Overheard at Starbucks today....

33girl · #1 09-20-2014, 01:04 PM

It's stuff like this that makes me think that maybe we should get rid of recs and legacies, period.

I understand that the original concept was to introduce women you knew to the sorority you loved because both would benefit - the sorority would get a girl you knew was awesome and the girl would get the sisterhood that contributed so much to your life. But somewhere along the way, it seems like the whole thing got corrupted.

Maybe this is another "I'm not a mom" thing, but I can't imagine being mad at my chapter because 20 years after I was in it, they didn't like a girl I was related to or that I liked. Heck, when I was IN school there were girls I was friends with and loved dearly that my sisters couldn't stand. That doesn't mean I threw a tantrum and acted like she "deserved" membership just because she knew me.

If you can't find friends on your own merits, are they really your friends at all?

ASTalumna06 · #2 09-20-2014, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

It's stuff like this that makes me think that maybe we should get rid of recs and legacies, period.

I understand that the original concept was to introduce women you knew to the sorority you loved because both would benefit - the sorority would get a girl you knew was awesome and the girl would get the sisterhood that contributed so much to your life. But somewhere along the way, it seems like the whole thing got corrupted.

Maybe this is another "I'm not a mom" thing, but I can't imagine being mad at my chapter because 20 years after I was in it, they didn't like a girl I was related to or that I liked. Heck, when I was IN school there were girls I was friends with and loved dearly that my sisters couldn't stand. That doesn't mean I threw a tantrum and acted like she "deserved" membership just because she knew me.

If you can't find friends on your own merits, are they really your friends at all?

I completely agree, at least on the legacy part. I can kind of see both sides of the rec argument (but only in ridiculously huge recruitments do I think they should be utilized).

As for legacies, there are simply too many now. Heck, there are just too many PNMs in general. Too many PNMs + RFM = chapters wondering how they're going to cut so many PNMs = cutting PNMs who are legacies to other chapters. We've seen it happen. In some cases, it's detrimental to an open-minded legacy who wants to explore all of her options.

And of course, there are now so many legacies that in some cases, even if a chapter's entire pledge class was made of legacies, they still wouldn't fit them all in. And maybe that chapter gave a bid to the open-minded PNM who ultimately felt at home at a different chapter, and the PNM who desperately wanted in (and whose mom is going to be pissed) didn't get a bid.

And while I don't want to start a North vs South war, I think the idea of doing away with legacy status would be met with much more resistance in the south than it would in the north.

Titchou · #3 09-20-2014, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

And while I don't want to start a North vs South war, I think the idea of doing away with legacy status would be met with much more resistance in the south than it would in the north.

That would be true.

SydneyK · #4 09-20-2014, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

It's stuff like this that makes me think that maybe we should get rid of recs and legacies, period.

I've thought this before, but I suspect the rec/legacy tradition has such a tight grip that even talking about putting an end to it would cause an uproar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I completely agree, at least on the legacy part. I can kind of see both sides of the rec argument (but only in ridiculously huge recruitments do I think they should be utilized).

Interesting - I've thought exactly the opposite. Since it seems that the purpose recs serve at ridiculously huge recruitments is often to separate those who know which hoops to jump through from those who don't, I'm not sure that's a good reason to continue using them. But at smaller schools, where recs are used as actual introductions/character-vouchers, I can see a real benefit to them.

Either way, I doubt it'll make a difference. I don't see the rec or legacy practice changing any time soon.

ADqtPiMel · #5 09-20-2014, 04:40 PM

I wonder if this is the school I think it is based on where you are and the status of DG/Chi O. If so, recs aren't even common there.

Benzgirl · #6 09-20-2014, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

I wonder if this is the school I think it is based on where you are and the status of DG/Chi O. If so, recs aren't even common there.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner.

1964Alum · #7 09-20-2014, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

I wonder if this is the school I think it is based on where you are and the status of DG/Chi O. If so, recs aren't even common there.

Actually, it is a matter of NATIONAL policies that some GLOs require a rec to pledge their organizations. Recs are absolutely necessary regardless of the school.

ASTalumna06 · #8 09-20-2014, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1964Alum

Actually, it is a matter of NATIONAL policies that some GLOs require a rec to pledge their organizations. Recs are absolutely necessary regardless of the school.

Which is why she said...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

I wonder if this is the school I think it is based on where you are and the status of DG/Chi O. If so, recs aren't even common there.

… instead of saying that they're not needed at all

Regardless, the point is that recs aren't the be-all and end-all of a successful recruitment.

MysticCat · #9 09-20-2014, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Which is why she said...

… instead of saying that they're not needed at all

And haven't some NPCers said before that on some campuses, chapters basically take care of getting recs for all New Members, often with the New Members knowing nothing about it?

DGTess · #10 09-21-2014, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

As for legacies, there are simply too many now. Heck, there are just too many PNMs in general. Too many PNMs + RFM = chapters wondering how they're going to cut so many PNMs = cutting PNMs who are legacies to other chapters. We've seen it happen. In some cases, it's detrimental to an open-minded legacy who wants to explore all of her options.

Doesn't that logic call in to question the other point I see here often, namely that if you can't find friends in a chapter of 300 or more, maybe sorority life isn't for you?