What aspect of Greek life do you wish was better?

[AGDee]

I went through recruitment in February 1984 and was initiated that April. If I'd had to wait over the summer to get initiated, I don't know that I would have stuck around. That would be really weird. Ours was never longer, really. Fall class finished recruitment in October and we did wait until January to initiate but nothing happened from Thanksgiving through Christmas because of finals and going home so it was more a timing thing. We had to hurry up and initiate in January before the February recruitment.

That said, our chapters have new member meetings a set curriculum for their new member period which prepares them. We have ongoing programming once initiated, until graduation which focuses on various topics throughout their collegiate experience. Our members are still doing things to welcome new members and integrate them into the chapter. Those interviews are not allowed because it set up a situation to make hazing seem really easy and seriously, is that how you welcome people to your group? Make them interview every member? Can you imagine starting a new job and the first task you are given is to interview every member of your department? No, they have a welcome lunch and people come by and introduce themselves and invite you to lunch or break, etc.

I've not seen any changes in retention over the years. Those numbers have been pretty consistent. In chapters where members are happy, they have great retention. Where sisterhood is lacking, they have awful retention.

[AOIILisa]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I went through recruitment in February 1984 and was initiated that April. If I'd had to wait over the summer to get initiated, I don't know that I would have stuck around.

I went through COB in February 1982 and did have to wait till the following September to be initiated (just before formal recruitment started). The wait actually made me better appreciate getting my badge and letters (at that time, we couldn't wear letters till initiated) plus it gave me the time to save up for my blingy badge.

I agree the new member period should be extended - at least more than 6 weeks. That's not enough time to learn anything or even appreciate the organization. Then again, maybe I'm just old and stuck in the past and perhaps the short attention spans of pretty much everyone nowadays (including me) dictates a shorter NM period. I still wish NMs were pledges, too, but that's another topic.

[AnchorAlumna]

OTOH, I see complaints about the fraternity method of rush, at least at my school. There is a formal fraternity rush, but it's a joke. Rush really begins in a guy's high school senior year, when he's invited to various fraternity parties.
Things intensify in the spring and especially summer, which essentially seems to be one long rush party at the fraternity houses. Guys are invited all summer long and bids tend to be issued, off and on, toward the end of summer.
Many fraternities have their pledge class lined up well before classes start.
Kids coming in from out of state (last year's freshman class was 62% OOS) haven't a clue about the process. It forces kids to start off by choosing which fraternities they interested in (often with no knowledge other than the often obsolete website) to contact. They HOPE for invitations, but don't know if they'll get any...it's just a mess.

At least with sororities, everybody visits every chapter at least once, plus the recommendation gives the sororities a preview of PNMs.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by AOIILisa

I went through COB in February 1982 and did have to wait till the following September to be initiated (just before formal recruitment started). The wait actually made me better appreciate getting my badge and letters (at that time, we couldn't wear letters till initiated) plus it gave me the time to save up for my blingy badge.

I agree the new member period should be extended - at least more than 6 weeks. That's not enough time to learn anything or even appreciate the organization. Then again, maybe I'm just old and stuck in the past and perhaps the short attention spans of pretty much everyone nowadays (including me) dictates a shorter NM period. I still wish NMs were pledges, too, but that's another topic.

Curious then- did you get initiated before Fall rush? Or were you not able to participate? And was there anything that happened over the summer?

We were allowed to wear letters from day one, even back in 1984.

[jolene]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Curious then- did you get initiated before Fall rush? Or were you not able to participate? And was there anything that happened over the summer?

We were allowed to wear letters from day one, even back in 1984.

Same here. We just couldn't wear anything with the crest on it.

To BackOwlsGirl's point, I wish the NPC orgs were more like NPHC ones in that way.

[AOIILisa]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Curious then- did you get initiated before Fall rush? Or were you not able to participate? And was there anything that happened over the summer?

We were allowed to wear letters from day one, even back in 1984.

Yup, we were initiated just before recruitment, I want to say it was the first week of school. Nothing happened over the summer - everyone kind of scattered to their homes to work or do whatever. UMaine is in the middle of the state so unless you live in Orono or Bangor, you most likely won't be going there in the middle of the summer!

It was fine, though, it made me appreciate getting initiated and I'm pretty sure I wore my letters as much as I possibly could once I got them. Now our rules have changed and new members can wear letters right away. I am actually now not sure if this was a "nationals" thing or a "just my chapter" thing.