Phi Sigma Sigma discontinues legacy policy.

[AngelPhiSig]

Originally Posted by shadokat

My point is that eliminating the economic barriers to membership, which is quite frankly what makes membership exclusive, makes a whole lot more of an impact than eliminating a policy that doesn't guarantee anyone a spot. If our organizations are going to tout change, make it meaningful. That's what I'm saying.

I know that the change in legacy policy was explained to us as this - a legacy obviously has a parent that has been to college. This puts them at an advantage in life.

Taking more legacies means you’re not leaving a lot of spots for women who are first generation college students. I was kind-of one of them (well, my grandparents went to college... but my parents? No.) I do feel that all women should have the chance to go Greek, not just ones who’s parents went to college.

However, would I be sad if my daughter got cut from Phi Sig? Yes. (Granted now they’re 22 and 23 and the likelihood of them actually being a Phi Sig is next to none....)

[shadokat]

I was also a first generation college student. And at my university, legacies were few and far between, so it wasn't an issue. I wonder how many chapters said, "hey, we need to get rid of the legacy policy, because we want to take all of these women over here, but we can't because there are so many legacies." I can't imagine outside of the large Southern universities and Indiana that this is the case. Maybe I'm being naive.

To me, this is a feeble attempt to look relevant in terms of what is going on in the world today. And I'm not saying it just about Phi Sigma Sigma, because DPhiE is talking about it too. I just don't think it does enough to make relevant change.

Originally Posted by AngelPhiSig

I know that the change in legacy policy was explained to us as this - a legacy obviously has a parent that has been to college. This puts them at an advantage in life.

Taking more legacies means you’re not leaving a lot of spots for women who are first generation college students. I was kind-of one of them (well, my grandparents went to college... but my parents? No.) I do feel that all women should have the chance to go Greek, not just ones who’s parents went to college.

However, would I be sad if my daughter got cut from Phi Sig? Yes. (Granted now they’re 22 and 23 and the likelihood of them actually being a Phi Sig is next to none....)

[carnation]

Originally Posted by shadokat

I was also a first generation college student. And at my university, legacies were few and far between, so it wasn't an issue. I wonder how many chapters said, "hey, we need to get rid of the legacy policy, because we want to take all of these women over here, but we can't because there are so many legacies." I can't imagine outside of the large Southern universities and Indiana that this is the case. Maybe I'm being naive.

To me, this is a feeble attempt to look relevant in terms of what is going on in the world today. And I'm not saying it just about Phi Sigma Sigma, because DPhiE is talking about it too. I just don't think it does enough to make relevant change.

See, that's what I'm saying. I think that these groups are just trying to look relevant and cool, while their HQs are possibly congratulating each other on cutting down the number of screaming mom calls they get every year. I haven't heard of a sorority being forced to take legacies for years. I also have not heard of a sorority who admitted to dropping a fantastic PNM in order to keep a subpar legacy. It just doesn't happen!

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by carnation

See, that's what I'm saying. I think that these groups are just trying to look relevant and cool, while their HQs are possibly congratulating each other on cutting down the number of screaming mom calls they get every year. I haven't heard of a sorority being forced to take legacies for years. I also have not heard of a sorority who admitted to dropping a fantastic PNM in order to keep a subpar legacy. It just doesn't happen!

Yes!

[shadokat]

I feel the same way. It's a knee-jerk reaction to staying relevant to the causes that potential members care about. It feels disingenuous to me, like a token gesture to show they're in tune to what's going on in the world. Maybe I'm just an old cynic

Originally Posted by carnation

See, that's what I'm saying. I think that these groups are just trying to look relevant and cool, while their HQs are possibly congratulating each other on cutting down the number of screaming mom calls they get every year. I haven't heard of a sorority being forced to take legacies for years. I also have not heard of a sorority who admitted to dropping a fantastic PNM in order to keep a subpar legacy. It just doesn't happen!