Pittsburgh Area Greek Chat gathering!

[fire1977]

ooh-lol, I want to know what they say too!

back to addressing all of the posts. If you look at the post that first mentioned this from me I said something to the effect of "it's sad everyone was talking about raising ceiling last semester where I would rather see a new chapter" I never stated that I preferred either of them to happen but if one had to happen I believe that a new chapter would spark more interest in Greek Life, rather than letting "the bigger houses" get bigger.

22 women went without bids last year who went the whole way through recruitment - that was 5 more than quota, ie room for another sorority or time for the smaller sororities to evaluate what they are not giving to PNM's that they want. Out of 30 some women last year who went to spring rush 15 of them only went to one chapter(I blame low turnout on the 0 degree temp and the lack of dates before the end of the semster).

In regards to Pitt's green book following-trust me! There are a lot more messed up campuses! I have no problem with a little structure in informal recruitment because it is easier for the PNM's to go to different chapters. Do I agree with the rules for it last semester-not really, but if my collegiate members are happy with it, they aren't breaking national policy, and it makes things easier for them, go for it. I really don't think it's a case of "big houses" making decisions for the smaller chapters. My opinion is that saying that is an excuse. My chapter had some issues-they worked on them and now I know that they will be at or very close to ceiling by the end of the fall semester, the reason that they did so well last year was because we stopped making excuses, took a step back and realized that most of that stuff doesn't matter, that when you focus on a well-rounded sorority the members will follow. Don't get me wrong, they are still small but they are a force to be reckoned with.

For alumnae involved in recruitment, or even other chapters, I could really care less what other chapters do. I know that in the past though that when alumnae rushed or other chapters rushed many of the women felt duped. I believe that alumnae's presence alone shows that our committment is for a lifetime. The real issue with the rules is trust and a lack of committment to the betterment of the group not just one's individual organization.

Shelby- I hope you have fun at convention!!! Be safe on your drive!

[kddani]

We're going to Touch, in the strip district. $5 cover, $1 drinks from 9-11, good music, lots of dancing.
If you'd like to come, let me know so I can look for you! All are welcome Birthdays are just a good excuse to get a ton of people to go out!
Depending on which of my friends is driving, i'd imagine we'd get there somewhere around 9:30!

[fire1977]

PS if we are going to look at who did recruitment this year versus years past. In Spring 98 all chapters participated in spring recruitment, maybe 5 did it this year. And yes I realize that when they are at 59 they are not at ceiling, I believe that anything that happens will be in two years time.

[salacity18]

I want to say DPhiE in the last two years have been motivated and I do think that has a lot to do with good leadership, I have heard wonderful things about your president. I do know that 22 girls were cut from recruitment last fall, but these were girls that were cross cut from chapters. I watched girls freak out over the chapters they did and did not get in 8 rounds or 4 rounds. These were the girls that I saw got there invites make a noise, throw out the card, and walk away. Now, mind you I would not wish that type of girl on any chapter, but the girls that got cut were either lead on by a certain chapter, and if you don't believe that happened last fall oh it did, or were cross cut. Raising ceiling would only at this point allow those larger chapters to increase numbers while the smaller ones stay where they are. I was on the opposite side of recruitment I did see that the girls going through become caddy and throw hissy fits when they get chapters they don't see fit to their standards, and this breaks my heart.

The thing is that is where COB comes in handy, DPhiE taking a second fall class last semester rocked my world, and the fact they took them to greek101s made me super happy. The thing is after formal recruitment sororities should be able to intake girls as many to ceiling as they want. There should be no moratorium on COB in January, that should be a time when smaller chapters are actively recruiting. I do not feel sororities should have to stop recruiting and spend upwards of $500 on informal recruitment when you can get your close friends in the chapter with a night of $5 pizza from antoon's and a 2 liter of soda. Those chapters with girls they got from COB know these are the most ideal women to have. Where Pitt is organized, and yes we are better off then most schools, recruitment is where we lack. The reason we had different types of recruitment and not formal recruitment for years is the NPC tried a pilot program where we had informal recruitment both semesters instead of formal and COB. I am just suggesting that not all chapters are happy with what is going on with the campus, and that there are better alternatives and ways to boost numbers. I have sat thru my fair share of Greek Lectures and spoke to many people inside our Greek system and outside.

I was not attacking or throwing attitude and I am sorry if people thought that, I was simply trying to get out my ideas in a quick paragraph and not write an essay.... apparently I am long winded, and anyone who knows me knows this is an understatement. I just want the best for Pitt, and I am tired of seeing the overall Greek membership on campus drop, I would seriously want to see SDT at ceiling, along with ADPi, DPhiE, TPA, and all the rest of them. I just think there needs to be something done internally to improve the Greek system on campus before and external measures are tried. On a happier note, Delta Chi is becoming a colony on Sept 26 (I could be wrong on the exact date... YEAH IFC!)

