and chants? What about legacies going through who really would like to be a part of their mother's chapter? Not to mention, how would you explain your sorority's values?

Last but not least, I'm not entirely sure that it would also hide who the "top" chapters are...I'm sure those houses would continue to put their hottest girls and cheerleaders in the slide show, door stack, etc. I'm not saying that every girl in a top chapter is a model, but it only takes about a minute on a chapter website (or even on a bid day photo) to make an educated guess on where that particular sorority falls in the campus hierarchy. Given 20 minute rush parties back to back with every sorority as a point of comparison, I think most girls could guess the hierarchy pretty accurately. The top chapters do tend to have more beautiful girls than the others, and while I tend to think the stereotype that lower tier houses are less attractive than middle is false, it IS usually the truth that the numbers will give it away. YMMV may vary of course.

[AOII Angel]

I completely agree with this. It would be impossible to completely sanitize each group of their names, and as much as we like to say that you don't join a group for the name, some do for the reasons DTD Alum mentions- legacy status, philanthropy affiliation, history, religious affiliation, etc.

Originally Posted by DTD Alum

Even with my limited understanding of how set sorority rush works, wouldn't anonymous rush really defeat the point of a HUGE part of rush? How would you do a pref ceremony? Philanthropy day? Songs and chants? What about legacies going through who really would like to be a part of their mother's chapter? Not to mention, how would you explain your sorority's values?

Last but not least, I'm not entirely sure that it would also hide who the "top" chapters are...I'm sure those houses would continue to put their hottest girls and cheerleaders in the slide show, door stack, etc. I'm not saying that every girl in a top chapter is a model, but it only takes about a minute on a chapter website (or even on a bid day photo) to make an educated guess on where that particular sorority falls in the campus hierarchy. Given 20 minute rush parties back to back with every sorority as a point of comparison, I think most girls could guess the hierarchy pretty accurately. The top chapters do tend to have more beautiful girls than the others, and while I tend to think the stereotype that lower tier houses are less attractive than middle is false, it IS usually the truth that the numbers will give it away. YMMV may vary of course.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by DTD Alum

Even with my limited understanding of how sorority rush works, wouldn't anonymous rush really defeat the point of a HUGE part of rush? How would you do a pref ceremony? Philanthropy day? Songs and chants? What about legacies going through who really would like to be a part of their mother's chapter? Not to mention, how would you explain your sorority's values?

Last but not least, I'm not entirely sure that it would also hide who the "top" chapters are...I'm sure those houses would continue to put their hottest girls and cheerleaders in the slide show, door stack, etc. I'm not saying that every girl in a top chapter is a model, but it only takes about a minute on a chapter website (or even on a bid day photo) to make an educated guess on where that particular sorority falls in the campus hierarchy. Given 20 minute rush parties back to back with every sorority as a point of comparison, I think most girls could guess the hierarchy pretty accurately. The top chapters do tend to have more beautiful girls than the others, and while I tend to think the stereotype that lower tier houses are less attractive than middle is false, it IS usually the truth that the numbers will give it away. YMMV may vary of course.

I think you're right, if we're being real here. Skits aren't necessary on all campuses, as no-frills recruitment has been successful, but I do think the elements of pref ceremonies, for instance, are important. I know that fitting in with a particular chapter is usually the determining factor, but even as the confused, snobby, and probably tunnel-visioned PNM I was, I did have interest in the national organization. I picked my organization because I loved my chapter, but there are many very specific things I enjoy about my international organization that I did think about at the time. I'd want the benefit of knowing about the organization I was going to be a part of.

And I think you're right that it wouldn't necessarily eliminate the worry over "tiers". PNMs could probably determine it based on the reasons you pointed out, but also by the facebook photos (someone/something would slip through privacy filters...it just would happen) and prior friendships.

I could see it working well as an opening night option on a campus like mine with only five NPC sororities and where hierarchy isn't as important as it is to PNMs at large campuses. But after that, I think PNMs should get the chance to learn about the organization beyond the chapter.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DTD Alum

Not to mention, how would you explain your sorority's values?

