Help! I Keep Getting Contradicting Information at my School

[colors]

Hi,

I was told if nobody put on my pref card offered me a bid, I would still be elligible for COB, and informal, and theat the 1 year rule doesn't apply because I would have been cut. (I was told ths by Rho alpha's, persons helping work the computer lab the selection process took place in, the person who spoke to me when I signed my pref card, and the lady in charge of recruitment).

Now I have recieved a reply from my schools VP of recruitment saying that, NOPE, not allowed to be involved in COB, or informal (and they are the same thing... I thought they were different but I guess not?). She suggested that I wait until next year and try again as a junior (from reading this site, I believe that this is frowned upon...)

I thought (and was told) the rule was that if I was offered a bid and turned it down, then the one year rule would apply. Now I am also being told that even if I was not offered a bid and was cut (I didn't want to be cut!!) the rule still applies.

Which is true?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by colors

Hi, some of you might remember my last post here. (http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...d.php?t=121916)

Basically I was cut from recruitment after leaving a house off of my pref card. (I know, many people have opinions about this, I don't wish to cause on argument on this post). My Rho Alpha suggested I do Continuous Open Bidding (COB), knowing full well that I left someone off my pref card. I asked multiple times BEFORE signing my pref card to make sure that doing so would not put me "in bad faith" (as it's referred to at my school), and that if I did not get a bid, would I still be ableto do COB or informal.

I was told yes, If nobody put on my pref card offered me a bid, I would still be elligible for COB, and informal, and theat the 1 year rule doesn't apply because I would have been cut. (I was told ths by Rho alpha's, persons helping work the computer lab the selection process took place in, the person who spoke to me when I signed my pref card, and the lady in charge of recruitment).

Now I have recieved a reply from my schools VP of recruitment saying that, NOPE, not allowed to be involved in COB, or informal (and they are the same thing... I thought they were different but I guess not?). She suggested that I wait until next year and try again as a junior (from reading this site, I believe that this is frowned upon... because of my age and the fact that I have already been through twice..correct me if I am wrong..)

I thought (and was told) the rule was that if I was offered a bid and turned it down, then the one year rule would apply. Now I am also being told that even if I was not offered a bid and was cut (I didn't want to be cut!!) the rule still applies.

Which is true?

This is what I know based on the NPC manual of info:

You are eligible for COB/informal as long as you NEVER got a bid.

If you signed a pref card, got a bid, and decided to decline it, you may not participate.

If you signed a pref card, got a bid, pledged that chapter, then depledged, you may not participate.

As far as I know (and this is as someone who volunteers with chapters and deals with recruitment frquently) you are eligible unless one of those 2 things occured.

[colors]

Okay thank you!! neither of those two situations occured, and I did not recieve a bid.

Is there a formal online manual/website with that statement on it?

Actually, any suggestions on how to bring this up to the greeklife office for a second time if it is the case that I should have been elligible for informal (now I'm being told all quota's are filled, but people are still getting contacted about informal recruitment events... once again super confusing)?

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

This is what I know based on the NPC manual of info:

You are eligible for COB/informal as long as you NEVER got a bid.

If you signed a pref card, got a bid, and decided to decline it, you may not participate.

If you signed a pref card, got a bid, pledged that chapter, then depledged, you may not participate.

As far as I know (and this is as someone who volunteers with chapters and deals with recruitment frquently) you are eligible unless one of those 2 things occured.

[KSUViolet06]

The manual itself is only available for purchase (it's a little pricey), but the sections which apply to PNMs are readily available on the NPC's website:

http://npcwomen.org/undergrads/standards-policies.aspx

A signed Membership Recruitment Acceptance or a Continuous Open Bidding (COB) Acceptance is binding. If a potential member receives a bid under the preference system, she is ineligible to be pledged to any other NPC fraternity on the same campus for one calendar year. If a potential member does not receive a bid under the preference system, she is eligible for COB. (4)

A woman who has had her pledge broken by an NPC fraternity, or who has broken her pledge to an NPC fraternity, may not be asked to join another NPC fraternity on that campus for one calendar year from the date she was originally pledged. However, she may be repledged by the same NPC fraternity chapter at any time within that calendar year. (6)

[colors]

thank you again!!

also does it say anywhere in the MRABA specifically that signing a pref card (not a bid) would make someone inelligible for informal/COB?

[AOIIalum]

Originally Posted by colors

thank you again!!

also does it say anywhere in the MRABA specifically that signing a pref card (not a bid) would make someone inelligible for informal/COB?

Yes, per the sample script it looks like at least twice, in writing. See cut-and-paste sample from NPC site below (I added the formatting below for ease of reading and emphasis):


By signing this acceptance agreement, I understand and agree to the following terms.

Please read and initial each of the following:

I am willing to accept an invitation to membership from any women’s sorority (fraternity) that I list on this agreement.

I may limit my choices to just one OR list any women’s sorority (fraternity) whose preference-round (last) event I attended, and from which I am willing to accept membership. I realize that by not listing the maximum number of events I attended, I may be limiting my potential to join any other NPC group during formal recruitment should I not be placed with my choice(s).

Once I submit this agreement to the College Panhellenic Association, I cannot change the order of my preferences or add or delete a preference.

If I do not receive an invitation to membership from a group that I have listed, I am eligible for continuous open bidding.

I have the option of not submitting an agreement at this time.

Once I submit this agreement, I am bound by the National Panhellenic Conference one-calendar year rule. This rule states that if I receive an invitation to membership from a group that I have listed and then do not accept it, I am not eligible to be pledged to any other NPC member sorority (fraternity) on this campus for one calendar year (12 month period) from the time of this signing.

Signature __________________________________________________ ____________
By signing this form you are agreeing to accept a bid from any of the women’s sororities you list below and if offered, you are bound to that bid for one calendar year.

