Indiana University 2014 Recruitment

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by Mom64

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.

With all due respect and kindness of intent - the actives are also feeling the pain of rejection. Believe me, if you have ever sat through membership selection (as most of the alumnae posting here have) you understand exactly what I'm talking about.

As for transfers - another additional factor is this: the transfer may not fit with the chapter! Yes we went through the same initiation, but the culture at MIT or Yale is quite different from that at Arizona. The student populations vary from campus to campus.

Here's my solution: IU goes to a quota/total system. ALL chapters must bid to total or risk consequences from their headquarters. Poof! Stigma is gone e.g. ABC took 57, EFG took 25 - so EFG is much more selective - NOT ANY MORE. What a concept, huh?

And I agree with AOII Angel's comment.

[Sister Havana]

Originally Posted by pinkmama

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.

I know of at least one time where it did happen at IU. One of my housemates junior year (mid-90s) transferred to IU from another school in-state where she had joined a sorority that also has a chapter at IU. She too went to many events with the IU chapter, but they ultimately voted not to let her affiliate with that chapter. She was really upset!

(Although it was somewhat of an unusual situation - she had had a baby at a very young age, and that child was being raised by her mother while my housemate was at school, and the members of the chapter found out about this - can't remember if it was because she told them or if someone just discovered it - and voted not to accept her because of that. That's what she told the rest of the housemates, at least - needless to say we were all shocked too since we had no idea!)

She did still wear letters after that, though - guessing she just had to take early alumna status.

[Titchou]

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.

Yes, it used to be done - esp in the South where Susie had no chance to be an AAA at Big State U so she went to tiny state college and pledge AAA and then transferred to Big State U. These smaller institutions actually have a name associated with this - it's a "feeder school" because they feed additional members to the bigger school. Very frowned upon now....

[silver_blue]

Originally Posted by AZTheta

Here's my solution: IU goes to a quota/total system. ALL chapters must bid to total or risk consequences from their headquarters. Poof! Stigma is gone e.g. ABC took 57, EFG took 25 - so EFG is much more selective - NOT ANY MORE. What a concept, huh?

Everyone send this to PHA, I don't understand why IU actives can't get this through their heads.

I went to an SEC school and our recruitment is NOTHING compared to IU.

[pinkmama]

Unfortunately this is something that happens in life- Just like not getting into a college you have your heart set on maybe you had the grades but maybe your essay wasn't up to the test etc. , went out for the cheer squad or dance team and didn't make the cut. In all honesty it happens. The new sorority is having interviews and Those bidless girls should be arranging their interviews. Don't have a house-so want because who says that of their daughter does rush next year she may not get a bid then and then she is really screwed Bc then there are no other options. So I highly recommend all the girls who don't have bids to go and see what the new sorority is about.
The house is fun to live in but it's not always a blast- no privacy, can't really eat when you want/assigned meals and meal times etc. sleeping in a room with others gets old real fast with alarm clocks/wake ups/drunks etc.

The grass isn't always greener on the other side that's for sure.

[Griffins&Quills]

Oh, I think it's a crappy process from both sides. At the end of the week it (usually) is very happy though, and makes it worth it. Just saying that there's a lot of behind the scenes stuff that actives go through, that really sucks. Can we say spirit (work) week?

[silver_blue]

Originally Posted by Griffins&Quills

Can we say spirit (work) week?

THE WORST WEEK.

[Griffins&Quills]

Originally Posted by silver_blue

THE WORST WEEK.

Exactly. That's what I'm talking about.

[Griffins&Quills]

And I feel for these girls, I do, but how many of these girls who attended pref didn't maximize their options. I've seen a lot of Sally PNM suicided this chapter, and Susy PNM wrote down 2 of her 3, in this thread. IU or not, that still affects bid matching....

[silver_blue]

Originally Posted by Griffins&Quills

And I feel for these girls, I do, but how many of these girls who attended pref didn't maximize their options. I've seen a lot of Sally PNM suicided this chapter, and Susy PNM wrote down 2 of her 3, in this thread. IU or not, that still affects bid matching....

We talked about this a few pages ago, there are lots and lots of women (think hundreds) who maximize their options and still go bidless at IU. This isn't a school with normal quota.

