University of Alabama Recruitment

[greekdee]

Does anyone know if there are any sororities colonizing at Alabama this year? That is often an excellent way for nonfreshmen to find a home.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by greekdee

Does anyone know if there are any sororities colonizing at Alabama this year? That is often an excellent way for nonfreshmen to find a home.

No there are not.

And the last time one did colonize, colonization was probably 3x harder than normal rush.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by 33girl

No there are not.

And the last time one did colonize, colonization was probably 3x harder than normal rush.

I don't know where rumors like ^this originate -- but this is just not true.

Greekdee is correct -- I know the last two colonizations at Bama have been great opportunities for upperclassmen.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

I don't know where rumors like ^this originate -- but this is just not true.

Greekdee is correct -- I know the last two colonizations at Bama have been great opportunities for upperclassmen.

That number originated from my ass, since you asked.

And yes, they were great opportunities. Those upperclassmen selected were probably also head and shoulders above the average Bama female student and vetted back and forth and upside down. Greekdee's post didn't really convey that.

If I used a little hyperbole, it's because people often don't get the point unless you do.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by 33girl

That number originated from my ass, since you asked.

That's what I thought.

The actual number of total PNMs from both recent colonies, who participated in formal recruitment, then joined a colonizing chapter, was 304 of the total 438 new colony members. I think that there was a lot of opportunity for upperclassmen to join these chapters, since colonizing chapters want and need new members outside of freshmen and sophmores.

Originally Posted by 33girl

And yes, they were great opportunities. Those upperclassmen selected were probably also head and shoulders above the average Bama female student and vetted back and forth and upside down. Greekdee's post didn't really convey that.

Yet you didn't attend Bama (or any other competitive SEC school), your GLO doesn't have a chapter there, you don't write recs for PNMs there, and don't know girls who joined either of the most recent colonizing chapters.

I do. And I know that the girls selected were great girls, though to state that this process is 3x more difficult than FR, and that these girls are turned inside-out in such a manner, is tantamount to uninformed tent-talk.

Greekdee's post conveyed exactly what needed to be conveyed. I wish there was such an opportunity upcoming for transferring upperclassmen like bamagirl. I think we still need more chapters to colonize at Bama (just my opinion -- especially considering the continued large size of the pledge classes).

One way or another -- I'm sure bamagirl would be happy in any of the chapters there -- and I hope she pursues the opportunity. There aren't any bad choices at Bama!

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

That's what I thought.

The actual number of total PNMs from both recent colonies, who participated in formal recruitment, then joined a colonizing chapter, was 304 of the total 438 new colony members. I think that there was a lot of opportunity for upperclassmen to join these chapters, since colonizing chapters want and need new members outside of freshmen and sophmores

Do you know how may of those 304 were upperclassmen (including sophomores since they are also considered upperclassmen)? And why not include all who participated in the colonization process instead of the number who also participated in formal recruitment? Does that skew the stats?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

Greekdee's post conveyed exactly what needed to be conveyed.

I don't agree. It made it sound like it was an "easier" option. (FWIW I don't think that was greekdee's intention, but it did.)

If you want to blow sunshine up everyone's twat 24/7, you're on the wrong site. Maybe you need to go assist your chapter at Alabama with recruitment and tell them to give bids to all the women you "support" on here.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I don't agree. It made it sound like it was an "easier" option. (FWIW I don't think that was greekdee's intention, but it did.)

If you want to blow sunshine up everyone's twat 24/7, you're on the wrong site. Maybe you need to go assist your chapter at Alabama with recruitment and tell them to give bids to all the women you "support" on here.

But if I wanted to swap not-so-classy insults with someone pulling uninformed advice out of unmentionable places, then I’m on the right site?

I just don't see a disagreement here -- no one said that a colonizing chapter takes any upperclassman. Opportunities for upperclassmen were more abundant during a colonization than in FR with existing chapters at Bama, and I imagine on other SEC campuses as well.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

I don't know where rumors like ^this originate -- but this is just not true.

Greekdee is correct -- I know the last two colonizations at Bama have been great opportunities for upperclassmen.

Can you supply us with those statistics? Number of upperclass women, by class, who went thru the process vis-a-vis the number who actually were offered bids?

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Can you supply us with those statistics? Number of upperclass women, by class, who went thru the process vis-a-vis the number who actually were offered bids?

Perhaps you can help with that -- do existing chapters pledge more juniors, for instance, than colonizing chapters?

I certainly didn't think so, but perhaps you can provide some stats from your own chapter's recolonization there. I'm willing to be educated.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

Perhaps you can help with that -- do existing chapters pledge more juniors, for instance, than colonizing chapters?

I certainly didn't think so, but perhaps you can provide some stats from your own chapter's recolonization there. I'm willing to be educated.

If I knew, I would have posted the information. But I'm not on the recruitment side these days. Since you had partial stats, it appeared that you might be privey to such information.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by Titchou

If I knew, I would have posted the information. But I'm not on the recruitment side these days. Since you had partial stats, it appeared that you might be privey to such information.

