Indiana University 2014 Recruitment

[Mom64]

Originally Posted by 33girl

^^^^you are completely missing my point.

My point is that this or that group is being criticized for taking too few women. With the current system, they're doing what they're supposed to do. I doubt that ZTA just decided this week to allow senior live-outs and compel the chapter to take more members than the norm for the current system. I mean people are acting like these chapters should have woken up today and changed everything because of a thread on Greek Chat. This rush was a mess because of the missed party date and the time to think about changes is when everyone is calmed down from rush, NOT in the middle of it.

This rush was a mess... guess it's too bad for all those women who counted on the powers that be to adapt and figure out a rush schedule that wouldn't be a mess rather than cutting a party.

Time to think about changes?? From the postings here, it seems this has been going on for decades at IU. Bottom Line, no one wants anything to change. The IU Greeks should be ashamed of themselves and chapters in other schools should tell them such. The IU Greek system is a huge blemish on the nationwide Greek system.

[Katmandu]

In no greek system except for one, do all women who register have happy outcomes or self determine their ending. In every system, there are heartbreaks and bad outcomes. But ascribing deliberate malice, using loaded words, such as "bullying", and "hazing" is going too far in my opinion. Most people agree this particular system is flawed, but even if changed there will still be girls who go bidless or feel hurt, and sororities still have the right to invite, not invite, and rank and select members according to their own reasons.

I would be interested in knowing how many of the bidless women maximized their options and how many left off one or more chnpters from their final card. Maybe none, but I suspect more than a few.

It was striking to me how much all of the new members looked alike....really, really, alike.

[suzy88]

Some missed my point. Yes, I do get that these young women are not trying to hurt others. However, this system does just that. I have freshman and junior daughters at this university, I know many, many wonderful young women in sororities at IU, I meant the organization, not the individual women. Does the organization hold any responsibility for what happens with their own rush? If not, who does?

[Justhere]

Why do we want our daughters to rush at IU? I've been looking at the threads here and trying to figure out the process because my daughter wants to rush next year there. Given that this has been going on for years and doesn't seem to be getting any better why should we encourage our daughters to rush here? It must be a good experience for those lucky enough to get in but given what it does to so many women emotionally it appears to border on abuse....I know I'll get slammed for that but that is my perception on the outside looking in. Why does the University allow its students to be treated this way? I hear people saying the university has no say in it but can't the administration say....open up to more students or leave? No offense to all the wonderful sorority women on this site as there appear to be many. But perhaps IU would be better off without a Greek system if they are so against change? Let the tomatoe throwing begin. My daughter will do as she wants but I am re-evaluating my support. Any other University I would say go for it, but I'm struggling to justify my support of joining an organization that not only allows this to happen but structures it to ensure it happens. I know this isn't a popular view but I think you can all relate to my position. Thank you.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Mom64

The IU Greeks should be ashamed of themselves and chapters in other schools should tell them such. The IU Greek system is a huge blemish on the nationwide Greek system.

In reality, nobody really cares outside of IU and us greekchat addicts. Most NPC members don't understand quota/total at their OWN schools, let alone give a hoot what IU is doing.

[ZTAIUalum]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I understand that people are upset. I am so sorry that there are women who did not get bids.

However, it is quite the accusation to put on 18-22 year olds to say that they are "destroying and demoralizing young women." We've said in here before that this is likely a university issue, not something that the women themselves can change.

Again, I get that folks are upset. But no collegian goes into recruitment thinking "yes, let's DESTROY some self-esteem!"

You are correct! I wholeheartedly agree. Emotions run high when a loved one or oneself is hurt. No one does this with malice...

[DubaiSis]

They don't need to feel ASHAMED. There is room between shame and completely upending the system they know, love and trust. I think a continued discussion with the current active chapter members would be helpful to institute small changes. The part that is tough for them, for everyone to figure out is how much change how quickly. If the rumor was true about a few more chapters instituting change to allow seniors to live out, it doesn't surprise me that it wouldn't apply to the current year's juniors. These girls didn't join with that as part of their plan. But I do hope it IS true and that future classes will have that as part of the plan. However, that's family business and the rest of us don't need to know until it affects us directly, which is to say when they choose to add some additional new members during future rushes.

