An interesting read by a U of Michigan Recruitment Chair

[33girl]

I think making a decision like that also has a lot to do with whether the campus will be behind you. Call me cynical but I have a feeling that even if these women had decided to surrender their charter and explained exactly why, even if they had alumnae and school support emotionally and monetarily, no matter how much people might admire that reason at the time, in a few years they would be derided as “irrelevant” because they weren’t national and didn’t have a house.

[GreekOne]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

The specific issues I have reading it again:
-the preranking of every PNM based entirely on their perceived attractiveness
-forcing sisters to rank each other based on perceived attractiveness, so that only the "best" sisters talk to the "best" PNMs
-the ranking of PNMs after each round based on how much they "fit" into the chapter, which by necessity means that the pledge classes recruited each year are all going to be homogenous in many meaningful ways
-the national orgs' endorsement of all this through the presence of their consultant, especially when she removed PNMs the chapter would otherwise have wanted to invite back

I imagine every chapter scores women in some way based on their conversations-I know mine did. That isn't controversial to me. What is controversial is the way in which it was done based entirely off of looks and ignored who the chapter members actually wanted to invite back. I know that no matter what a PNM looked like, if we'd wanted her as a member and she was otherwise qualified no one from our national organization would have stopped us from giving her a bid.

^^I agree completely. Recruitment, for me, was a time that our chapter really pulled together to accomplish one of our most important challenges of the year. I liked being in rotation groups with women that I might not have known so well and getting to know them better during all those long days. I felt we came out of the process closer than before (maybe a little case of ptsd ). I would have been heartbroken if I had been relegated to a service job or positioned to keep the "undesirable MGs" busy. How hurtful to put those you care about into that position.

[BraveMaroon]

They let me work "behind the scenes" my senior year because we had plenty of actives to rush. I know my appearance probably factored into it - I had put on a few extra pounds and I was dealing with some weird haircut issues. I was also not a strong rusher. And I admit that freely.

I could set up chairs and tables, I could get up at zero dark thirty and iron tablecloths, inflate hundreds of balloons, sweep the front porch. I wrote song parodies and made costumes and sets for skits, and I was a solid officer on Exec as a Junior. But I couldn't do chit chat. Plus, the hair.

I remember asking if it was my weight, and they told me no. Which was a lie of kindness. And I was so glad to get out of the first few rounds I didn't press it. I do remember hanging out at the apartment of one of my pledge sisters a few months later. One of them commented that with the new pledges being so different, none of us would be offered a bid in our own sorority if we were rushing. That is how much it had changed.

I think social media does a huge disservice to PNMs. And actives, too. Every wants the fully curated pinterest-perfect experience.

What they don't see is the night you chewed out your roommate for borrowing your lipstick without asking, or the extra long chapter meeting a night before the make or break calc test. They don't see the work that goes into making events a success. They don't realize that they are going to be doing that same hard work in mere months.

And I guess my big question is, Freshman 15 aside, how can someone who was a ten at your pref party be a three after they initiate?

I have a bad feeling this is more true than not.

[Griffins&Quills]

I read it. I can see this being true.

Also, sidebar comment, I really don't see the issue with some frills for recruitment. No frills gets a little ridiculous when chapters are only allowed to have cut fruit, because not everyone can afford a melon baller for round fruit *eyeroll*

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Griffins&Quills

I read it. I can see this being true.

Also, sidebar comment, I really don't see the issue with some frills for recruitment. No frills gets a little ridiculous when chapters are only allowed to have cut fruit, because not everyone can afford a melon baller for round fruit *eyeroll*

Round fruit. Convincing women that one sorority is better than another since 1851.

[GreekOne]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Round fruit. Convincing women that one sorority is better than another since 1851.

Hilarious!!

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Round fruit. Convincing women that one sorority is better than another since 1851.

Signature worthy material!

[FSUZeta]

It's all relative. She was a 10 compared to the general PNM population, but after joining, she was in a different stratosphere of beauty where she is no longer a ten.

[ForeverRoses]

We had a woman that we asked to run the kitchen and "behind the scenes" stuff for all of recruitment. Not because she wasn't beautiful or wasn't a good conversationalist or because we didn't want her out among the PNMs, but because her major was events planning. And she ran that kitchen and behind the scenes like nobody's business. between rounds they flipped the house to clean up refreshments and get the next round set up like professionals. Then she graduated. I'm searching for another events planning person for this year...
my point being, in some houses it might be based on skill rather than appearances.

[shadokat]

None of this is that shocking to me. It isn't how my sorority or national organization runs recruitment, but as a current advisor, nearly all of the chapters on the campus that I advise at have national reps at the recruitment process for the entire time.

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by shadokat

None of this is that shocking to me. It isn't how my sorority or national organization runs recruitment, but as a current advisor, nearly all of the chapters on the campus that I advise at have national reps at the recruitment process for the entire time.

I haven't a clue how recruitment works. I went to a non-competitive school, and my chapter size was 22.

I *do* recall Delta Gamma stressing then, and reiterating a few years ago, that selection of new members is a privilege afforded *only* to collegians. How well that translates in actual practice is outside my knowledge, but I remember it from 45 years ago because it was that important to me.

[AZTheta]

Am I the only one who couldn't get past the first couple of pages? I wanted to take a red pencil to that document and edit the hell out of it. "WHAT IS THE POINT?" I kept screaming at the screen. So much blah blah blah blah blah... even went to the end and still couldn't figure out why the younger sister got released, or what exactly the problem(s) was(were). Dear Lort. Please don't tell me I have to read the whole thing. UGH. Times like these I miss Drolefille.

*shrug* Don't have that kind of time.

And 33, another priceless statement from you. "Round fruit" indeed. ETA: I stand corrected. ASTAlumna06, you are the bomb. I dedicate all my round fruit bowls to you in future. Thanks 33 for setting me straight (again).

[33girl]

ASTAlumna06 name checked the round fruit, not me. I bow to her eloquence.

[ladybug12]

Originally Posted by AZTheta

Am I the only one who couldn't get past the first couple of pages? I wanted to take a red pencil to that document and edit the hell out of it. "WHAT IS THE POINT?" I kept screaming at the screen. So much blah blah blah blah blah... even went to the end and still couldn't figure out why the younger sister got released, or what exactly the problem(s) was(were). Dear Lort. Please don't tell me I have to read the whole thing. UGH. Times like these I miss Drolefille.

Totally agree...she lost me with all of the words and repetitive rants about scoring PNMs based on appearance...plus her claim that Michigan's CPC does not allow ranking or scoring of PNMs.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ladybug12

Totally agree...she lost me with all of the words and repetitive rants about scoring PNMs based on appearance...plus her claim that Michigan's CPC does not allow ranking or scoring of PNMs.

It doesn’t even make sense because Panhellenic can’t tell individual sororities what criteria to use (except for things that apply to everyone like being a full time student).