God Love Barbara Walters & The View

[reverie]

Originally posted by greencat
Also, rather than assign affiliation or go through a selective membership process, it would be more welcoming to be able to attend informal open house sessions with the chapters, determine your best fit and provided you meet the basic criteria, you would become a member.

The problem with that is that fifty girls will think that ABC is their best fit, either because it really is or they think that sorority is the most popular. Then XYZ will have five girls, who although they are probably amazing women, would be unable to help them keep up with fees, dues and a house, solely because of numbers. (On my campus, you loose your house if you can't fill it and I'm sure it's like that on others.) I think the mutual selection process as it is now is definitely the best method. People tend to forget that it's not just the sororities picking girls, but the pnm who write down their top choices as well.

[TheEpitome1920]

Originally posted by greencat
I respect your opinion as well. However, I feel the system would gain greater credibility and support if it selective membership were eliminated, or the criteria lessened. I know that is an alien idea, and one that is not popular within the Greek Community, but from an objective standpoint, making it non-exclusive makes it less of a subject of scrutiny and disdain. I know the selective membership factor is a huge component to membership, as is live-in membership, but both have caused major rifts within the organizations, and increased hostility from the non-Greek community.

Also, rather than assign affiliation or go through a selective membership process, it would be more welcoming to be able to attend informal open house sessions with the chapters, determine your best fit and provided you meet the basic criteria, you would become a member.

The reason Greeks are subject to such scrutiny is that we are the official cliques of the university community. Let's eliminate the suspense. Then our fundraising and service efforts will be better received and we will receive more positive support and a positive image from the rest of the community. There is a reason those movies of the week on Lifetime TV have been made.

So what you are saying is...forget everything the founders put together and let everyone who smiles at us in?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
So what you are saying is...forget everything the founders put together and let everyone who smiles at us in?

Pretty much, *sigh* Forget whether or not women will uphold our principles.....founders everywhere are turning in their graves over this one.

Out of curiosity, greencat...what GLO are you in?

[WCUgirl]

Originally posted by JocelynC
Out of curiosity, greencat...what GLO are you in?

I was wondering the same thing myself.

[greencat]

It would be a bit presumptuous to believe that the same governing system of the late 1800's (when many of these groups were founded) would still work today. Society has changed. Our country's Founding Fathers knew this in 1776, and that is why they built our constitution with the flexibility to make and appeal amendments. Sororities have the same flexibility.

I appreciate your curiosity on my affiliation. My GLO is irrelevant as I prefer to remain anon b/c my views do not reflect the views of my GLO, and I don't want it to be construed that those views are the same. I will say that I AM an alumna member of an NPC sorority.

Quite honestly, I'm not attacking any of your beliefs. I respect what you think. I'm just offering my ideas on how to improve the system.

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
So what you are saying is...forget everything the founders put together and let everyone who smiles at us in?

Well, maybe that worked for her and her chapter.

Sometimes they have to let girls in who are just plain FOWL.

[CarolinaCutie]

Nah I don't think this is the FOWL. Although I disagree with her opinions, she seems way too articulate. And FOWL would be shouting her GLO affiliation from the rooftops.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally posted by greencat
It would be a bit presumptuous to believe that the same governing system of the late 1800's (when many of these groups were founded) would still work today. Society has changed. Our country's Founding Fathers knew this in 1776, and that is why they built our constitution with the flexibility to make and appeal amendments. Sororities have the same flexibility.

I appreciate your curiosity on my affiliation. My GLO is irrelevant as I prefer to remain anon b/c my views do not reflect the views of my GLO, and I don't want it to be construed that those views are the same. I will say that I AM an alumna member of an NPC sorority.

Quite honestly, I'm not attacking any of your beliefs. I respect what you think. I'm just offering my ideas on how to improve the system.

It's called mutual selection...I like you -- you like me? Let's be in the same club.

Feel free to keep your anonymity. If I had your opinions I wouldn't want to name the group I belonged to either.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by greencat
I respect your opinion as well. However, I feel the system would gain greater credibility and support if it selective membership were eliminated, or the criteria lessened. I know that is an alien idea, and one that is not popular within the Greek Community, but from an objective standpoint, making it non-exclusive makes it less of a subject of scrutiny and disdain. I know the selective membership factor is a huge component to membership, as is live-in membership, but both have caused major rifts within the organizations, and increased hostility from the non-Greek community.

Also, rather than assign affiliation or go through a selective membership process, it would be more welcoming to be able to attend informal open house sessions with the chapters, determine your best fit and provided you meet the basic criteria, you would become a member.

