Supersize recruitment!!

[hoosieral]

I'm sorry to disappoint you all, I know that wasn't the ending you were all expecting! I appreciate all the kind words and support. I do sometimes think that I should have researched more about Greek life before deciding on a college so I would have known what is was in for, but theres nothing I can do about it now so I try not to dwell about it too much.

So what happened next you might wonder? There was no Cob because every chapter made either quota either on bid day or through snap bids. I think only about two chapters gave out snap bids. When I rushed Hungary was the only un-housed chapter, but since then another one has been added and I think there are plans for even more.

I did not participate in RFM again. I thought about trying again, but ultimately decided I couldn't go through all of that again. It is also harder for sophomores to get bids (some chapters won't even take sophomores), but I know a few who rushed again and ended up in a chapter that they love.

I got involved in other clubs and activities and am super busy and happy. i have some friends in sororities so I still can participate in all that fun stuff.

[DJIndiana]

All I can say is that SUCKS!

[DubaiSis]

Keep in mind that colonies do want all 4 years represented, so you would have a possibility there.

[AOII Angel]

Just remember that the chapters without houses have plans to get houses in the future so this is not a solution for IU to just add all the remaining NPC groups as unhoused chapters.

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by southernbuff

What I need help understanding is, not only the point Bravemaroon brings up, but this...why hasn't NPC stepped in to balance this environment so that more PNMs can be placed. I was shocked that nearly half of the girls who signed up for recruitment did not match. (I realize many women drop during the process). NPC set the precident this year by intervening at Arkansas...can we hope Indiana could be next? Could you imagine how much more vibrant the IU greek community would be if chapters could grow in size to match the interest in being greek. IM just glad my own daughter had no interest in IU...I would have had grey hair for sure?

The first bold section you posted is a tad misleading. There are girls who maximize their options all the way through preference who do not get placed. And this number is shrinking each year due to extension. The majority of girls who do not finish the process, drop out voluntarily. They believe they are too good for the chapters they have remaining on their schedules. The women spend the entire first semester finding out which chapters are considered "top" and which ones are considered less desirable. Their egos come into play more so on this campus than any other in the Big 10. The ridiculous "tier" structure is ingrained and moves at a glacial pace. Yes, there is some movement, but it is slight. Also, figured into this statistic are the women who start the process in December and then do not make grades to continue in January. This should be alleviated some because all of recruitment has been moved to January.

NPC did not intervene at Arkansas. NPC was invited to help create a temporary solution. I do not see Indiana inviting the NPC to come in at any time in the future.

I am sad, as a very proud alumna, that your daughter had no interest in Indiana. We have some high quality programs. Jacobs School of Music is considered the No. 1 music school in the country at a public university. The only music school considered on par with Jacobs is Julliard. Our Kelley School of Business, School of Journalism, School of Environment and Public Affairs are also considered among the nation's best. Our Hoosier Basketball team is fun to watch. And we do have quite the soccer team reigning NCAA champions!

Every school in the Big Ten does offer its students a quality education on some beautiful campuses. (Had to get my Big Ten plug in there)

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

NPC jumped in at Arkansas because Arkansas requested the assistance. You have to want to change. NPC can't force change. It is a group based on Unanimous Agreements. That means all the groups at Indiana would have to agree to change from bed rush for NPC to do anything about it. The HQs haven't done anything, I'm sure, because alumnae of these chapters would kick up holy hell. The chapters are also strong and from an organizational standpoint, I'd bet they look at it as a "Why fix what isn't broken" situation. They have great demand for their product. Why would they change? The bad publicity hasn't reached a point to force change. It's only a matter of time before the IU administration will have enough. Expansion will only help so much. They'll reach a tipping point then we'll see change.

AOII Angel, you nailed it. Looking back as an 18-22 year old girl, I thought that IU was the best. We had it all going on. I am sure the current sorority women feel much the way I did. Now, as an adult, I do see how different we are/were. This is why I take no offense when someone calls IU the ultimate special snowflake. I do see the financial aspect of it now, more women=more money. This is the aspect I cannot believe has not enticed some of the national organizations to step in and push their chapters to change.

I do not know what will cause change or if it will ever occur. I do know that Indiana would like to be the first campus to have all 26 NPC chapters represented on campus. I believe they see adding chapters as the way to include more in women in the system

Go IU. //climbing off the Hoosier soapbox now

[cinder1965]

Originally Posted by IndianaSigKap

The first bold section you posted is a tad misleading. There are girls who maximize their options all the way through preference who do not get placed. And this number is shrinking each year due to extension. The majority of girls who do not finish the process, drop out voluntarily. They believe they are too good for the chapters they have remaining on their schedules. The women spend the entire first semester finding out which chapters are considered "top" and which ones are considered less desirable. Their egos come into play more so on this campus than any other in the Big 10. The ridiculous "tier" structure is ingrained and moves at a glacial pace. Yes, there is some movement, but it is slight. Also, figured into this statistic are the women who start the process in December and then do not make grades to continue in January. This should be alleviated some because all of recruitment has been moved to January.