I agree with you typically at any other school, but at IU there are so many PNMs who do all the things Greek Chat recommends and still end up bidless and that's why we really think something needs to change.

[Griffins&Quills]

Oh true. I'm not talking about the girls who did maximize their options, put down all the chapters they went to and still ended up bidless, that I don't agree with, that's definitely an IU problem. I'm just talking about the girls who didn't maximize their options. Also, at that point, what does it hurt. You've signed a bid card and are bound to the bid regardless of whether you accept or not. You could always a) reject the bid if it's absolutely not what you want, or b) give it a try, and see how it goes.

[33girl]

I still never got an answer to the question I asked re the shortened schedule from this year. Was this solely Panhellenic's call, i.e. they could have elected to postpone rush or extend it into another week, or were they told by the administration "Weather sucks. We don't care. You have till the end of this week for rush. Make it work."

[ChioLu]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I still never got an answer to the question I asked re the shortened schedule from this year. Was this solely Panhellenic's call, i.e. they could have elected to postpone rush or extend it into another week, or were they told by the administration "Weather sucks. We don't care. You have till the end of this week for rush. Make it work."

Who's on IU administration??? Tim Gunn!

[Maman]

Originally Posted by silver_blue

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.

Yep. Every PNM should prepare their story about touring the Amalfi Coast via bike or cycling through Death Valley with thier 'aunt' who just beat cancer during the summer prior to Freshman year.

Totally joking!!!

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Does anyone know about historical numbers of IU PNM's? Indiana was on my radar when I was selecting a school back in the late 90's, and I don't remember hearing that it was especially competitive, but I was also totally clueless on this type of thing. Has the bed rush always been a disaster, or was there a time when 1000 PNM's were rushing, and it made *some* sense that the chapters with bigger physical houses took more women?

Yes, it's been historically this dysfunctional/competitive. It was when I was there in the late 80s early 90s. It was like that when my parents' friends were there in the 70s.

Originally Posted by Iu mom

This is so sad. My daughters rho gam has called (not texted) to check on her and take her to dinner. She is just as confused she said as my daughter. Sadly we love all the other aspects of IU - her major and the campus - it's just this situation. She will keep her chin up and be sure to attend sorority open events- she just found out that a house she loved took 36 legacies which was almost their whole class. My sorority didn't honor her as a legacy...

What an awesome Rho Gam!! Such a sweet gesture. I hope that cheers her up a little.

Originally Posted by Katmandu

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.


And for a potential member to tell the un-housed chapters that they are "not good enough" just because they are un-housed after meeting them for 45-75 minutes is also atrocious and reminiscent of middle school attitudes and bullying. You are angry and hurt, but formal recruitment consists of each side making snap decisions after brief parties. In fact, a 45 minute party is long in comparison to many.

In competitive recruitments, most, if not all of the potential members are pretty, smart, active and accomplished. That makes them average in the pool. We all agree, IU is a difficult situation, but no one is telling the PNMs they are not good enough. In fact many of the girls who went bidless could well have active members who were pulling for them and deeply saddened that they didn't end up high enough on the bid list and come running to the house on Bid Night.

Exactly. How did these women decide that they couldn't live without the typical experience without ever having lived in a chapter house in the first place? Who can say that one of the unhoused chapters won't get a house in the next 2-3 years? And in the mean time, they might be missing out on some pretty good friendships.

Originally Posted by silver_blue

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.

I am NOT one of those IU alumnae who believe that you must live in all three years to have THE experience. I pledged my sophomore year through COB and already had signed a lease. I lived out my junior year, then moved in my senior year. I was miserable. I had only shared a room for my freshman year at IU and I could not handle it. As an admitted clothes horse, I had zero closet spaced and bribed someone to let me use part of the largest closet in the house. HATED it. I was much happier my junior year when my parents bought a meal plan so I could eat lunch there every day and three dinners a week. I believe you can most certainly have strong sisterhood and not live in a house for the duration of your college career. I experience it still to this day. Some of my sisters are still among my closest friends.

Originally Posted by ChioLu

Who's on IU administration??? Tim Gunn!

I love love love this. Tim Gunn is the best! Can you picture him being a Rho Gam... "Make it work ladies. Make it work!"

Whew!