A disconnect with legacies?

[melindawarren]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

This is an old thread, but I was just thinking about how a lot of PNM's think they are legacies when they are not. I remember going through with a LOT of women who claimed to be "legacies" to XYZ through aunts or cousins. I think it is generally a bad idea to list your legacy status on your Panhellenic paperwork anyway, but it occurs to me that other chapters could see someone is a legacy and release her, when it turns out she really isn't, anyway.

Oh, no kidding! One of my sister's [bio] sisters is a sister in another NPC at another school and they're thrilled because "their daughters will be legacies to both." Looking over the list of what constitutes a legacy in various groups, that's not the case.

[jazing]

I find this whole "not bidding legacies" thing a bit odd. Is it the normal for sororities to not favor legacies like it is for fraternities (as in not give them bids because of being legacies)? I know for sure with us we bid legacies pretty easily. Its kinda an unwritten rule.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by jazing

I find this whole "not bidding legacies" thing a bit odd. Is it the normal for sororities to not favor legacies like it is for fraternities (as in not give them bids because of being legacies)? I know for sure with us we bid legacies pretty easily. Its kinda an unwritten rule.

Men don't have quotas (or at least, they don't at the vast majority of schools). Every legacy you take is a different girl you can't take. It's a whole different ballgame.

Now, when chapters are below quota/total, I think it is very rare to not give a bid to a legacy. I'd guess that virtually every HQ would want a damn good reason that you chose to remain below quota/total rather than give Lindsay Legacy a bid.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by jazing

I find this whole "not bidding legacies" thing a bit odd. Is it the normal for sororities to not favor legacies like it is for fraternities (as in not give them bids because of being legacies)? I know for sure with us we bid legacies pretty easily. Its kinda an unwritten rule.

For a lot of sorority chapters (particularly in the south), even if there WEREN'T quotas and totals, the amount of legacies would be as many women as there are already active in the sorority...times 5. It just isn't feasible to bid every legacy from a mathematical standpoint.

And even at a smaller school/system, even if the chapter is waaaaay under total...if the legacy just blatantly doesn't fit...the sorority will give her every chance, but in the end, why bid someone who no one in the sorority likes (and who more than likely doesn't like anyone in the sorority) just because her mom was a member 25 years ago? It's stupid. Better to practice true Greek unity and Panhellenic spirit and encourage the young woman to look at ALL the chapters and find what is right for HER - not force her into what was right for her mom a generation ago.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

I honestly think the "more legacies going through than quota" is not very often true. Honestly, even with Chi Omega (the largest NPC group) it is simply not often the case.

Originally Posted by 33girl

For a lot of sorority chapters (particularly in the south), even if there WEREN'T quotas and totals, the amount of legacies would be as many women as there are already active in the sorority...times 5. It just isn't feasible to bid every legacy from a mathematical standpoint.

I feel like reposting my comment on this topic, since it was way back on page 1! Take Ole Miss, for example, you think 1,500 Chi Omega legacies go through each year? You are way off base.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

I feel like reposting my comment on this topic, since it was way back on page 1! Take Ole Miss, for example, you think 1,500 Chi Omega legacies go through each year? You are way off base.

Overemphasis added for boy to understand concept.

I could give a shit how many Chi Omega legacies go through rush at Ole Miss.

[AGDCanada11]

Thought I would add in Alpha Gamma Delta's Leacy Policy (seeing as I just noticed this thread today!)

(From the Legacy Introduction Form):

"Alpha Gamma Delta recognizes that legacies are important to our Fraternity because they bring loyalty, strength, pride, and support to our chapters.

A legacy is a daughter, sister, grand-daughter, or step-daughter of an Alpha Gamma Delta who is an initiated member in Good Standing with the Fraternity.

It is the responsibility of the legacy's AGD relatives and friends to notify a chapter that she will be participating in recruitment by completing a RIF and LIF.

Collegiate chapters are not required to offer a bid to a legacy.

An AGD legacy should be a qualified recruitment guest in her own right--grades, activities, accomplishments, and overall compatibility with the chapter.

The Fraternity expects all collegiate chapters to give serious consideration to each legacy out of courtesy to the AGD member to whom she is related.

A legacy must be invited to at least one invitational round of the chapter's recruitment functions.

If a chapter releases a legacy, an advisor for the chapter must contact the AGD relative of the legacy to inform her of the legacy's release from membership consideration. All efforts must be taken to contact the relative prior to the distribution of invitations to the next round of recruitment events.

If a chapter invites a legacy to Preference, the legacy must be placed on the chapter's first bid list.

AGD members must have realistic expectations for our legacies. We must remember that some legacies are happier in another Greek group. All NPC groups have similar goals and ideals.

Legacies--Our special link between Alpha Gamma Delta's past and future."

I really like that they have a part specifically stating that some legacies are happier in other NPC groups!

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

I feel like reposting my comment on this topic, since it was way back on page 1! Take Ole Miss, for example, you think 1,500 Chi Omega legacies go through each year? You are way off base.