NPC did not intervene at Arkansas. NPC was invited to help create a temporary solution. I do not see Indiana inviting the NPC to come in at any time in the future.

I am sad, as a very proud alumna, that your daughter had no interest in Indiana. We have some high quality programs. Jacobs School of Music is considered the No. 1 music school in the country at a public university. The only music school considered on par with Jacobs is Julliard. Our Kelley School of Business, School of Journalism, School of Environment and Public Affairs are also considered among the nation's best. Our Hoosier Basketball team is fun to watch. And we do have quite the soccer team reigning NCAA champions!

Every school in the Big Ten does offer its students a quality education on some beautiful campuses. (Had to get my Big Ten plug in there)



AOII Angel, you nailed it. Looking back as an 18-22 year old girl, I thought that IU was the best. We had it all going on. I am sure the current sorority women feel much the way I did. Now, as an adult, I do see how different we are/were. This is why I take no offense when someone calls IU the ultimate special snowflake. I do see the financial aspect of it now, more women=more money. This is the aspect I cannot believe has not enticed some of the national organizations to step in and push their chapters to change.

I do not know what will cause change or if it will ever occur. I do know that Indiana would like to be the first campus to have all 26 NPC chapters represented on campus. I believe they see adding chapters as the way to include more in women in the system

Go IU. //climbing off the Hoosier soapbox now

I knew you could add more info to this discussion!!!!

[pbear19]

Originally Posted by IndianaSigKap

The first bold section you posted is a tad misleading. There are girls who maximize their options all the way through preference who do not get placed. And this number is shrinking each year due to extension. The majority of girls who do not finish the process, drop out voluntarily. They believe they are too good for the chapters they have remaining on their schedules. The women spend the entire first semester finding out which chapters are considered "top" and which ones are considered less desirable. Their egos come into play more so on this campus than any other in the Big 10. The ridiculous "tier" structure is ingrained and moves at a glacial pace. Yes, there is some movement, but it is slight. Also, figured into this statistic are the women who start the process in December and then do not make grades to continue in January. This should be alleviated some because all of recruitment has been moved to January.

Out of curiosity, though, would it really matter if those women who voluntarily dropped stuck it out? In a campus with flexible quota, quota would just be a whole lot higher if all the voluntary-droppers didn't drop. But at IU, wouldn't that mean there would be just that many more women who didn't get matched in the end?

Last year, the numbers each chapter picked for quota add up to 56% of the open house pool. If I understand it correctly, don't they choose quota before recruitment starts? So, one way or another, almost half those who registered wouldn't be placed, right? (I do know that some houses took over their quota number, but I'm guessing that is at the individual house's discretion.)

I don't mean to be argumentative!! It just seems like the way this system is, we really can't fault the girls who drop out early, because ultimately quota wouldn't be any bigger than it is.

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by pbear19

Out of curiosity, though, would it really matter if those women who voluntarily dropped stuck it out? In a campus with flexible quota, quota would just be a whole lot higher if all the voluntary-droppers didn't drop. But at IU, wouldn't that mean there would be just that many more women who didn't get matched in the end?

Last year, the numbers each chapter picked for quota add up to 56% of the open house pool. If I understand it correctly, don't they choose quota before recruitment starts? So, one way or another, almost half those who registered wouldn't be placed, right? (I do know that some houses took over their quota number, but I'm guessing that is at the individual house's discretion.)

I don't mean to be argumentative!! It just seems like the way this system is, we really can't fault the girls who drop out early, because ultimately quota wouldn't be any bigger than it is.

Yes, I believe it would make a difference. We all know so many things change during preference, if these women would stick it out I think they would grow to like one or more of those chapter they think they are too good for at the time. IU does use quota additions. So more women can be placed in the system with quota additions. They chapters who allow live outs can take QAs.

I was tailgating and we are near the infamous tailgating field. I can tell you as an adult, that some of the cutest girls I saw yesterday were from those "less desirable" chapters. And yes, the sorority women wear letters for tailgates (either tanks, fanny packs, hats, etc) don't get me started on that.

There will be another new chapter colonizing in January. I think DPhiE will provide a great opportunity to place more women in the system.

[IUHoosiergirl88]

Another proud Hoosier greek alum to the rescue, IndianaSigKap!

Ultimately, we are the big 'special snowflake' of the greek world--and none of the actives want to change it. Looking at it from the alumnae perspective, I do think that houses (and mine has been working to do this) should be looking at taking more girls than can replace who graduated, but from the active perspective...that was the last thing we wanted. While I was an active, sure we all b*tched about having to live in and follow the 'no booze no boys' rules, but when it came down to it...I wouldn't have had it any other way. Until you change that mentality, you'll never change the numbers at IU.
They simply don't want one year of living in the house like you do in the SEC/most other schools, we want 2-3.

And don't even get me started on the glacial pace of tiers there...gag me. Haven't changed in YEARS. Movement within tiers happens, but moving between what is considered 'top' tier, middle tier, and bottom tier? You have a better shot at winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

ETA: We do want all 26 NPC chapters at IU eventually--I think Panhel set a goal of like 2020 for that to happen? Something like that. DPhiE will be another good fit at IU provided they have the resources to support a chapter at a difficult campus.

