Gamma Phi Beta changes legacy policy

[NYCMS]

I knew it was likely a matter of time and I was right - Gamma Phi has changed our legacy policy to match other sororities' new policies where legacies are no longer given preferential treatment. They stated that it as a result of input from alums and collegians.

I read the post on Instagram and it appeared that the vast majority support this change. One thing of note - which perhaps is being voiced by other sororities' members although I don't know - was a frequent request to change the financial requirements of membership so that those with fewer resources could afford to join.

I don't recall all the other orgs that have done this - I think Delta Gamma might have been among the first. Anyone know if any others have done so?

[carnation]

Originally Posted by NYCMS

And do I recall correctly that Pi Phi has also followed?

We have not.

[NYCMS]

Originally Posted by carnation

We have not.

Thanks for clarifying, Carnation! I'll edit my post.

[navane]

Originally Posted by NYCMS

I read the post on Instagram and it appeared that the vast majority support this change. One thing of note - which perhaps is being voiced by other sororities' members although I don't know - was a frequent request to change the financial requirements of membership so that those with fewer resources could afford to join.

It depends on what we mean here. The last time I checked, the annual dues/fees for membership (IHQ) are surprisingly low. What kicks up the cost are the local chapter dues and house fees.

The house fees I can understand - having served on AHC for 14 years, keeping a modest-sized facility running is an expensive endeavor. I assume the costs for one of the mansion-sized places is astronomical. But, "most" of those costs are borne by the live-ins via room and board, which they would usually be paying for anyway as college students (unless they were living at home). In some (many?) instances, it's *more* affordable to live-in.

It's the local chapter dues that probably kick a lot of people in the pants. It seems that many chapters of GLOs are playing a game of one-upmanship. Who can have the better blow-out formal at the local resort, or who can spend big $$$ on professional grade recruitment videos, or designer recruitment outfits, etc. Sure, members like to have event t-shirts, etc; but there are a LOT of local costs.

It would seem to me that, if the members wanted to make their membership more accessible, they could start by taking a red pen to their own chapter budgets.

[NYCMS]

Originally Posted by navane

(edit) It's the local chapter dues that probably kick a lot of people in the pants. It seems that many chapters of GLOs are playing a game of one-upmanship. Who can have the better blow-out formal at the local resort, or who can spend big $$$ on professional grade recruitment videos, or designer recruitment outfits, etc. Sure, members like to have event t-shirts, etc; but there are a LOT of local costs.

Agree. Not sure collegians are seeing the difference between international dues and local costs. The houses! The big sister/little sister gifts! The outfits! The Bid Day parties that look created by a top party planner...when I read about chapter goings-on and see pics of various chapters, it seems clear that a lot of these high costs are due to 'lifestyle' items, not their national/international membership fee.

[carnation]

Most of my daughters went to medium-sized state universities with no or small houses (the kind only the officers live in) and then one went to a big university and WHOA! Major dues!

There is a HUGE difference in dues between campuses.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by navane

It would seem to me that, if the members wanted to make their membership more accessible, they could start by taking a red pen to their own chapter budgets.

Agreed. The chapter I've worked with for over 20 years has been diligently reducing its chapter budget in each of the past three years.

This year the biggest financial problem for their collegians is meeting individual national dues, which unfortunately have not shrunk yet thankfully did not grow. A lot of temporary forgiveness and flexibility in all categories of dues collection has been the norm.

[aephi alum]

AFAIK, AEPhi has not altered our legacy policy since my collegiate days.

A legacy is the sister, daughter, or granddaughter of a sister.

During FR, the legacy gets automatically invited to the first invitational round unless she doesn't meet GPA requirements. After that, she can be released. If she is invited to pref on her own merits, she goes on the first bid list.

No guarantees if the legacy goes through informal recruitment, but it will be taken into consideration that she's a legacy.

[UVASquirrel]

Originally Posted by NYCMS

I don't recall all the other orgs that have done this - I think Delta Gamma might have been among the first. Anyone know if any others have done so?

I thought I saw in another thread that there were 3 or 4 others besides Delta Gamma, but I can't find that thread.

[AZTheta]

Kappa Alpha Theta altered legacy policy this past July. Here's a link.

[thetalady]

UVASquirrel, Here is the prior thread you might be looking for. The set up list is confusing... only those sororities with the ** beside their names have altered policies. And it has not been updated as additional groups have dropped legacy preferences.

Who Has Removed Preferential Treatment

[UVASquirrel]

Originally Posted by thetalady

UVASquirrel, Here is the prior thread you might be looking for. The set up list is confusing... only those sororities with the ** beside their names have altered policies. And it has not been updated as additional groups have dropped legacy preferences.

Who Has Removed Preferential Treatment

Yep!! That was it. I knew I had seen it before! Thanks!