We could extrapolate a little from the numbers posted in the reports found here:
http://greekaffairs.ua.edu/resources.cfm

For the most recent colonization at Bama, for instance –

In Fall 2011, 221 girls were pledged in the colonization. In Spring 2011, 10 more NMs were added, for a total of 231.

In Fall, 2012, 92 girls were pledged, and the total membership at close of Fall 2012 is reported as 261.

So that leaves 62 girls who potentially graduated within those 3 semesters. These girls would have been seniors -- and maybe juniors on their way to an early graduation -- when they pledged during the colonization or sometime thereafter (check my math, just in case).

All chapters have some girls move, transfer, drop, etc, of course, but there are probably a lot of graduating upper-upperclassmen among those 62.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

I just don't see a disagreement here -- no one said that a colonizing chapter takes any upperclassman. Opportunities for upperclassmen were more abundant during a colonization than in FR with existing chapters at Bama, and I imagine on other SEC campuses as well.

Lane-swerving, but:

You and most others posting here, as women experienced with how NPC recruitment and colonization work, understand that. But the student in college who wants to be Greek and who isn't nearly as familiar with how NPC recruitment and colonization work may not understand that, and may read much more than intended into a statement like this:

Originally Posted by greekdee

Does anyone know if there are any sororities colonizing at Alabama this year? That is often an excellent way for nonfreshmen to find a home.

Hence the hyperbolic responses to that statement from some who have seen that from PNMs on GreekChat all too often.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Lane-swerving, but:

You and most others posting here, as women experienced with how NPC recruitment and colonization work, understand that. But the student in college who wants to be Greek and who isn't nearly as familiar with how NPC recruitment and colonization work may not understand that, and may read much more than intended into a statement like this:
Hence the hyperbolic responses to that statement from some who have seen that from PNMs on GreekChat all too often.

Then for informational purposes -- PNMs considering participating in a colonization -- some (snark- and vulgarity-free) information:

Colonization and PNMs...is it for you?

Yesterday I spent some time describing generally how the colonization process works. There are quite a few campuses across the US that have sororities colonizing on them this fall. So how do you know as a PNM is colonizing a sorority is right for you? Let’s look at colonization from a PNM’s view-point.

First of all, when a sorority colonizes it actually builds an entire sorority…what I mean is that there will be all 4 classes of girls represented, freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. Let’s talk about the upper classmen first, specifically juniors and seniors. Colonization is an idea for those upper classmen women on campus who wanted to join a sorority but for a number of reasons they didn’t. The reasons range from as freshmen they were intimidated by the process (finding recs for each house, LORS), finances (sorority life can be expensive especially for a girl who is paying her own way), or they just didn’t see how sorority life would fit with their college schedule. Many of the young women I have talked to who have gone through the colonization process as juniors and seniors told me they felt that something was “missing” in their college experience and after colonizing their sorority that void was filled. It’s easy to say “why do this when you only have one or two years of sorority life on campus?” The answer is easy..”Because it’s a sisterhood for a lifetime..not just the years you are in college.” A friend who was a senior and colonized on her campus is now working in her sorority’s national office. It is a misconception that these women will be the “leaders” of the new sorority. While age, maturity and life experiences will certainly give them an edge over the younger girls, colonization is a “it takes a village” sort of experience.

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and

Sororities and Colonization...a tutorial

I was part of an interesting discussion yesterday….several parents were debating whether sorority and fraternity membership was on the upswing. This conversation came in light of a recent article stating that The University of Alabama had the surpassed the The University of Illinois as the largest greek population in the US.

Here is a link to the blog article for those that are interested, NEW #1, ALABAMA TAKES OVER AS NATION?S LARGEST GREEK COMMUNITY » Phired Up Recruitment Blog.

The subject of colonization came up. Colonization is near and dear to my heart these days since my sorority, Alpha Phi, was just approved (and accepted) to colonize at LSU for the Fall of 2013. In the past 4 years Alpha Phi has colonized on the campuses of Kentucky, FSU, Clemson and Alabama. I am excited to seeing their growing presence on campuses across the US.

[...]

A Joint Information Session will then follow on August 22nd. Usually during the marketing phase sign ups are held to attend this session. In some cases sign ups are not required and PNm’s just choose to attend. In Alabama’s case there were two separate info sessions and a PNM could simply choose which one to attend. During the info session information will be shared about how the colonization process works, how much membership in each sorority costs, housing and meal plans…lot and lots of info!!

There are 2 one hour parties planned on this day as well. Usually during this time a series of “interviews” takes place, sometimes concurrently with the parties. In the case of Delta Gamma at Alabama PNMs were asked to sign up for a particular time slot on one of 4 days. The interviews lasted approximately 15 minutes. Think of these interviews as a mini recruitment conversation of sorts. The PNM will be asked the same type of questions that she would be asked during recruitment….why are you going through colonization, what can you bring to this sorority…..tell us about yourself ect.

After the interview and party process then the PNM’s are asked to asked to rank their personal choices on September 7th. Bid matching will occur and a Bid List will be constructed with Bids being issued on September 9th. Bid Day activities will be planned for PNMs for both houses…jerseys given out as they are welcomed into their new sisiterhoods.

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