[cinder1965]

Originally Posted by IUHoosiergirl88

Another proud Hoosier greek alum to the rescue, IndianaSigKap!

Ultimately, we are the big 'special snowflake' of the greek world--and none of the actives want to change it. Looking at it from the alumnae perspective, I do think that houses (and mine has been working to do this) should be looking at taking more girls than can replace who graduated, but from the active perspective...that was the last thing we wanted. While I was an active, sure we all b*tched about having to live in and follow the 'no booze no boys' rules, but when it came down to it...I wouldn't have had it any other way. Until you change that mentality, you'll never change the numbers at IU.
They simply don't want one year of living in the house like you do in the SEC/most other schools, we want 2-3.

And don't even get me started on the glacial pace of tiers there...gag me. Haven't changed in YEARS. Movement within tiers happens, but moving between what is considered 'top' tier, middle tier, and bottom tier? You have a better shot at winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

ETA: We do want all 26 NPC chapters at IU eventually--I think Panhel set a goal of like 2020 for that to happen? Something like that. DPhiE will be another good fit at IU provided they have the resources to support a chapter at a difficult campus.

Agree with all of above. Sad.

[DubaiSis]

Well, since my vote counts for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, I would think the best compromise is in a small amount of change. For those chapters taking a strict bed quota, if they took just 5 girls more than could live in, that would make a difference. And my guess is they'd be able to talk 5 seniors into living out And you'd be talking about potentially 50 or more girls finding a home versus not. ESPECIALLY for the girls who have had a great rush and end up preffing 3 chapters with strict bed quotas. The chapters could see if the sky falls after their little experiment and further adapt next year based on the success or failure of the small test.

[cinder1965]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

Well, since my vote counts for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, I would think the best compromise is in a small amount of change. For those chapters taking a strict bed quota, if they took just 5 girls more than could live in, that would make a difference. And my guess is they'd be able to talk 5 seniors into living out And you'd be talking about potentially 50 or more girls finding a home versus not. ESPECIALLY for the girls who have had a great rush and end up preffing 3 chapters with strict bed quotas. The chapters could see if the sky falls after their little experiment and further adapt next year based on the success or failure of the small test.

You would think.....but I am beginning to think they LIKE their status of being the "special snowflake" in the system. Recently I had a new active at a IU chapter say to me in response to our discussing a girl we know starting rush soon at a school on the West coast: oh well, in that system it is not very competitive and every one gets a bid.

I didn't have the energy to debate about it.....sigh.

[33girl]

Someone said doesn't the administration see the implications....my take on it is that the administration doesn't want things to change to a T/Q system because they know the chapters would grow bigger and the Greek system more powerful...and that is the LAST thing they want.

I've also said this before, but I'm guessing that if the system did change to T/Q, many of the girls who are in it now would want no part of it. The school is obviously big enough to have chapters the size of those at SEC schools or larger and not everyone wants that experience. It's similar to Penn State having suites instead of houses. I am sure that if magic land occurred (maybe suspended above the earth, like the Jetsons' apartment building) and all the sororities went into houses, the complexion of the membership and the girls rushing would change dramatically.

Honestly, I've come to somewhat admire Indiana for standing their ground and having the balls to say that Greek life ISN'T for everyone.

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Someone said doesn't the administration see the implications....my take on it is that the administration doesn't want things to change to a T/Q system because they know the chapters would grow bigger and the Greek system more powerful...and that is the LAST thing they want.

I've also said this before, but I'm guessing that if the system did change to T/Q, many of the girls who are in it now would want no part of it. The school is obviously big enough to have chapters the size of those at SEC schools or larger and not everyone wants that experience. It's similar to Penn State having suites instead of houses. I am sure that if magic land occurred (maybe suspended above the earth, like the Jetsons' apartment building) and all the sororities went into houses, the complexion of the membership and the girls rushing would change dramatically.

Honestly, I've come to somewhat admire Indiana for standing their ground and having the balls to say that Greek life ISN'T for everyone.

This is exactly what I was thinking and I am happy to ride along in your lane.

[IUHoosiergirl88]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Someone said doesn't the administration see the implications....my take on it is that the administration doesn't want things to change to a T/Q system because they know the chapters would grow bigger and the Greek system more powerful...and that is the LAST thing they want.

I've also said this before, but I'm guessing that if the system did change to T/Q, many of the girls who are in it now would want no part of it. The school is obviously big enough to have chapters the size of those at SEC schools or larger and not everyone wants that experience.

This and this. I know I wouldn't have gone through recruitment if I knew I'd be in an SEC-sized chapter because at the time, it was too intimidating. I liked how the girls all knew each others' names and had a decently strong connection with every member of a chapter. When my chapter started to get really big, that was a huge problem for actives--people really pushed back saying that they didn't want to lose that level of sisterhood/connection with the members of the chapter. I distinctly remember members of my chapter saying "Well, we're not the SEC and we don't want to be that size" after we were pushed to take a large new member class.

Also, the administration hates Greek life and has really cracked down on things in recent years. But that's a whole different story.