Indiana University 2014 Recruitment

[Dtjb]

Originally Posted by Mom64

Indiana is a HUGE school. As an incoming freshman you spend a good portion of your first semester becoming friends with those living on your floor/quad/neighborhood and classes. These are by majority freshman as well. There were little if no pre-recruitment activities, so little chance to get to know people who will vouch for you.

I believe that everything happens for a reason and that my daughter will be just fine. I also believe that sometimes processes need to be reevaluated for the good of everyone. I think that Indiana's rush process needs to be rethought.

Again, all can vent as much as they want but I attended Indiana, participated in the process, and had a fabulous Greek experience. It's an amazing school qnd a great Greek system regardless of the process. I went thru rush not having any connections and not being a legacy and it worked out great for me. I'm tired of hearing all the negative. Sounds to me like unless "all get a bid" it's not going to be fair to the moms. There's nothing special about some thing that everyone can just get. If that's how Alabama does it then it must not be all that special to be in a house and I question how close a "house" of 200 women could be if they take these enormous pledge classes. Furthermore, if there's anyone out there that would think an IU cheerleader would not have a better chance of getting a bid to a house regardless of being present, is living in a dream world. Activities/ resume matter and that will gain big points for houses recruiting girls. I get parents hurt for their kids, but much of what I'm reading is the mentality of "everyone should get a trophy and everyone should get a prize and everyone should win" which is proving to be not very real-world. Lots of competition out there...not everyone is going to get in. That doesn't make the process unfair, it makes it competitive.

[suzy88]

Originally Posted by Dtjb

Again, all can vent as much as they want but I attended Indiana, participated in the process, and had a fabulous Greek experience. It's an amazing school qnd a great Greek system regardless of the process. I went thru rush not having any connections and not being a legacy and it worked out great for me. I'm tired of hearing all the negative. Sounds to me like unless "all get a bid" it's not going to be fair to the moms. There's nothing special about some thing that everyone can just get. If that's how Alabama does it then it must not be all that special to be in a house and I question how close a "house" of 200 women could be if they take these enormous pledge classes. Furthermore, if there's anyone out there that would think an IU cheerleader would not have a better chance of getting a bid to a house regardless of being present, is living in a dream world. Activities/ resume matter and that will gain big points for houses recruiting girls. I get parents hurt for their kids, but much of what I'm reading is the mentality of "everyone should get a trophy and everyone should get a prize and everyone should win" which is proving to be not very real-world. Lots of competition out there...not everyone is going to get in. That doesn't make the process unfair, it makes it competitive.

Thank you for informing most of the women on this forum that there sorority experience wasn't special because their college made a practice of finding a home for most young women who wanted to participate.

[Griffins&Quills]

Originally Posted by suzy88

Thank you for informing most of the women on this forum that there sorority experience wasn't special because their college made a practice of finding a home for most young women who wanted to participate.

2nd!
And Dtjb, talk to the kids at Alabama. Pretty sure their rush is damn competitive, and they still have a system that functions.

[33girl]

As I've stated before, this begins with a northern vs southern thing. For the most part, northern schools will have 20 chapters of 100 rather than 10 chapters of 200. IU of course takes it to the extreme.

[TAMUAlphaPhi]

Originally Posted by Dtjb

Again, all can vent as much as they want but I attended Indiana, participated in the process, and had a fabulous Greek experience. It's an amazing school qnd a great Greek system regardless of the process. I went thru rush not having any connections and not being a legacy and it worked out great for me. I'm tired of hearing all the negative. Sounds to me like unless "all get a bid" it's not going to be fair to the moms. There's nothing special about some thing that everyone can just get. If that's how Alabama does it then it must not be all that special to be in a house and I question how close a "house" of 200 women could be if they take these enormous pledge classes. Furthermore, if there's anyone out there that would think an IU cheerleader would not have a better chance of getting a bid to a house regardless of being present, is living in a dream world. Activities/ resume matter and that will gain big points for houses recruiting girls. I get parents hurt for their kids, but much of what I'm reading is the mentality of "everyone should get a trophy and everyone should get a prize and everyone should win" which is proving to be not very real-world. Lots of competition out there...not everyone is going to get in. That doesn't make the process unfair, it makes it competitive.

I'm offended on so many levels -- particularly for all the sorority members/alumnae who endured those sorority experiences that are "nothing special."

