Indiana University Recruitment 2020

[PGD-GRAD]

It’s still that damned “pairing BS” that causes much of constant tier hysteria. From the start of school so much drama and comparisons are drawn over who is paired whom at Homecoming, Little 5 and various other events.
Sororities actually seem to gain self worth by being asked by “top tier” fraternities and disparage other sororities who get “leftover” fraternities. Fraternities, likewise, brag during rush about hanging out with “top tier” girls. It’s NUTS!

All it would take would be Greek Life saying: “No. We are drawing for pairs this year. And if you get the same house for two events, you re-draw.” ONE YEAR and then it would be the new normal. Sure...there would be bitching, but it’s certainly worth a try. Something has to change.


(IndianaSigKap might weigh in...perhaps my view is too simplistic.)

[Rod D]

Originally Posted by PGD-GRAD

It’s still that damned “pairing BS” that causes much of constant tier hysteria. From the start of school so much drama and comparisons are drawn over who is paired whom at Homecoming, Little 5 and various other events.
Sororities actually seem to gain self worth by being asked by “top tier” fraternities and disparage other sororities who get “leftover” fraternities. Fraternities, likewise, brag during rush about hanging out with “top tier” girls. It’s NUTS!

All it would take would be Greek Life saying: “No. We are drawing for pairs this year. And if you get the same house for two events, you re-draw.” ONE YEAR and then it would be the new normal. Sure...there would be bitching, but it’s certainly worth a try. Something has to change.


(IndianaSigKap might weigh in...perhaps my view is too simplistic.)

I can't see "forced pairs" working. What happens when you pair the Academic house with the Animal house? Like minded sororities pair with like minded fraternities. Plus, these days the risks are too great to associate with people you don't have an established friendship with.

If you want to break down the barriers you need events which allow all the greek houses to mingle. Something like a greek week or block party. Close down Jordan. Hire some bands/Djs. The administration won't allow it because they are trying to tone down the IU party reputation.

[APhi2KD]

Originally Posted by Rod D

I can't see "forced pairs" working. What happens when you pair the Academic house with the Animal house? Like minded sororities pair with like minded fraternities. Plus, these days the risks are too great to associate with people you don't have an established friendship with.

Works well at my daughter’s school.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Rod D

I can't see "forced pairs" working. What happens when you pair the Academic house with the Animal house? Like minded sororities pair with like minded fraternities. Plus, these days the risks are too great to associate with people you don't have an established friendship with.

If you want to break down the barriers you need events which allow all the greek houses to mingle. Something like a greek week or block party. Close down Jordan. Hire some bands/Djs. The administration won't allow it because they are trying to tone down the IU party reputation.

It’s building a float and/or working on a race, not being married. I don’t think anyone is saying that long established connections between specific fraternities and sororities will vanish, but if it’s to the point when Fantastic Fraternity won’t even respond to an overture from So-So Sorority (or vice versa) it flies in the face of all the claims about Greek life being a great way to meet all different kinds of people.

And the only “risk” nowadays is being 80 feet up the ass of a group and being left high and dry when their charter gets pulled.

Plus I don’t know the last time you were at a block party, but people hang out with the people they know. They certainly don’t all get in a circle and sing Kum Ba Yah.

[Rod D]

Originally Posted by 33girl

It’s building a float and/or working on a race, not being married. I don’t think anyone is saying that long established connections between specific fraternities and sororities will vanish, but if it’s to the point when Fantastic Fraternity won’t even respond to an overture from So-So Sorority (or vice versa) it flies in the face of all the claims about Greek life being a great way to meet all different kinds of people.

And the only “risk” nowadays is being 80 feet up the ass of a group and being left high and dry when their charter gets pulled.

Plus I don’t know the last time you were at a block party, but people hang out with the people they know. They certainly don’t all get in a circle and sing Kum Ba Yah.

Not sure when the last time IU greeks built floats. But a large event allows the dude from ABC who knows the girl in XYZ to introduce some of his brothers to some of her sisters in passing. It could be 5 mins or 25 mins of conversation, but it begins to break down the barriers. Then the overture isn't a "cold call" but a follow up and the ice has been broken.

[BUDelta4Life]

Originally Posted by 33girl

It’s building a float and/or working on a race, not being married. I don’t think anyone is saying that long established connections between specific fraternities and sororities will vanish, but if it’s to the point when Fantastic Fraternity won’t even respond to an overture from So-So Sorority (or vice versa) it flies in the face of all the claims about Greek life being a great way to meet all different kinds of people.