Well, let's be frank...those are all kind of the same anyway. I mean I don't think XYZ says "we only want girls who are beautiful" and ABC says "we only want girls who are academically superior." Pretty much all of the sororities want well rounded women and want to help develop women to that end.

As far as being more or less Jewish, Christian etc, regardless of what is in your ritual, that varies WIDELY from campus to campus. Ditto with how you focus your philanthropy efforts.

No frills has supposedly been happening for the last 15 years. Some schools have embraced it in the manner in which it was intended, some schools have used it as a way for chapters to snitch on each other and get hit with infractions, and some schools will have each girl rip out a kidney and send it to Australia before they give up chants, skits, matching outfits and thousands of dollars' worth of decorations.

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

I think our bigger problems are really lying with retention, the cost of college, and the caliber of students attending college. A university degree really isn't for everyone and higher education is going to implode sooner or later and we can't keep doing things the same way with our giant houses and to be honest, some really arcane policies that don't fit the college students in the second decade of the new millennium. There is a lot that has changed but a lot that still needs to changed if we want to stay relevant and vibrant into the future.

I completely agree with this. We need to get rid of national awards for achieving quota/total and replace them with awards for the highest percentage of pledges staying active until their senior year. I would bet that some schools that supposedly have "weak" Greek system would tote home all these awards - as the people who join at such systems join because they really want to, not just because it's the socially "right" thing to do.

Although I think that this may be one silver lining in this recession - kids who want no part of college (or being Greek) won't be buffaloed or coerced into it by their parents, simply because the $$ isn't there.

As to the original post, I don't know that we so much want to make it anonymous as we want to impress upon women that the best sorority is the sorority that fits them. Making things anonymous just masks the problem, it doesn't really solve it.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Well, let's be frank...those are all kind of the same anyway. I mean I don't think XYZ says "we only want girls who are beautiful" and ABC says "we only want girls who are academically superior." Pretty much all of the sororities want well rounded women and want to help develop women to that end.

As far as being more or less Jewish, Christian etc, regardless of what is in your ritual, that varies WIDELY from campus to campus. Ditto with how you focus your philanthropy efforts.

No frills has supposedly been happening for the last 15 years. Some schools have embraced it in the manner in which it was intended, some schools have used it as a way for chapters to snitch on each other and get hit with infractions, and some schools will have each girl rip out a kidney and send it to Australia before they give up chants, skits, matching outfits and thousands of dollars' worth of decorations.



I completely agree with this. We need to get rid of national awards for achieving quota/total and replace them with awards for the highest percentage of pledges staying active until their senior year. I would bet that some schools that supposedly have "weak" Greek system would tote home all these awards - as the people who join at such systems join because they really want to, not just because it's the socially "right" thing to do.

Although I think that this may be one silver lining in this recession - kids who want no part of college (or being Greek) won't be buffaloed or coerced into it by their parents, simply because the $$ isn't there.

As to the original post, I don't know that we so much want to make it anonymous as we want to impress upon women that the best sorority is the sorority that fits them. Making things anonymous just masks the problem, it doesn't really solve it.

I knew you'd reply to me We think the same way about a lot of these things and I'm glad I'm not alone in some of my thoughts. Perhaps there will be a movement of a joined effort of women throughout different eras of membership can work together to blend the best of the past and the present so we can be current and stick to our ideals and goals while not expecting women to never drink or have sex, or not be sitting in the parlor waiting for gentleman callers and playing the piano on weekend nights planning to be pinned by so we can get married after graduation.

I joined a feminist organization and I'm going to continue to promote the betterment of young women through my sisterhood and membership.

[33girl]

Unfortunately, with the insurance companies running our orgs, the only time that's going to happen is if this country starts advocating personal responsibility and treating young adults like adults. The fwap fwaps aren't helping at all with the latter.