I don't think I've seen anyone in this thread advocate for a system where every PNM gets what they want or even just finds a place. What I see is women who are struggling with a system that places a significantly lower percentage of PNMs than others.

After days of debate, I still haven't heard a compelling explanation of why a system that works on almost every other campus won't work at IU. Lack of off-campus housing options adds an interesting complication, but the students who don't participate in Greek life (either by choice, because they just aren't a good fit for Greek life or because they were "victims" of IU's low quotas) seem to make it work.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by TAMUAlphaPhi

I'm offended on so many levels -- particularly for all the sorority members/alumnae who endured those sorority experiences that are "nothing special."

I don't think I've seen anyone in this thread advocate for a system where every PNM gets what they want or even just finds a place. What I see is women who are struggling with a system that places a significantly lower percentage of PNMs than others.

After days of debate, I still haven't heard a compelling explanation of why a system that works on almost every other campus won't work at IU. Lack of off-campus housing options adds an interesting complication, but the students who don't participate in Greek life (either by choice, because they just aren't a good fit for Greek life or because they were "victims" of IU's low quotas) seem to make it work.

Because there is no compelling explanation. No reason. No evidence. No data.

The posts from Hoosierxgirl and Dtjb confirm what we know to be true. You guys at Indiana want it that way because you are elitist. "We survived, we are the chosen, we are going to perpetuate this system."

As for large - I don't think any of the Indiana chapters are 200+, and total at Arizona is 220 with many chapters at 250+. We've adjusted quite well. There is nothing special about having chapter meetings at a facility. Trust me. It works very well in an on-campus room with all kinds of electronics/technology at the actives' fingertips. And we've learned how to develop our sisterhood, thank you. You could ask us for tips on how to make it work. When we started growing by leaps and bounds, we reached out - to each other on campus as well as to other chapters across the country (think Arkansas, Ole Miss) who are large and who make it work for them.

I am appalled. Shame on you, Indiana actives. Please note I'm not singling out the two who've posted here.

Further, it is the Chapter's responsibility to see that the facility is filled. NOT the House Corporation Board's responsibility! The Chapter needs to figure out how they are going to fill the facility and from the sound of it, that won't be a problem.

[cinder1965]

Originally Posted by AZTheta

Because there is no compelling explanation. No reason. No evidence. No data.

The posts from Hoosierxgirl and Dtjb confirm what we know to be true. You guys at Indiana want it that way because you are elitist. "We survived, we are the chosen, we are going to perpetuate this system."

As for large - I don't think any of the Indiana chapters are 200+, and total at Arizona is 220 with many chapters at 250+. We've adjusted quite well. There is nothing special about having chapter meetings at a facility. Trust me. It works very well in an on-campus room with all kinds of electronics/technology at the actives' fingertips. And we've learned how to develop our sisterhood, thank you. You could ask us for tips on how to make it work. When we started growing by leaps and bounds, we reached out - to each other on campus as well as to other chapters across the country (think Arkansas, Ole Miss) who are large and who make it work for them.

I am appalled. Shame on you, Indiana actives. Please note I'm not singling out the two who've posted here.

Further, it is the Chapter's responsibility to see that the facility is filled. NOT the House Corporation Board's responsibility! The Chapter needs to figure out how they are going to fill the facility and from the sound of it, that won't be a problem.

This.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by Dtjb

Again, all can vent as much as they want but I attended Indiana, participated in the process, and had a fabulous Greek experience. It's an amazing school qnd a great Greek system regardless of the process. I went thru rush not having any connections and not being a legacy and it worked out great for me. I'm tired of hearing all the negative. Sounds to me like unless "all get a bid" it's not going to be fair to the moms. There's nothing special about some thing that everyone can just get. If that's how Alabama does it then it must not be all that special to be in a house and I question how close a "house" of 200 women could be if they take these enormous pledge classes. Furthermore, if there's anyone out there that would think an IU cheerleader would not have a better chance of getting a bid to a house regardless of being present, is living in a dream world. Activities/ resume matter and that will gain big points for houses recruiting girls. I get parents hurt for their kids, but much of what I'm reading is the mentality of "everyone should get a trophy and everyone should get a prize and everyone should win" which is proving to be not very real-world. Lots of competition out there...not everyone is going to get in. That doesn't make the process unfair, it makes it competitive.

Well, that pretty much sums up what most of us have come to believe about the attitude of women in the IU Greek system.

