Indiana University 2014 Recruitment

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by Mom64

I am still so confuse as to why the Greek system which promotes the empowering of women would have such an exclusive selection system at IU. To tell women they are "not good enough" to be in their chapter and for many the entire "Greek system" after meeting most of these women for 45 - 175 minutes is atrocious and reminiscent of middle school attitudes and bullying.

The system at IU probably will not change because those who are accepted into it are made to feel special to be admitted into such an exclusive system. While every PNM may not be a perfect fit for every chapter, with 21 chapters there should be a fit for everyone.

I think part of your post identifies a limitation of recruitments in general - not just IU, and I fear some of that is getting lost in this IU discussion. At any recruitment, members are making invitation decisions based on very limited time and information about the PNMs. That is why there is heartache in every recruitment - even ones that aren't competitive at all. It may be atrocious in your words, but it is the nature of sorority membership selection. It is not bullying. These members are doing the best they can with the resources they have. That is why GCers repeat over and over that personal relationships with sorority members are so crucial, because these relationships increase the amount of information a chapter has about a PNM. It is like having extra recruitment party time beyond those 45-170 minutes.

I hold IU's PanHellenic responsible for the archaic recruitment practices there, and I think it is high time for significant changes to be made. But there won't be a system (*cough* Tufts *cough*) where there is a fit for everyone. Chapters have the right as private organizations to decline membership. In most systems, there is a place for most PNMs. I believe that a change to a quota/total system would achieve this at IU as well.

[AOII Angel]

This is really the last accepted form of Greek hazing. Jump through these hoops and we MAY let you be one of us. ETA: and the survivors perpetuate the system because the feel special for making it through.

[silver_blue]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

This is really the last accepted form of Greek hazing. Jump through these hoops and we MAY let you be one of us. ETA: and the survivors perpetuate the system because the feel special for making it through.

Amen. You hear tones of that in some of the posts from some IU alumnae in this thread. I'm sure they don't mean to come across that way, but I am sick to death of hearing about how they "couldn't imagine not living with their entire chapter" or "having 100 person pledge classes." Stop diminishing/demeaning the greek experience of 99% of other women on this board just because you're a special IU snowflake.

I swear, nothing beyond basketball gets me more riled up than the idiocy of IU's recruitment system.

[pinkmama]

Originally Posted by AOIILisa

I guess I don't understand why this is wrong? Isn't a sister a sister no matter what school she goes to because aren't the ideals for a sorority (and I guess, the selection criteria) the same everywhere?

I know at least one person that did just that - came to my school to become an XYZ then promptly transferred out. And this was 30+ years ago.

When I was at IU we had a transfer from a school on the east coast. She spent about two weeks coming over for dinner, attending events with us and then during chapter we voted on accepting her into our house so I don't think transfers are always accepted. Now granted I don't think anyone voted "no" can't remember but I am sure it could happen.

[AOIILisa]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Most members in competitive greek systems know the score and do not appreciate this kind of scheming to get into a strong chapter. It is gamesmanship. It is one thing to legitimately transfer, but to intentionally rush at a school with an easier path to membership and then transfer to Difficult U is not appreciated. I would add that it shows a lack of respect to the sisters at Easy U.

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

What irishpipes said, plus a move like that completely defeats the purpose of attending a school for an education first and a social life second. It's one thing to join and then decide that you'd like to go to a different school for whatever reason, but deliberately transferring schools solely for the sake of attempting to join a prestigious chapter shows that you have those priorities backwards. Plus it can backfire pretty quickly if a chapter that isn't required to let transfers affiliate with them decides they don't want to take a transfer and leaves the transfer chapter-less.

I guess that makes sense. Bear in mind, I went to school at Easy U so a lot of these recruitment do's and don'ts are all new to me. I'm learning a lot, though, from being here so thanks for answering my question!

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by AOIILisa

I guess that makes sense. Bear in mind, I went to school at Easy U so a lot of these recruitment do's and don'ts are all new to me. I'm learning a lot, though, from being here so thanks for answering my question!

You also went to school way North where this doesn't come up. Come on down South where those are fighting words.

[Lalucas]

the fact that you are shocked that sororities consider frats and party invitations when choosing girls makes the need for my post even more apparent. But no, i am not proud of this but it is a fact of sorority life. If you heard the drunk party/formal stories that I have then you would understand better. And the Greeks that follow this thread could tell you even more. Sure sororities do great philo support(but why would they have to award points for participating if it was thier main focus of joining) but the social aspects are big ie which frat will (or wont pair with you). The other thing that people don't talk about is that certain frats always pair with certain sororities...quite the pecking order. why else do they spend all of this first week parading their new girls to the frats?