The reason Greeks are subject to such scrutiny is that we are the official cliques of the university community. Let's eliminate the suspense. Then our fundraising and service efforts will be better received and we will receive more positive support and a positive image from the rest of the community. There is a reason those movies of the week on Lifetime TV have been made.

Being in a GLO is like being able to sit at the "cool table" at lunch in HS or Junior High. Some kids will just never make it there. Many don't want to be. That's just the way it is. If the selection process is a problem for someone, they can go join Circle K or something.

[33girl]

And even in situations that are not selective - such as a dorm or interest housing - there's always people who are more popular, cliques, people who don't fit in and people who are never there. That's a fact of life. The only group I can think of where that doesn't happen is a monastery or convent, and I'd bet EVEN in that situation there are some nuns who are cooler than others.

[_Q_]

Originally posted by 33girl
The only group I can think of where that doesn't happen is a monastery or convent, and I'd bet EVEN in that situation there are some nuns who are cooler than others.

Yes, from what I understand, religious organizations have their own politics and at least some groupthink.

[DawnDZ]

Originally posted by reverie
The problem with that is that fifty girls will think that ABC is their best fit, either because it really is or they think that sorority is the most popular. Then XYZ will have five girls, who although they are probably amazing women, would be unable to help them keep up with fees, dues and a house, solely because of numbers. (On my campus, you loose your house if you can't fill it and I'm sure it's like that on others.) I think the mutual selection process as it is now is definitely the best method. People tend to forget that it's not just the sororities picking girls, but the pnm who write down their top choices as well.

I second this opinion. I think that recruitment should be mutual decision between a GLO and a PNM. There are additional reasons for organizations having a say in who joins. Consider a woman who wants to join for the wrong reasons. What if she believes a book like this and thinks that greek life is one huge party and she will be among the most popular partiers. You gain a member who may not maintain her financial obligations or grades, who may not attend mandatory events, who may not show up for community service events, who may not attend sisterhood retreats, all because she was looking for was a group to party with. Believe me it happens. Also you may get girls that seem great but just don't want to put in the effort it takes to be in a GLO or they just wanted something to put on their resumes. These things happen, this is why we need mutual selection. Girls should have a choice in where they end up, but so should the GLO. We don't want girls that will not be contributing members.

Selectivity is not a bad thing. Sometimes it makes people realize something about themselves and that maybe they are bettersuited for a different GLO. This happened to my best friend. She went out with an open mind and recieved a bid from from 3 groups not on her list and she didn't get her top 3. She chose one bid and she says now that she wouldn't have it any other way. She got the house that was best suited for her before she knew it was the best house for her. Girls need to realize this, its not a popularity contest, this is for life and you need to be with girls who you can call your sisters, your best friends. Sometimes PNM's don't always see who the best GLO is for them, mutual selection helps them to think about it more openly. Besides if they really want a specific group they can always come back the following semester. I think it speaks volumes for the girls that do come back after not receiving a bid. Just my 2 cents.

[TheEpitome1920]

Originally posted by ktsnake
Being in a GLO is like being able to sit at the "cool table" at lunch in HS or Junior High. Some kids will just never make it there. Many don't want to be. That's just the way it is. If the selection process is a problem for someone, they can go join Circle K or something.

Pretty much. Greek Life isn't for everyone.

[APhi Sailorgirl]

While some may see selectivity (and I don't even like that word) as a part of Greek Life, people also need to realize that each campus is different. Some campus' may have every woman match, so how is that being selective if each woman finds a home and a bond? Fraternities are the same way, so should they have open recruitment for all also?

Just because groups different on certain aspects based on their organization doesn't mean the whole message isn't the same. We're all greek because we are a part of a larger whole. Our organization provides a bond, friendship, sister/brother hood, and a lifelong connection that is beyond the borders of our campus. How amazing is it to meet a fellow sister/brother while away from school? PRETTY AWESOME.

Everything is selective. In going with a recruitment feel, what if we compared recruitment to the current Olympic trials or even college sports try-outs? If you're a swimmer, but you try out for the basketball team, should you automatically get to make it since you're interested?? The same goes for Greek Life. Org ABC may be like swimming, while DEF is like basketball. You have to go where you fit.

I've posted before and I'll post again. This is just another hurdle for Greek marketing on campus. We've had to deal with MTV and now Robbins and it will be overcome, because we all know that Greek Life is an amazing experience.