And the only “risk” nowadays is being 80 feet up the ass of a group and being left high and dry when their charter gets pulled.

Plus I don’t know the last time you were at a block party, but people hang out with the people they know. They certainly don’t all get in a circle and sing Kum Ba Yah.

Agreed. Random rotating pairs for campus events works at many other campuses across the country of all sizes. It does a lot to lessen the stigma of perceived "reputation." In some campuses, the student government association even throws dorms into the mix of pairs so that the entire campus gets to meet new people. I also agree with the idea that IU should start having random pairs for philanthropy or volunteer events; it would allow them to ease into the idea. And, I know on some campuses where the Greek houses have regular open all-campus philanthropy events (such as an ice-cream social fundraiser for their philanthropy on a random Wednesday night) and everyone turns out for it, it goes a long way to breaking down perceived differences and tiers.

[Rod D]

Originally Posted by BUDelta4Life

Agreed. Random rotating pairs for campus events works at many other campuses across the country of all sizes. It does a lot to lessen the stigma of perceived "reputation." In some campuses, the student government association even throws dorms into the mix of pairs so that the entire campus gets to meet new people. I also agree with the idea that IU should start having random pairs for philanthropy or volunteer events; it would allow them to ease into the idea. And, I know on some campuses where the Greek houses have regular open all-campus philanthropy events (such as an ice-cream social fundraiser for their philanthropy on a random Wednesday night) and everyone turns out for it, it goes a long way to breaking down perceived differences and tiers.

The IU system doesn't have a lot of single paired events like that. IU pairs are primarily social -- homecoming, little 500, and weekend parties.

[IndianaSigKap]

I have read through the posts regarding pairing and wanted to add a few comments to mix. I was social chair back in the day and I went out of my way to have events with different fraternities so that our chapter could get to know theirs. Never once did I have a fraternity not want to plan an event nor did we ever have a fraternity not show up. Maybe times were different or people were different, but I do wonder how often the social chairs actually seek out chapters with whom they don't normally mix? We are placing blame on the organization as a whole, but maybe the socials aren't going out of their comfort zone enough or executive officers aren't supporting reaching out.

I like the idea of a Greek Week that I think Rod D suggested. We did this when I was in school and you were paired with fraternities for different events like a relay run, co-ed volleyball, tug of war, etc. You might be paired with one group for one event and then another group for a different event. It was a lot of fun and you wanted the points, so you hoped you were paired with a chapter that had some athletic members. Something like this could easily be done in the fall when the weather is nicer. If chapters knew they might only spend an hour or two with a new group, it might not be so daunting.

The random pair idea is one that has been kicked around for years, but is never implemented. I understand the hesitation, but it could also be done pretty easily. Instead of all paired events being parties, chapters could pair for other events such as a Saturday helping build at Habitat for Humanity, after school tutoring at the Boys and Girls Club, a fundraising night for IUDM at a local restaurant. If a fraternity and sorority paired for events similar to the ones I mentioned above, they might get to know each other and accomplish something positive for the community while getting some good PR. I believe chapters can only have an official pair like every two weeks, if they do the philanthropy pair let them earn another social pair. Give them an incentive to try. Or at the social pairs have a sign in sheet and if a certain percentage of your chapter doesn't attend, then you lose an event. Make it a reasonable percentage like 33% or 40%. That will allow for students who are going home, have academic responsibilities like I-core, illness, etc.

I do believe that if chapter were forced to mix to a small extent the Greek system would benefit. At least, if nothing else, some of the stereotypes would be debunked.

Just my two cents.

[GreekOne]

Originally Posted by IndianaSigKap

I have read through the posts regarding pairing and wanted to add a few comments to mix. I was social chair back in the day and I went out of my way to have events with different fraternities so that our chapter could get to know theirs. Never once did I have a fraternity not want to plan an event nor did we ever have a fraternity not show up. Maybe times were different or people were different, but I do wonder how often the social chairs actually seek out chapters with whom they don't normally mix? We are placing blame on the organization as a whole, but maybe the socials aren't going out of their comfort zone enough or executive officers aren't supporting reaching out.

I like the idea of a Greek Week that I think Rod D suggested. We did this when I was in school and you were paired with fraternities for different events like a relay run, co-ed volleyball, tug of war, etc. You might be paired with one group for one event and then another group for a different event. It was a lot of fun and you wanted the points, so you hoped you were paired with a chapter that had some athletic members. Something like this could easily be done in the fall when the weather is nicer. If chapters knew they might only spend an hour or two with a new group, it might not be so daunting.

