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

[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.