Indiana University 2014 Recruitment

[arrowlady]

Originally Posted by 33girl

They also need reassurance from TPTB that they're not going to get their charter yanked if the "growing pains" include numbers taking a sudden dip into the toilet.

If all the house agree they want to change and move to a true RFM system their numbers would grow, not drop.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by arrowlady

If all the house agree they want to change and move to a true RFM system their numbers would grow, not drop.

The key word there is "all."

And I'm betting there would be members who disliked the change who would self-terminate - even if all the groups did it. As I said, some people just don't want to be in what they consider a big chapter.

What would be the optimum is if IU (and Greek systems everywhere in general) could recognize that some women like bigger chapters, some women like smaller chapters, some women love living in a house, some women would rather eat their own head than live in a house and love the unhoused option - and embrace all those differences without it getting caught up in social strata. Guys seem to do this pretty well, I wish females could too.

[DubaiSis]

Or that having a house-less chapter is also not a special experience. I think there are some chinks in the armor so to speak with the small change this year in a few more chapters voting to allow seniors to live out. As they learn that their sisterhoods don't fall into oblivion, and the chapter officers see what happens to the bank account, they'll loosen up.

But speaking of all things IU, shouldn't we have some numbers by now?

[arrowlady]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

Or that having a house-less chapter is also not a special experience. I think there are some chinks in the armor so to speak with the small change this year in a few more chapters voting to allow seniors to live out. As they learn that their sisterhoods don't fall into oblivion, and the chapter officers see what happens to the bank account, they'll loosen up.

But speaking of all things IU, shouldn't we have some numbers by now?

I know that it must be so tough for the house-less chapters at IU. I asked this earlier and might have missed the answer, but do these chapters have a plan to build?

I know at Bama DG went on during expansion, they had the plans for a new house and lot ready to go.

[Low D Flat]

a lot of the fault for the dismal placement numbers lies in the hands of the PNMs who won't take the invitations offered to them.

Okay, but that doesn't happen in a vacuum, either. I agree with the post upthread that Indiana's actives created a monster by conveying that sorority experience = living in, period. Well, if that's what the upperclassmen teach freshmen, they believe it. Even Ole Miss, of all places, has close to 90% placement now. This is the school that had to move rush to mid-semester because women were dropping out of SCHOOL when they didn't get the right house. Now less than 10% of PNMs drop out of rush despite a tier system carved into marble. Everybody decided to emphasize participation in the system, so the culture changed.

The better parallels to IU, IMHO, are OU and Mizzou. Giant, beautiful old mansions, Greek system is crucial to social life, a lot of emphasis on living in, and they still do just fine letting seniors live out.

[Sigmapsimom]

Quote:
a lot of the fault for the dismal placement numbers lies in the hands of the PNMs who won't take the invitations offered to them.


This is completely false because all of the chapters took their individually set "quota" last year and nearly every year.

[DubaiSis]

Except a few MIGHT have been able to take more. Some of the chapters did take quota additions. Whether they took as many as they could or not, I don't know. But I would think if there was a girl on one of the new chapters' lists, they would have been placed.

[WCsweet<3]

Historical question: Did most universities start off with bed quota like Indiana uses and then transition to the way recruitment is now?

[IndianaSigKap]

I have tried to stay off this thread because I am one of the IU alumnae who does believe change is needed. My hope is that all parties concerned: collegiate members, alumnae members, IU officials and NPC officials can work together to create positive and welcome change.

One MAIN flaw in IU's Greek System has yet to be brought up. There is NO set campus total for chapters. This is why one chapter can have 120 (by choice) and another have 150 (by choice). If IU instituted a campus total, then chapters below would have to comply with it to be in good standing with their national organization. If campus total were set at 150 and all chapters were at 150, then the smaller chapters would not seem as elite to the PNMs and the bigger chapters would not seem less selective to the PNMs.

Also, people have asked the housing question. For a chapter to build a house and buy land at IU a chapter must come up with a $750,000 for a down payment. This is what it will take to build a chapter house that is acceptable based on the last three builds at IU.

There is land available and IU will work with individual chapters to help with this process, but there are minimum requirements chapters have to meet to be eligible to build. One of those those requirements is to have raised the down payment and to have secured a mortgage. I don't know of many groups at IU that have that kind of money stashed away for a down payment. So, I would assume that the two unhoused chapters are working toward growing their building funds.

