Why are recs absolutely necessary at some schools, while not expected at others?

[AZTheta]

Oh for the love of Mike!

PNMs: just get recs. Do not think twice, do not argue, do not whine, just get them.

Why? Because, in the process of doing so, PNMs learn all sorts of other things about GLO membership, and are better prepared for recruitment. And, I hope that they also learn that GLO membership goes far beyond three or four parties (and a lot of useless tier/tent talk).

[Hartofsec]

Just to be clear, my question (OP) was not whether PNMs should obtain recs for schools on the must-have-recs list, but why as alums (at some schools) we insist on it:

I guess my actual question is . . . if chapters at schools outside of the must-have-recs list are able to recruit wonderful pledge classes full of accomplished and felony-free young women, are alum-generated and endorsed recs really necessary? Or do we just do this because we have always done things this way?

If any PNM who will be attending one of these schools is reading -- by all means, gather recs for each chapter. And get started now (if you haven't already)!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

Just to be clear, my question (OP) was not whether PNMs should obtain recs for schools on the must-have-recs list, but why as alums (at some schools) we insist on it:

I guess my actual question is . . . if chapters at schools outside of the must-have-recs list are able to recruit wonderful pledge classes full of accomplished and felony-free young women, are alum-generated and endorsed recs really necessary? Or do we just do this because we have always done things this way?

For the most part, those chapters are smaller. For the most part, those rushes (as in number of girls rushing) are smaller. Quite often, those chapters are at schools where rush is deferred to second semester freshman or even first semester sophomore year.

It's a lot easier for chapters with 60 girls to get to know the total 400 girls rushing than it is for chapters with 400 girls to get to know the total 2000 girls rushing. I'm sure that when girls from SEC chapters become traveling consultants and see how a smaller rush works, they say "God, I wish we could have had this much one on one time with rushees." But unless you want to do as Titchou said and drag rush out for weeks upon weeks - and remember that 3 weeks of SEC or Texas rush is =/= 3 weeks of rush at a small private school - I can't think what would be a better way to screen people.

Is there some element of the alums wanting to have a say in who is chosen for membership? Yes, I'm sure. But a thread of that probably runs through EVERY chapter, no matter the size/campus/organization - and no matter whether recs are commonly used or not, whether they have to be obtained before rush to avoid cuts or afterwards when the chapter knows who they want and obtains the recs for the rushees themselves.