The random pair idea is one that has been kicked around for years, but is never implemented. I understand the hesitation, but it could also be done pretty easily. Instead of all paired events being parties, chapters could pair for other events such as a Saturday helping build at Habitat for Humanity, after school tutoring at the Boys and Girls Club, a fundraising night for IUDM at a local restaurant. If a fraternity and sorority paired for events similar to the ones I mentioned above, they might get to know each other and accomplish something positive for the community while getting some good PR. I believe chapters can only have an official pair like every two weeks, if they do the philanthropy pair let them earn another social pair. Give them an incentive to try. Or at the social pairs have a sign in sheet and if a certain percentage of your chapter doesn't attend, then you lose an event. Make it a reasonable percentage like 33% or 40%. That will allow for students who are going home, have academic responsibilities like I-core, illness, etc.

I do believe that if chapter were forced to mix to a small extent the Greek system would benefit. At least, if nothing else, some of the stereotypes would be debunked.

Just my two cents.

All of this yes, 100%. It really needs to be driven by Panhellenic and IFC. It would improve the Greek system tremendously.

On a completely different note, do you IndianaSigKap know how many houses, if any, decline quota additions? There was some discussion about this on the FB group and I was wondering if that is happening at IU?

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by GreekOne

All of this yes, 100%. It really needs to be driven by Panhellenic and IFC. It would improve the Greek system tremendously.

On a completely different note, do you IndianaSigKap know how many houses, if any, decline quota additions? There was some discussion about this on the FB group and I was wondering if that is happening at IU?

I have been told that since they are using all of the RFM rules this year, all chapters can accept QAs, no chapter will be allowed to decline. Given the number of drops and SIPs, I would guess that most every chapter will make quota, which I speculated to be somewhere between 54 and 58.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by IndianaSigKap

I have been told that since they are using all of the RFM rules this year, all chapters can accept QAs, no chapter will be allowed to decline. Given the number of drops and SIPs, I would guess that most every chapter will make quota, which I speculated to be somewhere between 54 and 58.

Are they any closer to adopting a system wide chapter total?

[AZTheta]

Bottom line: for whatever reason(s), PNMs drop. And they cry, blame the system, yadayadayada, and their parents complain. Blah blah blah. It's nothing like it was when Indiana held onto bed rush (shudder). THAT was cruel and brutal. Indiana did change. It took a Herculean effort and campaign, and quite a lot of time, but the change did come. I hope Amy Kates is smiling in heaven.

"Forced mixing" may well need to be implemented. As long as there are alumni (male and female) holding onto their "glory days" and perpetuating old practices and exclusivity for the new generations, there'll be challenges. Look at Ole Miss and Bama and Texas, folks. I do have a lot of optimism for the "millennials" myself. I especially admire their sassiness and their "okay Boomer" attitude.

So, the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on. IndianaSigKap, time for a massage and an adult beverage!

[ForeverRoses]

I was told this past weekend that Women's Panhellenic has suggested random pairings for homecoming and/or little 5 and that the IFC flatly refused to consider it. So sadly, it is the fraternities that are blocking it. It would be lovely if the sororities flat out refused pairs unless the IFC changed it's mind, however they would all have to agree and stick to it.

No word on chapter total. However since informal recruitment has such a negative stigma (a holdover from bed rush days when smaller = better) few want to do it, so as long as you have retention and make quota, the chapters tend to be similar sizes.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

I was told this past weekend that Women's Panhellenic has suggested random pairings for homecoming and/or little 5 and that the IFC flatly refused to consider it. So sadly, it is the fraternities that are blocking it. It would be lovely if the sororities flat out refused pairs unless the IFC changed it's mind, however they would all have to agree and stick to it.

No word on chapter total. However since informal recruitment has such a negative stigma (a holdover from bed rush days when smaller = better) few want to do it, so as long as you have retention and make quota, the chapters tend to be similar sizes.

I don't really understand what these pairings are for (homecoming? mixers?), but all the sororities should band together and pair with each other. Leave the fraternities out of it if they want to pull this s***.

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I don't really understand what these pairings are for (homecoming? mixers?), but all the sororities should band together and pair with each other. Leave the fraternities out of it if they want to pull this s***.

I agree with that!

The pairings basically mean who you party with for the week for homecoming and the week of little 5 & quals. The other pairs are basically just one-off parties. Some have themes but it's just who you have a party with on Thursday, Friday or Saturday (or other days of the week)