What aspect of Greek life do you wish was better?

[yonah_riese]

Hey all,

Simple question - what would you say are some of the most annoying issues in frat life today that could be solved with a little bit of technology?

I ask because I'm looking to spend the next few summer months working on some kind of technical project that would benefit Greeks. I just graduated undergrad having studied computer science (and was in a frat myself), and I want some inspiration for a side project, hopefully something like a webapp or service. I'm asking specifically for PROBLEM definitions, not product requests, since I find that knowing the context underlying a problem makes it easier for me to come up with a reasonable solution.

Good example: "people on campus aren't showing up to our events because we put them together so last-minute"
Bad example: "build a group messaging announcement system"

Feel free to repeat suggestions -- if I see there's interest by more than one person, I'll be more likely to take it on

[Sciencewoman]

People don't read emails or skim through and miss information, then email/text officers asking for the same information that was already sent, but they didn't read it

[yonah_riese]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

People don't read emails or skim through and miss information, then email/text officers asking for the same information that was already sent, but they didn't read it

I like that one, thanks. Do you think the issue is mostly event-oriented, deadline-oriented (when dues are due, etc), or something else? Or both?

[austingammaphi]

As an alum whose daughter joined and withdrew before initiation last year, I wish that NPC would return to semester-long new member periods. My daughter and her friends in other houses said that the responsibility for learning about the traditions, history, symbols, etc. was placed almost solely on the new members. There was no discussion or review, or opportunity to ask questions in pledge meetings--just reminders of dues deadlines, encouragement to attend every frat event on the calendar, and endless voting on t-shirt colors. Then, the week before initiation, there was a mad panic to scare the new members into cramming for the pre-initiation test over sorority information and traditions. And it happened to be the same week as midterms, so guess what took priority?

In talking to my daughter's friends, it also sounds like there is much less emphasis placed on getting to know the pledges and shepherding them through their first semesters on campus. I'm told that a lot of "getting to know you" activities (like new members "interviewing" the actives for hometowns, majors, favorite snack, etc.)have been dropped because of privacy regulations, but having designated actives meet you at the door and sit with you during your first chapter dinner, and walk you back to your dorm/apartment afterwards was such a welcoming gesture. None of that seems to be happening any more--at least not on our campus.

[TLLK]

My fellow alumnae and I have been concerned about this elimination of the opportunity to instruct new members regarding fraternity history, goals, and philanthropy. We were stunned to find out that new members' grades were no longer a factor in being ready for initiation. I agree that it would be better to return to the extended new member preparation.

Austingammaphi-Sorry to read about your daughter's experience as that is an incredible stress load for new members to handle by having their test at the same time as midterms.

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by yonah_riese

I like that one, thanks. Do you think the issue is mostly event-oriented, deadline-oriented (when dues are due, etc), or something else? Or both?

Both. We have announcement emails every other day with event info and deadlines. People don't read the housing contracts either.

[jolene]

The fast-track new member period always baffled me. I was one of the last ones to go through the semester long one and that fall (I came in spring), we initiated in a much shorter period (can't remember the amt of weeks). Is there a study of if girls are more likely to drop after initiation with the shorter time or the semester model? It also seems less stressful on the new girls if they have longer to learn the traditions, etc.

[austingammaphi]

Originally Posted by jolene

The fast-track new member period always baffled me. I was one of the last ones to go through the semester long one and that fall (I came in spring), we initiated in a much shorter period (can't remember the amt of weeks). Is there a study of if girls are more likely to drop after initiation with the shorter time or the semester model? It also seems less stressful on the new girls if they have longer to learn the traditions, etc.

My understanding was that it was partially in response to a nationwide increase in hazing incidents. I think there was also an argument for maximizing the full member time so that everyone would have full membership status and privileges for a (slightly) greater chunk of their collegiate experience. .

Chi Omega is the only NPC sorority I know of that refused to follow this trend. They still wait until the semester after the new member period so that they can check grades.

[1964Alum]

Originally Posted by austingammaphi

My understanding was that it was partially in response to a nationwide increase in hazing incidents. I think there was also an argument for maximizing the full member time so that everyone would have full membership status and privileges for a (slightly) greater chunk of their collegiate experience. .

Chi Omega is the only NPC sorority I know of that refused to follow this trend. They still wait until the semester after the new member period so that they can check grades.

We had a full semester of being a pledge, and I applaud Chi Omega for keeping our traditional pledge period. Yes, we weren't initiated until after our semester grades were posted, but we also had many opportunities to get to know our pledge sisters outside of our weekly pledge meetings. Our pledge meetings were 99% focused on our history and traditions with a bare minimum spent on housekeeping. We were also required to individually interview our active members, but I don't remember that being cumbersome at all. Our executive officers also met with us to to explain to us the roles they had. One very helpful meeting was with our Personnel chair to learn the process to resolve conflicts with each other discreetly and without gossip to other members.

