Rushing Legacies

[ADPiShannan]

Legacies are impt here. Well at least for ADPi on our campus. Id say though for all chapters here its big. We really look at the legacies and do put them ahead of the others cause they are recommended. I am a legacy to ADPi from several members of my family including my grandmother. When I was in ADPi we also had several others who were legacies. It really takes a lot for us to turn one away. I was there once when we did, but she really wasnt right and just wasnt someone who meshed well with us. We had to obtain special rights to cut her though from Nationals so it is a big deal here. We really ask our Pi's to be on the lookout for patentials and send in forms if they encounter any or have any family whos coming to college.

I do have several friends who live in Georgia who were ADPi legacies and got cut. One year I heard there were 50 legacies or more going through and a lot got cut. A lot of moms and families were very mad. I guess that happens when you take a large amount for each recruitment.

We take about 20-25 in the fall and in the spring maybe about 10 or less. I wish house total was much higher for our campus. We only can have 65 in each sorority. I know us and another sorority would always be at 65 every year, but we still have 1 or 2 sororities who struggle during recruitment and never take quota. If they got better Im sure wed get to take more women or get a new chapter on campus, but we have tried everything to get their numbers up. They have too. They have gotten better, but they are still so far away from 65 members.

[CarolinaDG]

Originally posted by BrownEyedGirl
I know my undergraduate chapter has a lot of legacies, and they do get special attention during recruitment - we certainly wanted to get to know them and make sure they saw what a great chapter we were. It's all about fit, though. I have never known an in-house legacy who has not chosen to join our chapter, but you want to make sure that anyone who gets a bid is joining because SHE loves your sorority, not because her mom was a Tri-Delta or her grandmother was a Chi O or what have you. But when you do find a "fit" in a GLO to which you are a legacy, it's nice to have that connection - and it keeps generations of alumnae tied together.

At my chapter, there are several sets of in-house legacies, which is soo fun during Recruitment and afterwards - when the girl really comes into her own and you almost forget she's someone's younger sister. In-house legacies for your own sorority (and for others as well) always get a lot of attention, but not to the point that other PNM's feel neglected or she feels smothered - it's just exciting to know that she's coming into the party. Kind of like, "So and so's sister is all grown up!" Or maybe that's just me...

I would assume that y'all would have a TON of legacies come through. We had 2 legacies in our chapter, both double legacies, and it was fun going to the one girl's house because it was like partying with one of your sisters, even though it was the girl's mom.

I don't know whether or not this has been mentioned or not, but I know that legacies are looked on highly because they aren't as likely to drop, either. And, taken a step further, are usually highly active.

[WCUgirl]

Originally posted by CarolinaDG
I don't know whether or not this has been mentioned or not, but I know that legacies are looked on highly because they aren't as likely to drop, either. And, taken a step further, are usually highly active.

True, however, my ex-grand little sister was a legacy, and she de-pledged 4 days before initiation. It was very sad. But she never joined another sorority either. I don't really know what was going on in her head. I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just trying to point it that it does happen, although it's rare.

[CarolinaDG]

Yeah, I'm not trying to say that it doesn't happen, but at least there's a little more pressure there.... My little's roommate was a double legacy of another chapter and wanted us, but went that chapter b/c her mom would only pay for her to be in that other org. I always thought that was so horrible, and if I had an extra $5000 lying around, would've offered to pay.

[Zetagymnast]

Legacies are paid attention to but they are not guaranteed a Bid into the sorority. One of my line sisters was a legacy (her old sister is a Zeta) and she had to work just as hard as us. It may have been harder on her because they hold her to the standard because she really knows what is expected. Also, the sisters knew her and it wasnt easy for her to hide out from them when they were getting to know us because they knew her already.

[WCUgirl]

Originally posted by CarolinaDG
Yeah, I'm not trying to say that it doesn't happen, but at least there's a little more pressure there.... My little's roommate was a double legacy of another chapter and wanted us, but went that chapter b/c her mom would only pay for her to be in that other org. I always thought that was so horrible, and if I had an extra $5000 lying around, would've offered to pay.

I can't believe her mom would do that - she should realize her each chapter is different and her daughter is a different person than she is. While I hope my future daughters will be Alpha Xis, I will support any choice they make.

[PinkRose1098]

I know my chapter payed a lot of attention to girls that were a legacy to us or to another chapter on campus. If they were a girl we were interested in we would make sure they talked to the sisters we knew would do there best to steer them our way. As far as the number of legs - we didn't really see too too many that were legs to Alpha Xi but it helped to know which other chapters on campus we were possibly competeing against for another girl. Legs were usually automatically invited back to the second round and we did let the family member know if we released their daughter, granddaughter, or sister. Legs that were invited to pref were automatically put at the top of our first bid list. Because we didn't have as many legs comming through, we also payed special attention to girls that we recieved recs for b/c if an alumna takes the time to send in a rec for them they must be a great girl!

Also, I know my mom wasn't too supportive of me rushing and didn't pay for any of my expenses related to sorority but I think she's now realizing what I gained and learned through Alpha Xi. I would love my daughters to be my sister too but I want them to be a part of the chapter that is the best for them.

[PlymouthDZ]

Originally posted by AXiD670
I can't believe her mom would do that - she should realize her each chapter is different and her daughter is a different person than she is. While I hope my future daughters will be Alpha Xis, I will support any choice they make.

My mom thought this way when I went through recruitment. My mom never pressured me into joining her org. She wanted me to go to the house I best fit with. For a while, LOTS of people thought I was going to go the Legacy route.

For me.. I have the hardest time fathoming that parents get this way. (The parent only willing to pay for a specific org.) Maybe its because Greek Life isn't the same in New England as it is in the South. *shrug*

As for our chapter, when we find out we have a legacy (which isn't all too often) we try to make an extra effort to make her feel welcome and to get to know her. But also, we do explain that just because she is a legacy doesn't guarentee her a bid.