[kddani]

Wow, Delta Chi is becoming a colony?????? One of my very good friends is one of the advisors to their Duquesne chapter.... this could be interesting.

It's definately odd how the IFC groups have the freedom to come and go as they please....... and it's close to impossible to have a VERY successful fraternity at Pitt unless your house is on the hill. Which of course, I think is kind of weird and I don't quite understand it.....

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by kddani
and it's close to impossible to have a VERY successful fraternity at Pitt unless your house is on the hill. Which of course, I think is kind of weird and I don't quite understand it.....

Could it be the invigorating walk up the hill or perhaps the charming, dormitory-like atmosphere of the houses? LOL

[33girl]

Originally posted by salacity18
The thing is after formal recruitment sororities should be able to intake girls as many to ceiling as they want. There should be no moratorium on COB in January, that should be a time when smaller chapters are actively recruiting. I do not feel sororities should have to stop recruiting and spend upwards of $500 on informal recruitment when you can get your close friends in the chapter with a night of $5 pizza from antoon's and a 2 liter of soda.

Here's another question...

when you give someone a bid, does she have to start pledging immediately? We used to be able to give someone a bid late in the semester, she signed, and then she began pledging with the next class. This helped our numbers and we didn't have to go nuts with a jillion teeny B (C,D,E etc) classes. Our dumbass Greek advisor outlawed this sometime in the mid 90's and it really hurt us. Panhel isn't nuts about it, but it is permissible....and if you don't have the womanpower to handle many small pledge classes it helps a lot.

[honeychile]

I don't think Panhel can dictate when a GLO holds their new member classes. I think the max we've EVER done is three a semester, and that's more because our EO limits how much time a woman can spend as a New Member without being considered a hold-over, not Panhel.

Are any of y'all going to be at Amos Hall tomorrow morning? I plan to visit the ADPi Suite (assuming we're welcome, early in the morning!). I'm going to try to dig up those Amos Hall Floor Plans that I photocopied, for those who want them.

[salacity18]

Sorry the quote is at the bottom I am responding to

That is legal, that is what the smaller chapters are doing and should be doing to help gain numbers. You may even start a pledge sister class anytime after formal recruitment, so in theory you could have two classes running at once. The problem I have is they are banning us from COBing in Jan until a panhellenic informal recruitment is run. This should not happen. We should be allowed to take girls all year long except before formal recruitment and until we hit ceiling.

when you give someone a bid, does she have to start pledging immediately? We used to be able to give someone a bid late in the semester, she signed, and then she began pledging with the next class.

[MoxieGrrl]

Originally posted by salacity18
We should be allowed to take girls all year long except before formal recruitment and until we hit ceiling.

I completely agree with that.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by salacity18


The problem I have is they are banning us from COBing in Jan until a panhellenic informal recruitment is run. This should not happen. We should be allowed to take girls all year long except before formal recruitment and until we hit ceiling.

I don't have the Green Book in front of me, but I'd be willing to bet the rent money that Panhel cannot enforce this. Everyone is entitled to Quota/Total, whether it's through Formal Rush, COB, or Informal Rush.

If this is indeed going on, I would suggest that you contact the NPC immediately!

[honeychile]

Okay, I was just trying to find out when Homecoming was (25 October, if you didn't know), and decided to check out the Greek Life page at Pitt. Now, the print is hard enough to read (don't they teach webmasters not to use ALL CAPS ALL THE TIME?), but nowhere on that site could I find a list of the fraternities or sororities! Am I crazy, or is that self-defeating? What if you were choosing your college according to which GLOs were on campus?

Check it out for yourselves: http://www.pitt.edu/~ifcoun/main.html

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by honeychile
Okay, I was just trying to find out when Homecoming was (25 October, if you didn't know), and decided to check out the Greek Life page at Pitt. Now, the print is hard enough to read (don't they teach webmasters not to use ALL CAPS ALL THE TIME?), but nowhere on that site could I find a list of the fraternities or sororities! Am I crazy, or is that self-defeating? What if you were choosing your college according to which GLOs were on campus?

Check it out for yourselves: http://www.pitt.edu/~ifcoun/main.html

IT HURTS MY EYES.

A LOT.

That being said, I couldn't find the list either - and even worse than that - the abbreviations on there made me stop and think. What about the poor rushees?

[honeychile]

At least I'm not alone! *whew* If that website is any indication of Pitt's Recruitment, I'm guessing that the Bid Cards will be in braille.

[fire1977]

that's the ifc's webpage. It hasn't been updated in 3 years. Panhel also has it's own page - www.pitt.edu/~panhel
It's not as impressive and hasn't been updated.

lol, you know the ifc website was part of the "greek review" report.

ETA: If you look at the bottom of the main IFC page there is a list of fraternities "coming soon" which has a link to some of their websites, etc.