This isn't necessarily valid. I went to Indiana (the user name) and even as far back as the 1980's we had some chapters where, in fact, the number of legacies was higher than that chapter's quota. With bed quota, our quotas were anywhere from usually 30-55. Given the number of chapters in our state/area and the age of these chapters, having a lot of legacies for some chapters was common. I remember Theta having over 100 legacies with Kappa and Pi Phi close behind. Now 25 years later, I am sure that this still happens on some campuses or for some of the older, larger organizations. It may even happen more frequently today.

[JFFMom]

I love this thread! Because it is so true - legacies are important to all of our organizations for so many reasons. What surprises me is that at schools with tons of legacies (lots of PNM's to pick from as potential new sisters) only a small amount are actually pledged. Come on girls, if you have your pick from 200 legacies and have a large quota (80-100) you cannot tell me that at least 20 of them wouldn't be fit as well as a terrific asset for your chapter! You are blessed with a wealth of choices.
Hey Kappas... a question for you, I read something about a special effort you have made to encourage more pledging of legacies (along the lines of this thread) - is this true? One SEC chapter proudly announced after recruitment that they had a high percentage of legacies at preference. That was impressive!

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by JFFMom

I love this thread! Because it is so true - legacies are important to all of our organizations for so many reasons. What surprises me is that at schools with tons of legacies (lots of PNM's to pick from as potential new sisters) only a small amount are actually pledged. Come on girls, if you have your pick from 200 legacies and have a large quota (80-100) you cannot tell me that at least 20 of them wouldn't be fit as well as a terrific asset for your chapter! You are blessed with a wealth of choices.
Hey Kappas... a question for you, I read something about a special effort you have made to encourage more pledging of legacies (along the lines of this thread) - is this true? One SEC chapter proudly announced after recruitment that they had a high percentage of legacies at preference. That was impressive!

Agree!

I'd love to know if the Kappas have made a special effort and how it worked.

[JFFMom]

Also - I want to apologize to everyone now for any grammatical errors or misspellings I may have in my posts - I'm posting with 4 year old twins underfoot - so I have to be FAST! I just noticed one above - darn!

[winnie_tuck]

Granted this isn't my person opinion, because I would have died if I wasn't offered a bid from my family sorority but isn't the issue for some chapters is that they take all the legacies and are so "exclusive" others are not given a chance? It is just a sticky topic because this is half a New York Times article on Southern White Supremacy. There are always those hard luck stories where a nice sweet girl was cut but that helps you in life, we have to remember she will find friends and the sorority of her own. I am trying to see things openly as I have fought for one girl who others didn't like but all I can say is it's life and God has a plan. Im almost 21 so I can say you gravitate to the girl with the "red heel" D'orsay shoes or the one you know who is a cheerleader at your school so some girls do slip through. Also not every legacy has the same personality as her mom and young college girls haven't built that loyalty our mother's have to even the more "odd" sister and it comes down to catty reasons girls are cut. I think we always look back and see a legacy or other young lady and say wow she should have been our sister and this only educates us on how to better select sisters, in a more honest and true scale.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by winnie_tuck

Granted this isn't my person opinion, because I would have died if I wasn't offered a bid from my family sorority but isn't the issue for some chapters is that they take all the legacies and are so "exclusive" others are not given a chance? It is just a sticky topic because this is half a New York Times article on Southern White Supremacy. There are always those hard luck stories where a nice sweet girl was cut but that helps you in life, we have to remember she will find friends and the sorority of her own. I am trying to see things openly as I have fought for one girl who others didn't like but all I can say is it's life and God has a plan. Im almost 21 so I can say you gravitate to the girl with the "red heel" D'orsay shoes or the one you know who is a cheerleader at your school so some girls do slip through. Also not every legacy has the same personality as her mom and young college girls haven't built that loyalty our mother's have to even the more "odd" sister and it comes down to catty reasons girls are cut. I think we always look back and see a legacy or other young lady and say wow she should have been our sister and this only educates us on how to better select sisters, in a more honest and true scale.

1. RUN ON SENTENCES MAKE MY HEAD HURT.
2. QFP.
3. Plural, not possessive.
4. WTH?

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by winnie_tuck

Granted this isn't my person opinion, because I would have died if I wasn't offered a bid from my family sorority but isn't the issue for some chapters is that they take all the legacies and are so "exclusive" others are not given a chance? It is just a sticky topic because this is half a New York Times article on Southern White Supremacy. There are always those hard luck stories where a nice sweet girl was cut but that helps you in life, we have to remember she will find friends and the sorority of her own. I am trying to see things openly as I have fought for one girl who others didn't like but all I can say is it's life and God has a plan. Im almost 21 so I can say you gravitate to the girl with the "red heel" D'orsay shoes or the one you know who is a cheerleader at your school so some girls do slip through. Also not every legacy has the same personality as her mom and young college girls haven't built that loyalty our mother's have to even the more "odd" sister and it comes down to catty reasons girls are cut. I think we always look back and see a legacy or other young lady and say wow she should have been our sister and this only educates us on how to better select sisters, in a more honest and true scale.

WTF are you talking about? Have you been drinking early?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by winnie_tuck

Granted this isn't my person opinion, because I would have died if I wasn't offered a bid from my family sorority . . . .

Your family has its own sorority?

Bless your heart.