P.S. It pains me to read about all of the dysfunction that surrounds my school this time of year and all of the negative banter. I may not agree with certain policies at my school, but I know that I got an excellent education and loved my time in Bloomington. Even though I am a very proud alum of IU, I am not oblivious enough to believe we are perfect...or anywhere close to it.

[Sassmofi]

Originally Posted by Rhomom

I am not alleging this--it is reality. And, these women HAVE expressed their concerns--to nationals, to panhel, and they have worked with NPC. IU has opened up for expansion, and many chapters are allowing live-outs--small but significant steps. It is however, Panhel with direction from Nationals and alums who make the process decisions, not current members. If you are affiliated with an organization that allows current actives to drive the recruitment process, that is terrific, but it is not that simple. This is a complex system issue requiring a major shift in culture. Current actives must continue to focus on the process after they graduate. Alumna are heard, collegians, not so much.

This is coming from an old alumnae (and previous adviser) from a much different system who really doesn't have a dog in the fight. The whole statement of that the process decisions are left to the National organizations and alums seems like a campus urban myth.

I would be really surprised if the Campus Panhellenic Bylaws stated the decision on bed rush versus quota/total is left to the advisers. For a campus on quota/total, I would normally expect to see a statement in the bylaws of what current total is, that campus total shall be reviewed yearly after formal recruitment, and maybe quota shall be set by RFM. The decisions are made through the campus delegates. When I was an adviser, I only offered advice/suggestions/direction. The chapter membership decided what direction to take. I am not really aware of any NPC organization that lets the chapter alumnae vote on chapter business. If chapter alumnae are stomping their feet with idle threats, there comes a time to let the idle threats go in one ear and out the other and vote with the decision best for the current campus community and future stability/growth.

I would highly suggest current Panhellenic membership to research the bylaws. If there really is a large enough campus consensus that the process needs to change, then have the discussion added to the next Panhellenic meeting agenda. From an outsiders perspective, it seems like the discussion to move to quota/total should be an annual review in the agenda. Are the campus Panhellenic bylaws and meeting minutes posted anywhere public?

The information I have picked up makes me believe the campus Panhellenic community like being perceived as exclusive and elitist. There have been statements that the administration, individual Inter/National Organizations, and NPC are not fans of the bed rush quota and have advised to move to a quota/total systems. It was the collegiate membership who decided to stay with the bed rush tradition.

I come drinking the NPC happy juice and believe that sorority membership should be inclusive and elite (Not elitist but aim for women of character)

[pinkmama]

Kappa alpha theta just posted on twitter that they can't wait to welcome 37 new members tonight. Yet some other groups take 50 to 60 members

[FSUZeta]

The information I have picked up makes me believe the campus Panhellenic community like being perceived as exclusive and elitist. There have been statements that the administration, individual Inter/National Organizations, and NPC are not fans of the bed rush quota and have advised to move to a quota/total systems. It was the collegiate membership who decided to stay with the bed rush tradition. Sasmofi

^I have also heard this.^

This system is driven by occupancy. They hold rush in the winter before students would sign housing leases for the following year, so the PNMs who make it thru to bid day know they have a place to live next fall.

The goal is to keep the houses at maximum occupancy.

I wonder what happens to this plan when members unexpectedly don't return and vacancies occur?

[pinkmama]

Pi phi just tweeted they are welcoming 52 new memebrs

[gatordeltapgh]

Originally Posted by pinkmama

Pi phi just tweeted they are welcoming 52 new memebrs

Last year their individually set quota was 44. If they are taking 52 it's a small but wonderful step in the right direction! It will be interesting to see where everything shakes out.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

The information I have picked up makes me believe the campus Panhellenic community like being perceived as exclusive and elitist. There have been statements that the administration, individual Inter/National Organizations, and NPC are not fans of the bed rush quota and have advised to move to a quota/total systems. It was the collegiate membership who decided to stay with the bed rush tradition. Sasmofi

^I have also heard this.^

This system is driven by occupancy. They hold rush in the winter before students would sign housing leases for the following year, so the PNMs who make it thru to bid day know they have a place to live next fall.

The goal is to keep the houses at maximum occupancy.

I wonder what happens to this plan when members unexpectedly don't return and vacancies occur?

Believe me, all housed chapters have this issue and they address it in their bylaws or standing rules.