Delta Gamma Eliminates Legacy Policy

[shirley1929]

Disclaimer - not a DG, but a member of another NPC that I'm sure is watching and paying attention.

So, I totally get eliminating the courtesy invitation to an invitational round - I'm sure there are schools where there are SO many DG legacies, that there are great girls that are having to be cut because there aren't enough party invites for that first invitational round.

What I don't get is taking a legacy all the way to pref (where they WILL be on your bid list, so you want them...if you didn't you would have cut them before pref) and then not protecting them from getting a bid if they want it. I'm sure chapters will do this internally anyway (at least I'm guessing they will) but it just seems like poking a hornets nest to NOT protect them at that point. Can someone explain why that's a good idea to string a legacy along...?

Also, I agree with whoever said that DG should eliminate the mandatory RIF/REC requirement for membership. That seems to be the biggest barrier - SO many people who's families didn't do this before them have NO understanding of the process (even as many of us try to help them). It just seems like that's a bigger barrier to membership.

I should also add, I really liked what DGAlumna said - made me think about it in a different way.

[UVASquirrel]

Originally Posted by shirley1929

Disclaimer - not a DG, but a member of another NPC that I'm sure is watching and paying attention.

Also, I agree with whoever said that DG should eliminate the mandatory RIF/REC requirement for membership. That seems to be the biggest barrier - SO many people who's families didn't do this before them have NO understanding of the process (even as many of us try to help them). It just seems like that's a bigger barrier to membership.

I agree with this. I think that more than anything else, a lack of a recommendation (at the schools where it really matters) is probably the kiss of death. Eliminating the recommendation process would certainly level the playing field on those campuses and would also be a great first step for any NPC group that isn't willing to yet change their legacy policy.

[carnation]

Here is how the rec system has helped many chapters--

Not by saying, "Miss Elizabeth Snootley has made her debut and will make you proud by marrying a fine and rich man right out of college." If a chapter is that kind of chapter, they know about that girl anyway.

It helps to introduce us to people who are not on the radar. Teachers, for instance, have alerted us to some fabulous PNMs who were, say, from small high schools or from out of state.

It also alerts us to people who could get our chapters in big trouble...girls who might make a racist video or go off and privately haze some pledges (that actually happens, no idea why). Or otherwise make us bad, usually with social media.

Actually, many NPC groups quietly dropped the rec requirement several years ago, and not due to anyone's "demands".

[GoldenAnchor]

Originally Posted by UVASquirrel

I agree with this. I think that more than anything else, a lack of a recommendation (at the schools where it really matters) is probably the kiss of death. Eliminating the recommendation process would certainly level the playing field on those campuses and would also be a great first step for any NPC group that isn't willing to yet change their legacy policy.

I think many Delta Gamma’s agree with you on this one, and this change does not mean they won’t be pushing for changes with regards to recommendation letters. The difference here (and reason that one was changed first) is that the legacy policy is just a policy and Council can change policies relatively easily as is their right as our elected representatives. The recommendation letter issue is not based in a policy and must be approached differently and will take much longer to accomplish.

To elaborate on that directly from a comment EO made:

“Hi, in response to your question:

There has been discussion at Delta Gamma regarding our current Constitutional requirement to receive a Recommendation Form for a Delta Gamma prior to pledging as it relates to removing barriers for membership.

Unlike polices, Constitutional changes must be made by the Convention body and follow a series of steps in order for any recommendation changes to be discussed and voted upon. While the deadline has passed to propose Constitutional changes for next week’s Convention, Delta Gamma will continue to follow NPC guidance on finding ways to reduce the barriers for membership.”

[UVASquirrel]

Originally Posted by GoldenAnchor

There has been discussion at Delta Gamma regarding our current Constitutional requirement to receive a Recommendation Form for a Delta Gamma prior to pledging as it relates to removing barriers for membership.

Unlike polices, Constitutional changes must be made by the Convention body and follow a series of steps in order for any recommendation changes to be discussed and voted upon. While the deadline has passed to propose Constitutional changes for next week’s Convention, Delta Gamma will continue to follow NPC guidance on finding ways to reduce the barriers for membership.”

Yeah..I get that as Alpha Gam is voting on 4 changes to ours right now, but luckily, I don't see anything in our Constitution regarding recommendations. It may be in our Membership Handbook, but that doesn't require a vote to amend. So, easier process I guess for us to just eliminate the requirement, assuming a requirement exists. I'm fairly certain that not all of our chapters require them. I could be wrong. But, I never had a recommendation. They weren't a "thing" at my campus back in the late 80's. If they were, I was totally unaware of it. Of course, I was a charter member of my chapter, so maybe they were required, but not if you were part of the charter class.

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by shirley1929

Disclaimer - not a DG, but a member of another NPC that I'm sure is watching and paying attention.

So, I totally get eliminating the courtesy invitation to an invitational round - I'm sure there are schools where there are SO many DG legacies, that there are great girls that are having to be cut because there aren't enough party invites for that first invitational round.

What I don't get is taking a legacy all the way to pref (where they WILL be on your bid list, so you want them...if you didn't you would have cut them before pref) and then not protecting them from getting a bid if they want it. I'm sure chapters will do this internally anyway (at least I'm guessing they will) but it just seems like poking a hornets nest to NOT protect them at that point. Can someone explain why that's a good idea to string a legacy along...?

Also, I agree with whoever said that DG should eliminate the mandatory RIF/REC requirement for membership. That seems to be the biggest barrier - SO many people who's families didn't do this before them have NO understanding of the process (even as many of us try to help them). It just seems like that's a bigger barrier to membership.

I should also add, I really liked what DGAlumna said - made me think about it in a different way.

Can someone answer my question in bold? I'm genuinely curious as to why that's a good idea (I'm trying to be objective)?

Because this was done seemingly "under the table" and with terrible timing I get why it's left a bad taste in many peoples mouths. But I'm trying to understand it all...

[carnation]

I agree with shirley on this.