Getting a new perspective

[TurtleloveUCLA]

Our colonization efforts only lasted 8 years. I would like to still see my chapter there. The grass is not always greener.
A pledge class can always make a difference. Standing up for what you believe shows character not bowing out because you're afraid of what people think.

[DGTess]

No group of sisters considers they're in the absolute awful house and would really love it if someone like louloulee and her horde of other sophomores would come in and teach them how to be someone else.

This is a sisterhood. Girls join for many reasons - some perhaps to try to change things, but you don't do that alone, by yourself, or just because you'd like things different. I guarandamntee that they aren't sitting around waiting for her to come show the social misfits how pathetic they are.

[DubaiSis]

There's a difference between being an enthusiastic member with great leadership skills and a girl who says "yeah, thanks for pledging me. Now let me tell you everything you're doing wrong." As a struggling chapter, I'd probably bite down and take the group that may appear to be heading in a very different direction. Chapters change over time and chapters in growth mode will have growing pains. Hopefully the executive board can successfully nurture these girls in a positive way and not just get bull-dozed. But the only way to no longer be the struggling chapter is to make some sort of significant change, and a change in personality type of the girls you've been pledging is probably the biggest one.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

There's a difference between being an enthusiastic member with great leadership skills and a girl who says "yeah, thanks for pledging me. Now let me tell you everything you're doing wrong." As a struggling chapter, I'd probably bite down and take the group that may appear to be heading in a very different direction. Chapters change over time and chapters in growth mode will have growing pains. Hopefully the executive board can successfully nurture these girls in a positive way and not just get bull-dozed. But the only way to no longer be the struggling chapter is to make some sort of significant change, and a change in personality type of the girls you've been pledging is probably the biggest one.

There are WRC's that are weak for NO REASON except that they have fewer women and a reputation as being the WRC. If you have to rush 2-on-1, for example, you are going to be weak at FR. There is no way around that. Every one of your rushers could be the best rusher ever, and the PNM's know that you are rushing them 2-to-1.

[33girl]

My junior year, we had a larger than usual pledge class that was VERY VERY VERY different than the then-current complexion of the chapter. No exaggeration that they changed things a lot. However, I think it got to the point that we all figured out how to find common ground.

This is the difference between guys and girls. If this situation would have happened to guys, they wouldn't have spent a second whining for a new rush or going to the Greek life director. They would have said "hey, we all seem to be on the same page here, let's turn this ship around." Guys know they make the organization, girls think the organization makes them.

[Shellfish]

I have to say this: it's horde. (Edit: Just noticed that DGTess seemed to be equally irked.)

[FSUZeta]

But it seems easier for guys to do. Many campus cultures seem to be more tolerant of a small, unconventional fraternity than a small, unconventional sorority.

[ASTalumna06]

And ironically, it's sometimes the guys who are determining (whether intentionally or not) which sorority chapters "make" a girl and which ones "break" them.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

And ironically, it's sometimes the guys who are determining (whether intentionally or not) which sorority chapters "make" a girl and which ones "break" them.

YES!!! We should take that power away from them. If ABC fraternity is too good to have a social with xxx sorority, then all the sororities should not have socials with ABC. They would soon change their tune.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

YES!!! We should take that power away from them. If ABC fraternity is too good to have a social with xxx sorority, then all the sororities should not have socials with ABC. They would soon change their tune.

YESSSS!!! THIS!!THIS!!THIS!!THIS!!THIS!!

[33girl]

I honestly can't imagine a group of 19 year olds saying "XYZ fraternity said mean things about ABC sorority. We are not going to associate with them anymore, even if they are the hottest, richest, funnest guys on campus."

Besides - mixers/socials are only one part of it. It's pretty impossible to tell your members they are not allowed to eat in the caf with XYZ, date them, or go to XYZ parties.

The best way to fix something like that IMO, if it's really bugging your chapter? Propose a double mixer with your sorority, ABC, XYZ and another relatively top tier fraternity. You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. If anything, cutting off mixers will only make the fraternities resentful of the sorority in question, on top of them being the butt of jokes.

[ElvisLover]

I like your idea, 33. Sounds like a good solution to the problem.