Release From Bid? - Page 2

KSUViolet06 · #1 10-13-2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenguinTrax

I believe that this would go against one of the Unanimous Agreements. I'd check with the NPC Advisor for your school as to the legitimacy of this rule.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ-AlphaXi

But what happens to the PNM who only has 1 sorority left to place on her pref card? Does she get kicked out because only
1 sorority invited her to pref?

I think this is one of those "ICS automiatically kicks out girls who suicide" myths.

This is not true, to my knowledge.

FSUZeta · #2 10-13-2009, 01:34 PM

to the OP, you are not going to be able to rush until next fall.

i hear over and over that recruitment counselors are telling pnms that if they list only one chapter on their bid card that her card will be kicked out and she will not be matched. it makes me wonder who is telling the rec. counselors this malarkie? i believe that they (r.c's) believe this is true-i don't think they are intentionally deceiving the pnms. it's kind of like the "we can't have sorority houses due to the brothel law" conundrum-who the heck started this rumor? who starts these things?

DartmouthPanhel · #3 10-09-2009, 03:42 AM

I am almost positive a sorority cannot "release" you from a bid. I think what you read is that the sorority can release you or not choose you before bid distribution. Once you rank your houses you are accepting whichever bid you get. You will have to wait a full year until you rush again.

Panhellenic rules depend on what system you use. And accept/regret system lets you remove sororities from your list. Priority systems make you rank all the houses you have. Generally, after pref night, you can "intentional single preference" or "suicide" which means you only rank one house even though you have two options. This is highly discouraged in the panhellenic system, but it's not prohibited.

What's done is done. You will have to wait a year to go through recruitment again. So, why not give this other sorority a shot? They wanted you, and your first choice sorority did not. I would say at least give them a few weeks to see how it works.

But that's just me.

WhiteDaisy128 · #4 10-09-2009, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DartmouthPanhel

What's done is done. You will have to wait a year to go through recruitment again. So, why not give this other sorority a shot? They wanted you, and your first choice sorority did not. I would say at least give them a few weeks to see how it works.

But that's just me.

Gah, don't say stuff like that. She was on the bid list for both sororities (you know that). They both must have "wanted" her...it just depends on where on the list she was.

KSUViolet06 · #5 10-09-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kl10

I went through Formal Recruitment recently, and at our school they don't allow PNM to drop a sorority, we have to rank the final two after Pref Night. I ended up getting a bid from a sorority I didn't really feel comfortable with. (Great girls, just not the place for me) Well, I received the bid, and my rho gamma told me to go to the bid day, and give them another shot. I did, but that night after leaving bid day, I decided I really couldn't see myself in that GLO for life. So I declined my bid. I've read on some of the threads here that a sorority can release a PNM from a bid, making her eligible to participate in COB in the Spring. Is this true? Also, is it Panhellenic rules to not allow PNM's to drop a sorority? My #1 choice has had a few girls drop for various reasons, and I think they'll be participating in COB in the Spring, so I was really hoping I could try.

Thanks everyone! If I missed a specific thread about this sorry, but I didn't see one dedicated to a situation like this.

If you accepted your bid, which you likely did if you attended bid day festivities, you are NOT eligble for spring COB. You must wait one calendar year before participating in recruitment again. Panhellenic cannot override this rule and "release you" from the bid.

kddani · #6 10-09-2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

If you accepted your bid, which you likely did if you attended bid day festivities, you are NOT eligble for spring COB. You must wait one calendar year before participating in recruitment again. Panhellenic cannot override this rule and "release you" from the bid.

The only time I've ever heard of panhellenic releasing someone from a bid is in the event of a chapter being shut down, etc. for risk management violations. In that case, it wasn't fair to the new members to be obligated to a group for a calendar year that didn't exist on campus anymore.

Why would a sorority release you so you could rush somewhere else?

kl10 · #7 10-09-2009, 10:47 AM

Thanks everyone for the replies. I thought that was the case, but I read a few replies on one thread that basically said sororities "released" girls from their bid contract letting them participate in COB events in the Spring. I thought that this probably wasn't the case though. Just wanted to make sure.

If I had not gone to the Bid Day, would that have been "accepting" my bid? We sign the agreement right after Pref Night, so I'm not sure when exactly the bid acceptance is. I wouldn't have gone to the Bid Day if my Rho Gamma hadn't told me to try them out again. It was a rare case of things not working out =/ This sorority was actually my #6, but a couple that I wanted seemed to be the most popular, so understandably a lot of girls were cut. But as far as suiciding goes, I don't think our school allows this. But it is possible... they didn't even tell me about the one year rule until after I received my bid. After I received my bid I asked if I decline it can I participate in Spring COB events, and she said no at this point you have to wait the year.

It seems like the one year contract should start after recruitment week is over =/ but thats just me and I don't know too much about the greek system.

Thank you all for clarifying. I wish I could participate in COB events, because I don't think I could go through the Formal Recruitment process again =/

aopirose · #8 10-09-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kl10

If I had not gone to the Bid Day, would that have been "accepting" my bid? We sign the agreement right after Pref Night, so I'm not sure when exactly the bid acceptance is.

You agreed to accept a bid from either sorority that you matched when you signed the agreement. This is regardless if you attended Bid Day or not.