[33girl]

I said it in your other thread (in so many words) and I'll say it again. Your school is whack and needs to make a purchase from the Clue Store.

You might want to ask the Greek Life director or the VP of recruitment (I assume that's a Panhel office) to contact their CPH Area Advisor (you can find your school at the link below) and get their act together.

http://www.npcwomen.org/college-panh.../advisors.aspx

This kind of thing would be understandable at a school that just went from locals to nationals, or one with a Greek system that just started doing formal rush. Since judging by what you said, your school is neither of these things, it's pretty inexcusable in my book.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by colors

thank you again!!

also does it say anywhere in the MRABA specifically that signing a pref card (not a bid) would make someone inelligible for informal/COB?

Signing a pref card is the same (as far as binding-wise) as signing a bid. The only time you would ever be presented with an actual bid from the sorority to sign is during informal or COB.

However, if you aren't matched to any of the sororities you write on the pref card, you are free and clear.

Have you heard of anyone else at your school having these issues or being surprised with what they got (sororities or rushees)? I'm not doubting you in the least, I'm just curious if they don't know what to do for you because your situation is highly irregular, or if it's the Wild Wild West there and they do whatever they feel like doing.

[colors]

Hahaha. Thank you! my school is very large and has been doing formal recruitment for a while, so I really dont know why so many things are up in the air.

They really do not explain the process well at all, and is was a bit unorganized. A lot was glossed over... I had never even heard of recs before I came to this site! (Maybe if I knew these things beforehand I may have gotten a different outcome)


I'm just frusturated because I wanted to do informal rush, but because of this mistake was left out, and now apparently the quotas are all filled. (again, I asked for the quota's be wan't really given detailed information).

Originally Posted by 33girl

Signing a pref card is the same (as far as binding-wise) as signing a bid. The only time you would ever be presented with an actual bid from the sorority to sign is during informal or COB.

However, if you aren't matched to any of the sororities you write on the pref card, you are free and clear.

Have you heard of anyone else at your school having these issues or being surprised with what they got (sororities or rushees)? I'm not doubting you in the least, I'm just curious if they don't know what to do for you because your situation is highly irregular, or if it's the Wild Wild West there and they do whatever they feel like doing.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by colors

I know a lot of rushees getting really positive feedback from houses, then not being invited back, but that happens everywhere, right? A few girls dissapeared during rush who I believe were cut and did not choose to drop. I know there is also one house which many people who rank them 3rd get bids from. A friend I rushed with said that a good number (10-15) literally walked out immediatly after opening their bid cards.

While your school may not particularly well-informed, the things you're describing here are not the fault of the system.

It does happen that you think you hit it off with a chapter and get cut. That's not unique to your school. Chapters make their own decisions.

Also, as far as getting bids to your 3rd choice, that can happen anywhere too. I think the issue is that some schools don't spend enough time telling PNMs EXACTLY what it means to sign that final card.

Anytime you pref 3 chapters and list them all on that final card, you're saying that you are willing to accept a bid from any of those 3. . I think schools tend to gloss over this part and kind of say "you have to put all 3 down, but don't worry, no one ever gets their 3rd choice." That's just not true. You could receive a bid from ANY one of them. Even your 3rd.

Also, I think that is why a lot of schools are switching to 2 party prefs (instead of 3) because they find that (in general) PNMs feel okay with getting a bid from their second choice. More often than not, they really aren't interested in that 3rd choice (and wouldn't take a bid from them), but put it down because a Rho Chi says they "have to or they won't get a bid." Also false.

[AXOrushadvisor]

^^^This last paragraph. Read what happened at Arizona State University in Irishpipes thread when they went from 2 to 3 preference parties with disastrous results. 5 of the 11 Chapters did not make quota and a 1/3 of the women SIP'd.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by AXOrushadvisor

^^^This last paragraph. Read what happened at Arizona State University in Irishpipes thread when they went from 2 to 3 preference parties with disastrous results. 5 of the 11 Chapters did not make quota and a 1/3 of the women SIP'd.

Oh, I see what you mean. I bet PNM's are thinking "I won't put down three, so why bother putting down 2?"

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Also, I think that is why a lot of schools are switching to 2 party prefs (instead of 3) because they find that (in general) PNMs feel okay with getting a bid from their second choice. More often than not, they really aren't interested in that 3rd choice (and wouldn't take a bid from them), but put it down because a Rho Chi says they "have to or they won't get a bid." Also false.

I don't see how it would make a difference if there's a chapter that sticks out as the one that no one wants to join. Plenty of women are still going to be "stuck" going to "Icky Iota" for pref because of the way RFM works. Women who might have been invited to Okay Omicron, Less Popular Lambda and Icky Iota in a 3 party format might find themselves cut from Okay Omicron and therefore forced to go to Icky Iota, though they would have wanted to pref at Okay Omicron and Less Popular Lambda in a 2 party format.

You could argue that a woman who would make the cut in a 3 party format but not a 2 party format for a chapter probably wouldn't get a bid anyway, but a chapter can arrange the bid list however they want. She could wow a chapter at pref and move to the first list.

[MST62]

Originally Posted by AXOrushadvisor

^^^This last paragraph. Read what happened at Arizona State University in Irishpipes thread when they went from 2 to 3 preference parties with disastrous results. 5 of the 11 Chapters did not make quota and a 1/3 of the women SIP'd.

Does anyone have a link to this? I've tried searching but my skills are subpar and I can't manage to find it, it sounds incredibly interesting.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by MST62

Does anyone have a link to this? I've tried searching but my skills are subpar and I can't manage to find it, it sounds incredibly interesting.

search on GC for irishpipes' thread on sorority recruitment results. You'll find what you're looking for in the last few (most recent) pages of that thread.