Anyone have any feedback on initial visits with the DPhiE folks? It sounds like they certainly have a quality pool from which to draw. For the mothers out there, do keep in mind that colonies want all 4 years represented so even though the colony might take 200 girls, maybe only 100 of them might be freshmen. It's not exactly quarters (they probably DON'T need 50 seniors using this example), but it's not all going to be the freshmen who were just disappointed. It may even be girls who have never rushed. This goes back to not assuming anything about member selection. It's private and their reasoning may not make any sense to you. And by the way, I have no idea how many members they are planning on taking. I'm just guessing at 200 because that seems like a good number to me.

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

In reality, nobody really cares outside of IU and us greekchat addicts. Most NPC members don't understand quota/total at their OWN schools, let alone give a hoot what IU is doing.

Great answer! I cannot believe this thread has over 64,700 views right now. Unbelievable.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Katmandu

In no greek system except for one, do all women who register have happy outcomes or self determine their ending. In every system, there are heartbreaks and bad outcomes. But ascribing deliberate malice, using loaded words, such as "bullying", and "hazing" is going too far in my opinion. Most people agree this particular system is flawed, but even if changed there will still be girls who go bidless or feel hurt, and sororities still have the right to invite, not invite, and rank and select members according to their own reasons.

This.

[suzy88]

My older daughter did not get a bid in the 2011-12 rush at IU. It was an awful, crushing experience for her. That was her freshman experience. If I had to do it over, I would have sent her to school elsewhere, it would have been better for her, and she agrees. However, she stuck it out at IU. I discouraged my younger daughter from rushing, but left the choice to her. She got her bid yesterday. It really depends on the young women, how much she wants to attend IU and how important sorority membership is to her. If it is very important, I would recommend another school. Both my younger daughter and I felt she could handle the disappointment of this experience if she did not get a bid. At this point, it makes me sick to see the disappointment of some of her friends, however.

[Iu mom]

Originally Posted by Katmandu

In no greek system except for one, do all women who register have happy outcomes or self determine their ending. In every system, there are heartbreaks and bad outcomes. But ascribing deliberate malice, using loaded words, such as "bullying", and "hazing" is going too far in my opinion. Most people agree this particular system is flawed, but even if changed there will still be girls who go bidless or feel hurt, and sororities still have the right to invite, not invite, and rank and select members according to their own reasons.

I would be interested in knowing how many of the bidless women maximized their options and how many left off one or more chnpters from their final card. Maybe none, but I suspect more than a few.

It was striking to me how much all of the new members looked alike....really, really, alike.

My daughter completely maximized. She wanted to leave nothing to chance except of course the numbers game. And yes all look alike picture after picture

[Mom64]

Bottom Line: Most everyone agrees that the Greek system at IU is seriously flawed but there is very little that can done to change it and very little chance any big changes will occur in the near future.

So, it seems, if you have a daughter is set on being Greek, discourage them from attending IU despite the strong academic program.

[SRBlue]

My daughter was lucky and did get a bid, but she and I both feel badly for the many girls who would have been wonderful additions to the Greek system who did not get a bid. IU Mom, it must be doubly tough for you being so far away. I have shed a few tears for your daughter.

I am grateful for this forum in that it spurred me to call a dear sorority sister I rushed with and reminisce about our own rush. I remember it being fun. We both remember that we felt we were choosing, not being chosen but that was another era. My daughter will likely remember hers being stressful, not fun.

I did not attend IU but was in a new unhoused colony (that has a housed chapter at IU.) It was a wonderfully fun experience. We had an off campus apartment where 4 girls lived. We met there for meetings and just to have fun and work on projects. We were a diverse group but loved each other and had fun bonding experiences. I am sure the IU unhoused chapter pledges will have the same.

[*winter*]

Out of curiosity, do the "unhoused" chapters have any sort of community dorm space? Is this something that may be offered in the future?

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by *winter*

Out of curiosity, do the "unhoused" chapters have any sort of community dorm space? Is this something that may be offered in the future?

Yes- at least one of the have a block of apartments and use the community room of the complex as a chapter room of sorts.