We had a weekend pledge retreat, a formal pledge presentation ball, and a party given by the pledges for the actives.

We weren't "New Members" as we weren't members as yet!

[AGDee]

I went through recruitment in February 1984 and was initiated that April. If I'd had to wait over the summer to get initiated, I don't know that I would have stuck around. That would be really weird. Ours was never longer, really. Fall class finished recruitment in October and we did wait until January to initiate but nothing happened from Thanksgiving through Christmas because of finals and going home so it was more a timing thing. We had to hurry up and initiate in January before the February recruitment.

That said, our chapters have new member meetings a set curriculum for their new member period which prepares them. We have ongoing programming once initiated, until graduation which focuses on various topics throughout their collegiate experience. Our members are still doing things to welcome new members and integrate them into the chapter. Those interviews are not allowed because it set up a situation to make hazing seem really easy and seriously, is that how you welcome people to your group? Make them interview every member? Can you imagine starting a new job and the first task you are given is to interview every member of your department? No, they have a welcome lunch and people come by and introduce themselves and invite you to lunch or break, etc.

I've not seen any changes in retention over the years. Those numbers have been pretty consistent. In chapters where members are happy, they have great retention. Where sisterhood is lacking, they have awful retention.

[AOIILisa]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I went through recruitment in February 1984 and was initiated that April. If I'd had to wait over the summer to get initiated, I don't know that I would have stuck around.

I went through COB in February 1982 and did have to wait till the following September to be initiated (just before formal recruitment started). The wait actually made me better appreciate getting my badge and letters (at that time, we couldn't wear letters till initiated) plus it gave me the time to save up for my blingy badge.

I agree the new member period should be extended - at least more than 6 weeks. That's not enough time to learn anything or even appreciate the organization. Then again, maybe I'm just old and stuck in the past and perhaps the short attention spans of pretty much everyone nowadays (including me) dictates a shorter NM period. I still wish NMs were pledges, too, but that's another topic.

[AnchorAlumna]

OTOH, I see complaints about the fraternity method of rush, at least at my school. There is a formal fraternity rush, but it's a joke. Rush really begins in a guy's high school senior year, when he's invited to various fraternity parties.
Things intensify in the spring and especially summer, which essentially seems to be one long rush party at the fraternity houses. Guys are invited all summer long and bids tend to be issued, off and on, toward the end of summer.
Many fraternities have their pledge class lined up well before classes start.
Kids coming in from out of state (last year's freshman class was 62% OOS) haven't a clue about the process. It forces kids to start off by choosing which fraternities they interested in (often with no knowledge other than the often obsolete website) to contact. They HOPE for invitations, but don't know if they'll get any...it's just a mess.

At least with sororities, everybody visits every chapter at least once, plus the recommendation gives the sororities a preview of PNMs.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by AOIILisa

I went through COB in February 1982 and did have to wait till the following September to be initiated (just before formal recruitment started). The wait actually made me better appreciate getting my badge and letters (at that time, we couldn't wear letters till initiated) plus it gave me the time to save up for my blingy badge.

I agree the new member period should be extended - at least more than 6 weeks. That's not enough time to learn anything or even appreciate the organization. Then again, maybe I'm just old and stuck in the past and perhaps the short attention spans of pretty much everyone nowadays (including me) dictates a shorter NM period. I still wish NMs were pledges, too, but that's another topic.

Curious then- did you get initiated before Fall rush? Or were you not able to participate? And was there anything that happened over the summer?

We were allowed to wear letters from day one, even back in 1984.

[jolene]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Curious then- did you get initiated before Fall rush? Or were you not able to participate? And was there anything that happened over the summer?

We were allowed to wear letters from day one, even back in 1984.

Same here. We just couldn't wear anything with the crest on it.

To BackOwlsGirl's point, I wish the NPC orgs were more like NPHC ones in that way.

[AOIILisa]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Curious then- did you get initiated before Fall rush? Or were you not able to participate? And was there anything that happened over the summer?

We were allowed to wear letters from day one, even back in 1984.

Yup, we were initiated just before recruitment, I want to say it was the first week of school. Nothing happened over the summer - everyone kind of scattered to their homes to work or do whatever. UMaine is in the middle of the state so unless you live in Orono or Bangor, you most likely won't be going there in the middle of the summer!

It was fine, though, it made me appreciate getting initiated and I'm pretty sure I wore my letters as much as I possibly could once I got them. Now our rules have changed and new members can wear letters right away. I am actually now not sure if this was a "nationals" thing or a "just my chapter" thing.