Phi Sigma Sigma discontinues legacy policy.

[shadokat]

OK, so I went to Phi Sigma Sigma's website to hopefully understand WHY eliminating this legacy policy is so prudent for NPC organizations. And again, the explanation is that

"continuing to offer any preferential treatment perpetuates and upholds a system of privilege within our membership and does not meet our responsibility to promote inclusivity."

I'm sorry, but sorority and fraternity membership is exclusive, whether we like it or not, and changing a legacy policy isn't going to change that. Being in a greek organization requires several things that signal "exclusivity", one being you have to PAY to be a member. That item, in and of itself, is a HUGE reason limiting women who may be fabulous from joining. Are our national organizations now going to offer scholarship assistance for dues to these fabulous women who can't afford to pay dues?

Let's move on to the recruitment process, which in some places means that a PNM has to buy an entire week's worth of new clothes to "look the part" of a sorority member on their campus. If she can't afford that, is she going to be given a "clothing allowance"? My pledge sister and best friend's daughter is going to be going through recruitment at Alabama in the fall, and let's just say she spent QUITE A BIT of money to get her what she needs to "be competitive". On top of that, you charge a woman at least $250 to GO THROUGH recruitment, with no guarantee that she gets a bid. Should we refund the registration fees if she isn't successful? In-house fees at Alabama average $7,200 PER SEMESTER and out-of-house fees are nearly $3,600 PER SEMESTER. How is THAT not limiting the women who can join a sorority?

I do believe that economics is the first thing that would need to change for sorority membership to stop limiting women from joining. No amount of legacy policy changes are going to change the fact that the cost of joining a sorority or fraternity is the number 1 limiting factor against inclusivity.

Here's a thought. Let's stop the madness with all the fees and nickel and diming that national organizations love to do. Hell, let's get rid of the ridiculous mansions that chapters live in, which cost millions of dollars to build and maintain. Let's have the national organizations find ways to lower their costs, and pass that savings on to the chapters, who can then lower their dues to allow for inclusivity. That makes a WHOLE LOT more sense than removing a legacy policy.

OK, rant over...sorry if I've offended anyone.

[33girl]

Or we could get rid of national organizations altogether, as local groups are way cheaper.



Like I said on someone’s Facebook the other day, when you support or are an ally in a way that is comfortable and doable for you, instead of in a way that truly helps the group in question, you’re doing it wrong.

[DGTess]

I think you've hit on something. WHY on this planet of the gods would someone want to buy new clothes just to get others to look at them? The idea this is required simply boggles my mind, and further reinforces my belief that many policies/procedures/"how it's done" come from a couple of dozen big campuses. The rest of the greek world knows better.

Of course, you seem to be equating money with inclusion, and I can't fight that.

Originally Posted by shadokat

OK, so I went to Phi Sigma Sigma's website to hopefully understand WHY eliminating this legacy policy is so prudent for NPC organizations. And again, the explanation is that

"continuing to offer any preferential treatment perpetuates and upholds a system of privilege within our membership and does not meet our responsibility to promote inclusivity."

I'm sorry, but sorority and fraternity membership is exclusive, whether we like it or not, and changing a legacy policy isn't going to change that. Being in a greek organization requires several things that signal "exclusivity", one being you have to PAY to be a member. That item, in and of itself, is a HUGE reason limiting women who may be fabulous from joining. Are our national organizations now going to offer scholarship assistance for dues to these fabulous women who can't afford to pay dues?

Let's move on to the recruitment process, which in some places means that a PNM has to buy an entire week's worth of new clothes to "look the part" of a sorority member on their campus. If she can't afford that, is she going to be given a "clothing allowance"? My pledge sister and best friend's daughter is going to be going through recruitment at Alabama in the fall, and let's just say she spent QUITE A BIT of money to get her what she needs to "be competitive". On top of that, you charge a woman at least $250 to GO THROUGH recruitment, with no guarantee that she gets a bid. Should we refund the registration fees if she isn't successful? In-house fees at Alabama average $7,200 PER SEMESTER and out-of-house fees are nearly $3,600 PER SEMESTER. How is THAT not limiting the women who can join a sorority?

I do believe that economics is the first thing that would need to change for sorority membership to stop limiting women from joining. No amount of legacy policy changes are going to change the fact that the cost of joining a sorority or fraternity is the number 1 limiting factor against inclusivity.

Here's a thought. Let's stop the madness with all the fees and nickel and diming that national organizations love to do. Hell, let's get rid of the ridiculous mansions that chapters live in, which cost millions of dollars to build and maintain. Let's have the national organizations find ways to lower their costs, and pass that savings on to the chapters, who can then lower their dues to allow for inclusivity. That makes a WHOLE LOT more sense than removing a legacy policy.

OK, rant over...sorry if I've offended anyone.

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I think you've hit on something. WHY on this planet of the gods would someone want to buy new clothes just to get others to look at them? The idea this is required simply boggles my mind, and further reinforces my belief that many policies/procedures/"how it's done" come from a couple of dozen big campuses. The rest of the greek world knows better.

Of course, you seem to be equating money with inclusion, and I can't fight that.

To the bolded: I get what you're saying. The correlation/argument is buying a new suit for the job interview of your life. Feel good, feel confident. Not saying it's the right thing to do, but that's why people do it.

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by shirley1929

To the bolded: I get what you're saying. The correlation/argument is buying a new suit for the job interview of your life. Feel good, feel confident. Not saying it's the right thing to do, but that's why people do it.

An "interview suit" is not an entire new wardrobe, though.

But I'm betting outside the biggest, say, 20-30 greek schools in the nation, this doesn't happen.

Originally Posted by shadokat

Right! Look at most campus's recruitment booklets or websites or social interactions about recruitment, there's a HUGE focus on what should I wear.

Where are the advisors who are creating these? For literally decades we (sororities) have been claiming to concentrate on a woman's character, but we've been playing these kinds of games, making liars of ourselves.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by DGTess

Where are the advisors who are creating these? For literally decades we (sororities) have been claiming to concentrate on a woman's character, but we've been playing these kinds of games, making liars of ourselves.

Ding ding ding!

We always seem to be contradicting ourselves... we don't care about looks, but we do. We're inclusive, but we're exclusive. It doesn't matter where you come from, but it does. It doesn't matter how much money you have, but you need a lot.

We do all of these wonderful things to empower women, but the world outside Greek life generally doesn't see it or believe it. Should we be surprised by this?

[shadokat]

WINNER!!!

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Ding ding ding!

We always seem to be contradicting ourselves... we don't care about looks, but we do. We're inclusive, but we're exclusive. It doesn't matter where you come from, but it does. It doesn't matter how much money you have, but you need a lot.

We do all of these wonderful things to empower women, but the world outside Greek life generally doesn't see it or believe it. Should we be surprised by this?

[shadokat]

Right! Look at most campus's recruitment booklets or websites or social interactions about recruitment, there's a HUGE focus on what should I wear. Of course PNMs are going to focus on having the right look based off of what the CPC is putting out there.

Breaking down economic barriers to membership certainly makes our organizations less exclusive. How many stories on here have a PNM saying an active member asked what her dad did for a living? I think that's insane, but it happens all the time!

Originally Posted by DGTess

I think you've hit on something. WHY on this planet of the gods would someone want to buy new clothes just to get others to look at them? The idea this is required simply boggles my mind, and further reinforces my belief that many policies/procedures/"how it's done" come from a couple of dozen big campuses. The rest of the greek world knows better.

Of course, you seem to be equating money with inclusion, and I can't fight that.