Why any woman who wants to be Greek would ever consider IU is beyond me. There are SO MANY excellent schools with strong Greek systems... Why in the world would you subject yourself to this?

And that Rho Gamma better be reported. I cannot believe she would say something like that.

Actually, I can. This is Indiana, a school I have really lost respect for over the past few years. (No offense to the few women on here from IU who recognize the problems at their school, but wow. What a mess.)

[TennisMom]

Thanks to whomever posted the IU Board of Trustees email address. Here is an excerpt of an email I just sent them.

I am sharing my daughter’s experience with you for one reason. Despite how impressed I’ve been by the KSB and the genuine friendliness and helpfulness of every person I’ve ever spoken with at IU I will share the following message with EVERY prospective young woman I can - DO NOT ENROLL AT IU-Bloomington if you think you MIGHT want to be in a sorority. The process is brutal and a crap shoot. Had I known how limited the number of bids are relative to girls going through recruitment I never would have encouraged my daughter to attend IU. I was not in a sorority but through research I’ve learned that IU’s recruitment process results in far more heartbreak than other other school with comparable PNMs.

Is being in a sorority a right for every college girl? Of course not and you can have a wonderful college experience without being a sister (I’m proof of that!). However, what I do expect from a university is that it will implement processes and procedures that are designed to maximize the opportunities. Providing more sorority housing and changing current recruitment processes would be steps in the right direction. But, until I see evidence of this happening I will be a vocal “BEWARE” voice to any prospective female student. It may be too late for my daughter but I will do my best to alert others to the likely misery awaiting them at IU.

P.S. And while it's not in my excerpt...my email does mention that my daughter is a TWO-TIME casualty of IU recruitment. Even with high grades, strong campus involvement and friends in sororities the process did not end differently this year. I am incredibly proud of my daughter for her resiliency and strength. She understands this isn't the end of the world and other opportunities are available. It's a shame though since other schools seem to have better processes.

[UofISigKap]

Originally Posted by Dtjb

...Sounds to me like unless "all get a bid" it's not going to be fair to the moms. There's nothing special about some thing that everyone can just get. If that's how Alabama does it then it must not be all that special to be in a house...

I respect your right to have an opinion, but I think you're confusing trophies for all vs. matching more women who had friends/connections/people pulling for them but missed the house-selected number cut bythismuch. Someone else posted earlier on that first cut is the same as last cut. The only difference is your house may have actually really wanted the woman first cut. I'm not saying take everyone, because I recognize that not every woman would feel comfortable in every house.

"It must not be all that special to be in a house in Alabama." Nooo, not everyone gets a bid in Alabama either, but they recognize that even their most coveted houses (by whatever standard you want to use) can, and do, take more women they want by using the same quota that the other chapters do. Is the system at Alabama still exclusive? Yes; we wouldn't have as many threads about southern recruitments, teas, letters of rec., etc... if just anyone could strut into their system.

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by Dtjb

Again, all can vent as much as they want but I attended Indiana, participated in the process, and had a fabulous Greek experience. It's an amazing school qnd a great Greek system regardless of the process. I went thru rush not having any connections and not being a legacy and it worked out great for me. I'm tired of hearing all the negative. Sounds to me like unless "all get a bid" it's not going to be fair to the moms. There's nothing special about some thing that everyone can just get. If that's how Alabama does it then it must not be all that special to be in a house and I question how close a "house" of 200 women could be if they take these enormous pledge classes. Furthermore, if there's anyone out there that would think an IU cheerleader would not have a better chance of getting a bid to a house regardless of being present, is living in a dream world. Activities/ resume matter and that will gain big points for houses recruiting girls. I get parents hurt for their kids, but much of what I'm reading is the mentality of "everyone should get a trophy and everyone should get a prize and everyone should win" which is proving to be not very real-world. Lots of competition out there...not everyone is going to get in. That doesn't make the process unfair, it makes it competitive.

That is not a fair assessment of what other campuses do. In other places the system is maximized to place as many qualified women as possible. The problem with IU seems to be that many qualified women go without bids.

Campuses that don't use bed total (ie. just about everybody but IU) still have standards. Our national organizations set standards for academics and character, and chapters often set standards that are above those minimums. PNMs still have to be decent people and have extracurriculars and grades.

I'm not clear how shutting out qualified PNMs makes IU sororities better than sororities in other places.