A Review of Deferred Recruitment from Auburn University Division of Student Affairs

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

If I followed the, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" policy, I wouldn't be where I am today. I don't follow it in my personal life or in my work life.

I think there are other reasons they failed to mention as a "pro" for deferred recruitment:
1. It allows out of state students a better chance to get a bid
2. It keeps girls from pledging and transferring (not AU but for other smaller schools)
3. It weeds out what I refer to as the girls-on-the-bubble. You know the PNM but don't know if you want her as a sister. Hopefully, over the first semester, other girls in the house get to know the PNM in a current situation (i.e. out from under her parent's watchful eye).
4. PNMs that are unfamiliar with chapters, can form their own opinions and determine where they better fit.

I went through recruitment in August and wished I would have waited. I cut some chapters early on that maybe I should have given a second chance. Also, I knew very few girls in the different houses when I rushed that I met during the first semester. Maybe houses that cut me might not have if I knew someone in it. Hard to tell, it was 30 years ago.

Totally playing devil's advocate here, because I think this is one of those things that could go either way...

@the bolded: Don't you think this could be a detriment to both the girls and the houses? If Cutsy Suzie from out of state comes in and doesn't have an opinion of XYZ, DEF, or NOP during August, she might be able to keep an open mind. If she hears 6 months of "tent talk" though, she might discount NOP and DEF because of what she's heard about them. DEF and NOP are wonderful NPC orgs that have great things to offer, but she's "formed her own opinion" about them and has decided that XYZ is the "best fit" for her. Since it's a mutual selection process, XYZ might cut her and she drops because she's decided she's not a right fit for the others.

Again, just playing the other side...

ETA: I wrote "bolded" just to play on your siggy.

[carnation]

Originally Posted by shirley1929

Totally playing devil's advocate here, because I think this is one of those things that could go either way...

@the bolded: Don't you think this could be a detriment to both the girls and the houses? If Cutsy Suzie from out of state comes in and doesn't have an opinion of XYZ, DEF, or NOP during August, she might be able to keep an open mind. If she hears 6 months of "tent talk" though, she might discount NOP and DEF because of what she's heard about them. DEF and NOP are wonderful NPC orgs that have great things to offer, but she's "formed her own opinion" about them and has decided that XYZ is the "best fit" for her. Since it's a mutual selection process, XYZ might cut her and she drops because she's decided she's not a right fit for the others.

I have seen a lot of this in the South with deferred recruitments.

Also, hundreds out of state PNMs have always gotten bids. AU has a huge out of state population, especially since it's gotten so hard for Georgians to get into UGa. The last 2 years' bid lists are probably still on GC--check 'em out.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by shirley1929

Totally playing devil's advocate here, because I think this is one of those things that could go either way...

@the bolded: Don't you think this could be a detriment to both the girls and the houses? If Cutsy Suzie from out of state comes in and doesn't have an opinion of XYZ, DEF, or NOP during August, she might be able to keep an open mind. If she hears 6 months of "tent talk" though, she might discount NOP and DEF because of what she's heard about them. DEF and NOP are wonderful NPC orgs that have great things to offer, but she's "formed her own opinion" about them and has decided that XYZ is the "best fit" for her. Since it's a mutual selection process, XYZ might cut her and she drops because she's decided she's not a right fit for the others.

Again, just playing the other side...

ETA: I wrote "bolded" just to play on your siggy.

If all she hears - or rather, listens to - is tent talk and gossip, of course she'll form opinions that might cause her to discount certain groups.

If, on the other hand, she gets involved in activities and actually MEETS sorority members, it goes a long way toward diffusing that. She can't really believe "all ABCs are fat" any longer when she's on hall council with an ABC that's a size 0.

How open the PNM wants to keep her mind is largely up to the PNM, no matter when rush is held.

As I said in my other post, I can't think of anything better than everyone having to be on their best behavior in the fall - PNMs AND sororities. There's no faking it for a week, and then the true colors come out and no one's happy.

[dukedg]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If all she hears - or rather, listens to - is tent talk and gossip, of course she'll form opinions that might cause her to discount certain groups.

If, on the other hand, she gets involved in activities and actually MEETS sorority members, it goes a long way toward diffusing that. She can't really believe "all ABCs are fat" any longer when she's on hall council with an ABC that's a size 0.

How open the PNM wants to keep her mind is largely up to the PNM, no matter when rush is held.

The thing is, she may realize that all ABCs are not fat, but she'll also realize that everyone calls all ABCs fat even though there are clearly girls who aren't.

I went through a deferred rush and have advised chapters with fall rush and I think fall rush is much better for the PNM-sorority selection process. There is less time to be biased, form pledge classes in the fall, dirty rush people, spread inaccurate stereotypes, sell yourself, etc.

On the other hand, I think from a personal development perspective, outside of joining a sorority, rushing in the spring was so much better for me. I had time to form friends outside of my sorority with no bias to which chapter anyone was in, could get used to being in college and could figure out if I really wanted, had time to and had the grades to join a sorority.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by dukedg

The thing is, she may realize that all ABCs are not fat, but she'll also realize that everything calls all ABCs fat even though there are clearly girls who aren't.

Every sorority has stereotypes attached. This way she won't get blindsided once school starts up and everyone is spouting them back to her (and she's bound to the group for a year). Personally, I find it unhealthy to begin any facet of life in a bubble.

[dukedg]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Personally, I find it unhealthy to begin any facet of life in a bubble.

I see what you mean. If you are the kind of person who likes to gather a lot of information before making a decision, then deferred recruitment is much better.

I would be interested to compare withdrawal rates between the two systems. I mean, somehow with all other factors being equal. My hypothesis is that more women would withdraw from a deferred recruitment system.

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Every sorority has stereotypes attached. This way she won't get blindsided once school starts up and everyone is spouting them back to her (and she's bound to the group for a year). Personally, I find it unhealthy to begin any facet of life in a bubble.

I guess I also see your point, but I would venture to guess that most people aren't quite so "all or nothing" in their perspective on life? For instance, I just saw my pledgeship as one side of my college beginning - not as life in a bubble.

I see value in both sides to this issue, but I believe for purposes of a large university (as Auburn) that fall is the lesser of two evils.

[33girl]

Not all or nothing - having not experienced it, maybe I'm off in my perception, but I just can't imagine going through rush when nothing else is happening on campus. When you go through rush while classes are in session (or even over winter break), you are quite aware that the world will go on around you and that there are many other parts of college, regardless of whether you get a bid or not.

It reminds me of what some of the participants on The Bachelor and shows like that have said - that believe it or not, they do find themselves developing feelings for this guy in a week, because NOTHING else is happening in the house. Getting cut has to be harder when you don't have anything to take your mind off it.

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Not all or nothing - having not experienced it, maybe I'm off in my perception, but I just can't imagine going through rush when nothing else is happening on campus. When you go through rush while classes are in session (or even over winter break), you are quite aware that the world will go on around you and that there are many other parts of college, regardless of whether you get a bid or not.

It reminds me of what some of the participants on The Bachelor and shows like that have said - that believe it or not, they do find themselves developing feelings for this guy in a week, because NOTHING else is happening in the house. Getting cut has to be harder when you don't have anything to take your mind off it.

Ok, this makes way more sense. I took your previous comment to mean you thought that "when I join a sorority, I live in that bubble and absolutely nothing else matters, so I won't look into any other friends/campus orgs/etc." If nothing else - your sorority helps introduce you to other groups!

I do remember living in the dorm with those who went bidless in that week (or dropped earlier in the week) and it was tough, but 3-5 days later school was starting. It all moves along pretty quickly, just like it would in the winter.