Sorry that things didn't work out as you had hoped.

gee_ess · #9 10-09-2009, 11:24 AM

I think this is one of those situations where the rho gam did not adequately explain the ramifications of accepting a bid, etc. Sometimes, in the spirit of "panhellenic love" Greek life spends a lot of time encouraging girls to go ahead and give every house a chance, etc and the rules are glossed over. And that is unfortunate.

OP - use this year to meet other sorority women, get involved, etc. I don't know what your campus is like regarding upperclassmen getting bids but don't let this disappointment get you down. Sounds like informal might work for you next year.

gee_ess · #10 10-13-2009, 05:14 PM

This whole conversation is so frustrating for me because every year there is a debate/confusion/etc on exactly what can or cannot happen with bid cards and pnms.

I feel sorry for the pnms. They are totally relying on 20 year olds to advise them about a legally binding agreement. It is this very fact that is so disturbing regarding the breakdown in communication at this point in recruitment. There are too many myths and inaccuracies that float around among the very people who are supposed to be the experts!

Granted, some people only hear what they want to hear and will do the very thing they are advised not to do. But when pnms are forced to list all the houses they attend, bullied into it in some cases, then I think NPC needs to figure out how to improve this area of recruitment. We have come a long way in leveling the playing field - no frills, RFC, etc but this business of making girls rank houses that they may not want and then smiling while we say, "Sorry, you signed a legal binding agreement on pref night. You are stuck for a year." is getting out of hand.

I will step off my soapbox now.

BlueCarnation · #11 10-13-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gee_ess

This whole conversation is so frustrating for me because every year there is a debate/confusion/etc on exactly what can or cannot happen with bid cards and pnms.

I feel sorry for the pnms. They are totally relying on 20 year olds to advise them about a legally binding agreement. It is this very fact that is so disturbing regarding the breakdown in communication at this point in recruitment. There are too many myths and inaccuracies that float around among the very people who are supposed to be the experts!

Granted, some people only hear what they want to hear and will do the very thing they are advised not to do. But when pnms are forced to list all the houses they attend, bullied into it in some cases, then I think NPC needs to figure out how to improve this area of recruitment. We have come a long way in leveling the playing field - no frills, RFC, etc but this business of making girls rank houses that they may not want and then smiling while we say, "Sorry, you signed a legal binding agreement on pref night. You are stuck for a year." is getting out of hand.

I agree! But these ADULTS need to know about everything they are signing, not just bids. I am stunned by what students sign then try to get out of because they "didn't know." There are advisors for a reason. If you are unsure, ask someone else. A bid is a big deal--you are joining an organization for life! Why should it be easy to break that agreement?

KSUViolet06 · #12 10-13-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueCarnation

I agree! But these ADULTS need to know about everything they are signing, not just bids. I am stunned by what students sign then try to get out of because they "didn't know." There are advisors for a reason. If you are unsure, ask someone else. A bid is a big deal--you are joining an organization for life! Why should it be easy to break that agreement?

No one is saying it should be easy.

However, when signing such an agreement, PNMs need to be properly informed. The average freshman knows ZERO about recruitment. They are relying on Rho Chis and Greek Life staff to provide correct info. I mean, if a Rho Chi tells a PNM "list everyone or you'll be released" she is going to do that because she'll take what Rho Chi says as fact. Why shouldn't she?

Hence why it's important for everyone involved with PNMs on that level (particularly Greek Life Staff since they're the ones passing it on to the PXs) to know the rules.

33girl · #13 10-13-2009, 06:07 PM

Quite frankly, I think the only person who should be at bid signing is the Greek life or student life advisor, or if they're clueless the regional Panhel rep, and the rho chis shouldn't be there at all. (I don't remember any of our rho chis being there at all when I did mine.) They should be the ones who know the Green Book rules, the impact of signing a bid and being legally bound. But I'm sure the school likes it better if the rho chis are the ones who tell the rushees what to do - total CYA measure.

If it's a huge rush, and no way for everyone to talk to the GA personally, then there should be instructions posted on every table/desk/writing surface on what exactly you are doing, the way there are when you go to vote.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kl10

they didn't even tell me about the one year rule until after I received my bid. After I received my bid I asked if I decline it can I participate in Spring COB events, and she said no at this point you have to wait the year.

This is wrong. I normally don't say this, but in this instance if you were truly completely unaware of the one year rule, I would say you have a legal case. There should have been something somewhere on the bid card you signed that mentioned the one year rule or you should have been informed orally before you signed.

KSUViolet06 · #14 10-13-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

This is wrong. I normally don't say this, but in this instance if you were truly completely unaware of the one year rule, I would say you have a legal case. There should have been something somewhere on the bid card you signed that mentioned the one year rule or you should have been informed orally before you signed.

Isn't the "one year rule" listed on the MRABA (the pref card)?

I am pretty sure it is listed on the ones PNMs at my school get, thus avoiding the whole "I was uninformed" thing.

Unless her school does not use the standard MRABA. Or she just didn't read it.

BlueCarnation · #15 10-13-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

However, when signing such an agreement, PNMs need to be properly informed. The average freshman knows ZERO about recruitment. They are relying on Rho Chis and Greek Life staff to provide correct info.

Hence why it's important for everyone involved with PNMs on that level (particularly Greek Life Staff since they're the ones passing it on to the PXs) to know the rules.

Right. If there is any question, then go to the Greek Life person. That's all I mean. It's a shame that there is so much confusion and it can be avoided.