Hopeful Mom said....I am just shocked that you said "instead of like girls looking for future roommates and new sisters that will attract the "hot frats" to choose your house for homecoming." and "Philo events are not the main focus of IU sorority girls life... but parties and boys and drinking are. School work and intensive career choices like dance majors are not the emphasis for the sorority life that I see from my daughter and her friends who are all in various sororities at IU." My daughter is gorgeous, and I'm sure everyone thinks their daughter is as well. She knows how to have a good time,

but if she has to prove that she can "get drunk" and party to get into a sorority at IU I think I would rather her not get in. If she got in do you expect her to abstain from all frat events? maybe some girls do... sober drivers are always needed and appreciated by the other girls.

[AOIILisa]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

You also went to school way North where this doesn't come up. Come on down South where those are fighting words.

You're not kidding, it's very laid back there. And once you get out of school, no one even asks or cares what sorority you were in.

[Mom64]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

This is really the last accepted form of Greek hazing. Jump through these hoops and we MAY let you be one of us. ETA: and the survivors perpetuate the system because the feel special for making it through.

It is hazing just look at IU's rush schedule and this year's revised one, the hours in a day are unacceptable. Please do not say the actives had the same schedule. They were in the warmth of their houses, not traveling through freezing temps with high anxiety levels.

For those who make it through, I guess it's acceptable. For the many young women (and there are MANY) who did not get a bid last night having to go to classes today and seeing the many bid shirts today is just another hit to their self-esteem. However, these are the strong women, most holding their heads up high, making alternative plans for next year in terms of housing and social life. They should be applauded.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by Mom64

It is hazing just look at IU's rush schedule and this year's revised one, the hours in a day are unacceptable. Please do not say the actives had the same schedule. They were in the warmth of their houses, not traveling through freezing temps with high anxiety levels.

For those who make it through, I guess it's acceptable. For the many young women (and there are MANY) who did not get a bid having to go to classes today and seeing the many bid shirts today is just another hit to their self-esteem.

I appreciate your pain, but those active are awake most of the night voting and setting up for the next round parties while the PNMs are sleeping. There are difficulties to both sides.

[Lovethesand]

OUCH! As a mom I cringe reading this thread thinking about so many girls who are heartbroken. It just seems to be a very exclusionary process (and long live the process). I feel like "yes, it's not great but better them than me". And I thought my Debbie had a rough recruitment.

Congrats to the girls who found a place.

And to you girls who didn't, please keep your head up, don't let this one event define you or your college experience.

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

This is really the last accepted form of Greek hazing. Jump through these hoops and we MAY let you be one of us. ETA: and the survivors perpetuate the system because the feel special for making it through.

It freaks me out that women can be invited to pref and not get a bid. Pref is such a big deal and so emotional. If you invited her to pref, she's on your bid list somewhere. She qualified. How can you do that to someone that you are willing to have as a sister?

[silver_blue]

Originally Posted by Mom64

For the many young women (and there are MANY) who did not get a bid having to go to classes today and seeing the many bid shirts today is just another hit to their self-esteem.

I debated writing this, but I think I will say it anyway: it's the absolute worst during Little 500. If your daughter is still feeling down and excluded by seeing sorority women everywhere, I would recommend a trip home during that weekend.

I went to the race with 2 other (non-greek) girls on my floor and it was pure torture watching the sororities cheer for their teams in their matching shirts.

[Mom64]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

I appreciate your pain, but those active are awake most of the night voting and setting up for the next round parties while the PNMs are sleeping. There are difficulties to both sides.

Sorry, can't feel that badly for that. Lack of sleep is one thing, the high possibility of rejection is another. The actives can catch up on their sleep when rush is over, the PNMs without a bid have no recourse.

If the actives/chapters don't like the schedule, they have a voice and the possibility to change it.

[silver_blue]

Originally Posted by Griffins&Quills

I feel for the girls, I do. But sorry, unless you've been on the other side of recruitment, you don't really understand what the actives go through. It's a whole different kind of hell.

I'm one of the freaks who loved recruitment, so maybe my opinion is skewed, but PNMs have it SO MUCH WORSE. This is a topic for another thread and nobody is discounting how hard it is for the actives, but especially at IU, nothing is fair for the PNMs.