Indiana University 2014 Recruitment

[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.

[Lalucas]

First here is my situation/outlook on all of this... I have a daughter who is already in a sorority at IU... we have discussed the wackiness of the live out policies? how it limits how many can pledge, how some house do it and others don't.

1. She tells me that she and her friend have no say in the policies.. I say it must come up for a vote and she says no. She doesn't know who or win it gets decided but is sure seems like it is not a referendum from the members because the rank and file is not discussing it at hers.

2. Most of her friends would like to live out as seniors..most of them belong to sororities that even if they officially allow it... don't let it happen much or not at all.

3. the members work very hard during rush and many of them get frustrated too, and they can't even tell their mothers how it really works. But I do believe that if you aren't already "in" with a group that you have a very very uphill battle to get in.

4. Even in the around 40 size pledge classes all the girls don't end up best friends with everyone.. there are still girls they like better than others and some they don't like at all. The pledge class doesn't even really meet until that first bid nite as even in 3 party they are spread out among 4 parties.

5. PNM's have a whole semester to make an impression and stand out to a house... waiting until the actual events and thinking that will work out well is naive. that said I think the lack of pre-recruitment activities will prove out to be a bigger deal than anticipated. But I'm not sure in which way... more openness to new faces or more reliance on prior friends and connections.

and lastly from a $$$$$ point of view...it is my understanding that Greek alumni donations are very high especially in proportion to their numbers...so keeping them happy may be an incentive to the University admin. and the ones that are Greek got in the "old bad way"

I look forward to any discussions my post provokes.

Good luck to all - parents and girls with tomorrow. I too remember the stress of this night and the long day tomorrow waiting for that phone call from our daughters.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Lalucas

5. PNM's have a whole semester to make an impression and stand out to a house... waiting until the actual events and thinking that will work out well is naive. that said I think the lack of pre-recruitment activities will prove out to be a bigger deal than anticipated. But I'm not sure in which way... more openness to new faces or more reliance on prior friends and connections.

I have worked with chapters in my volunteer role at schools that have deferred recruitment (recruitment in spring semester) and many girls underestimate the importance of that first semester. It is a make or break.

There's a lot of "I just don't know why they dropped me, I have a 4.0, am cute, and cured cancer!" that goes on with IU PNMs. That PNM fails to realize that the chapter that dropped her can only take 40 women and in most cases, likely already HAD a good idea of who they were interested in by December.

Sure, there are some chapters that have some wiggle room with numbers. The ones that can take more and would be likely to give a PNM they've never met a closer look.

But generally, the chapters for whom every PNM is like "omg I just have to be an XYZ or I will die!" have VERY limited spots. They have to go into recruitment with some sort of an idea of who they are interested in because numbers-wise, they need to start making the cuts somewhere. And most of the time, every member has like 2 or 3 women they already know and love going into recruitment. In a chapter of say, 150, if everyone has 2 women that they love, that's 300 women. Then think about the fact that that chapter only has say, 60 spots. You can see that as the "wild card" PNM who has zero relationships with sorority women before recruitment, your chances at an invite here are slim.

[33girl]

Re lalucas's #3, remember that (per an earlier thread) chapters at IU DO use RFM. As hard as that is for chapters for whom quota is a fluid thing - imagine doing that PLUS knowing you have a fixed number of spots to fill. With that double pressure, of course it's going to be girls who already know members who are kept on the party lists.

[Katmandu]

Number 5.

First semester activities are crucial for any school with deferred recruitment. Being cute, smart and anonymous is not going to get you a participation trophy in competitive recruitments.

[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

[pinkmama]

Also to refer back to the IU cheerleader conversation. One cheerleader is a member of One of the unhoused chapters so pnms who heard that can't always assume they will be "top tier"

[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

[Thetaphimom]

Okay I have read all the blogs and I can no longer sit back and listen to the negative comments about the un- housed sororities. I am actually a mother of a daughter in the theta phi sorority. My daughter like all of yours thought she would get in "a house" she had all the rec letters, was a h.s. cheerleader, a national honor society student , is beautiful, etc..... Just like all of yours.

Well she got a bid from theta phi. Was she disappointed at first - yes, but I will never forget the line she said to me when I said are you going to drop out? She said, MOM, I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT GIRL, I AM NOT TOO GOOD TO GIVE IT A TRY! Proud moment for me!

Well, she LOVES it ! Most of the girls live in the same apartment complex, they pair with all the frats, they have chapter every Sunday, they have semi and formals, moms weekend was a blast as was dads weekend, etc etc......they didn't miss a beat, and furthermore because they are still establishing Panhellenic is very helpful and goes above and beyond to make sure they look great. Lets see, they had tshirts and all ordered converse for their 21 and 14 party. Only one other house matched shoes. They all ordered the same dress in three different style for three party! I could go on and on...... They are a fabulous bunch of girls! And, don't sit around and judge all the other houses.

Remember it is not about the mansion you live in, it is about the sisterhood and friends you make that last a lifetime.

So those of you that have daughters invited back that might be lucky enough to get a bid, don't be too upset when they call you and tell you they are very happy.

1900 girls went to 975 went to 350 went to 55. Good luck. Just remember while your daughter is crying , there will be approximately 1000 girls that will get nothing and won't be wearing any letters tonight. So those of you saying no one went to their parties 350 did!

How about we encourage these young women and stop being so judgmental!!!

Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle!

And might I add Miss Greek was just crowned from her sorority ( what many of you sadly believe is below your daughters ) one of the cheerleaders in Orlando winning the national championship is in her sorority and an executive board member for iu is in her sorority and I could go on and on. I am just appalled that many of you moms think your daughters are better than all of these girls, including mine. Shame on you!

[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.

[Sciencewoman]

Bid Day is here, and I want to support what Thetaphimom has posted.

I've been reluctant to share this story, but now seems like a good time. My daughter went through recruitment "on the other side" a couple weeks ago. She was so excited to see the girl she preffed on the bid list. She was assigned to welcome this new member with her bid day bling, and she had visions of hugs, squeals, etc. in her mind. Well, guess who was the only one not to show up for Bid Day? How sad and disappointing to be rejected like that. She said she was standing there, looking for the girl, and then had to turn in her bling to the Bid Day coordinator. Fortunately, this new member reconsidered and accepted her bid the next day, but I think it's going to take my daughter some time to warm up to her again. All sororities offer opportunities for socialization, life-long involvement, and sisterly support during the college years.

[GratefulGramma]

What time do the girls get their bids? I've been following along, and I am nervous/excited right along with them!

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by Thetaphimom

Was she disappointed at first - yes, but I will never forget the line she said to me when I said are you going to drop out?

Originally Posted by Thetaphimom

I am just appalled that many of you moms think your daughters are better than all of these girls, including mine. Shame on you!

I am so happy that your daughter and so many other young ladies are having a great experience in Theta Phi. However, before you chastise these moms, remember that last year you yourself asked your daughter if she was going to drop out when she got a bid to Theta Phi. People involved in this process are swept up in the emotion and chaos, and can't be expected to know your daughter's experience. They are still processing very raw feelings.