It's not just a Greek issue, it's a societal issue.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Unfortunately, with the insurance companies running our orgs, the only time that's going to happen is if this country starts advocating personal responsibility and treating young adults like adults. The fwap fwaps aren't helping at all with the latter.

It's not just a Greek issue, it's a societal issue.

I completely agree. I've seen the difference between my relationship with my parents (they had me when they were older and I have older siblings who pulled me towards GenX) and the relationship some of my younger friends and my last boyfriend have with their parents. I don't see my parents as my buddy or my friend, they are my parents and it blows my mind the sharing and activities that differ by just a few years. I'm not saying my mom and I aren't friendly, but she's first and foremost always my mom and there's a very different relationship I see with kids now. I'd never take my mom to a fraternity house or out bar hopping during Mom's weekend, nor would she be interested. We don't borrow the clothes of the other, shop in the same departments, or share sexual details like I witness others do. I'm not a shameful prude but I have peers and siblings to discuss intimacy with and unless someone ends up pregnant there's really no reason to share details of hookups and one's partner with their parents. Granted I think my parents would rather not know not because they are in denial, but because there is a clear line and if I was in a situation my (bio/step) sisters would look out for me.

I think it was Munchkin who mentioned a friend in higher ed. who attended a conference where the dynamics of parents and kids were discussed about how kids were viewed by their parents since they had careers and put kids on hold, and are therefore seen as more precious and an investment and how it leads to helicopter parenting. Maybe it wasn't publicized but I read in the news about underage kids with alcohol and that parents purchased it, and so many kids on campus don't think an MIP or a DUI is a big deal and aren't afraid to tell their parents, and in some cases the parents have them too so no biggie.

I think I'm down and raging because it is election day tomorrow or something.

[psusue]

Originally Posted by 33girl

As to the original post, I don't know that we so much want to make it anonymous as we want to impress upon women that the best sorority is the sorority that fits them. Making things anonymous just masks the problem, it doesn't really solve it.

I think this is what we are all trying to go for in our responses. The question is, how do we make this a more real part of the recruitment experience? Ultimately it is up to every woman to make the decision in her mind to seek out the chapter that best fits her, but is there and in what ways can we aid women in their attempts to stay neutral and keep an open mind?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by psusue

I think this is what we are all trying to go for in our responses. The question is, how do we make this a more real part of the recruitment experience? Ultimately it is up to every woman to make the decision in her mind to seek out the chapter that best fits her, but is there and in what ways can we aid women in their attempts to stay neutral and keep an open mind?

It seems that having recruitment earlier (i.e. as soon as women get to campus) would help, but I have no empirical data to back that up. Anyone with deferred recruitment want to weigh in?

As was mentioned upthread, though, it does no good to make quota and then lose half your pledge class as they find out in the next few weeks that you are not a popular chapter.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

It seems that having recruitment earlier (i.e. as soon as women get to campus) would help, but I have no empirical data to back that up. Anyone with deferred recruitment want to weigh in?

As was mentioned upthread, though, it does no good to make quota and then lose half your pledge class as they find out in the next few weeks that you are not a popular chapter.

I know I've said this on here before, but your paragraph above hits the nail on the head. It's doable for a "less popular" chapter to put on a mask for a week. Then people start coming back to school...and you hear random comments from people in your dorm...or you don't have any mixers...and you realize you've been took, hoodwinked, bamboozled.

Often (unfortunately) this isn't what the chapter itself wants to do, but what they feel pressured into doing, either from the Big Mascots who want the chapter's reputation to improve (and who apparently have forgotten how much of an epic fail something like this can be), or from the ginormous but necessary house that needs to be filled (I just pictured the house being all "feed me, Seymour, feed me").

If you go through deferred rush, for the most part (by which I mean unless you're an idiot who hid in your room for a semester), you KNOW the reps of the XYZ cokeheads, and the PQR geeks, and the ABC jocks. You join where you join because regardless of the rep, you like them anyway. It's a lot easier to deflect that sort of silliness when you've had a whole semester to see for yourself it isn't true, rather than only having had 2 weeks.