University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

True Recruitment: An Exploration of the Process of Formal Recruitment

Anonymous

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/34697

Description

Title
True Recruitment: An Exploration of the Process of Formal Recruitment
Author(s)
Anonymous
Issue Date
2011-08
Keyword(s)
  • Potential New Member
  • Formal Recruitment Selection Process
  • Social Judgments
  • Greek Life
  • Sororities
Abstract
Formal Recruitment is a long and arduous process for both the PNM's as well as the active members of sororities. The first two weekends of the semester are devoted to the process; all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the first weekend, then all day Saturday and Sunday the next. Members of the sororities arrive at school a week early in order to prepare for the Formal Recruitment process. They remain in their houses during the day rehearsing and practicing carrying on conversations. As someone who has gone through the process on both sides, I felt an incredible pressure as a PNM to leave the best impression possible on the girls I was trying to speak to. As a recruiter, I also felt an incredible pressure to leave the best impression possible about my sorority on the PNM. From speaking with some of my sisters and my own experience, we felt that our appearance played a vital part in whether or not we were asked to come back to certain houses. Though they claim to be open to everyone, I know through my own recruitment process, we must rank girls according to certain qualifications. Having to pass judgments on girls made my roommates and I uncomfortable, especially as we assumed the same had been done to us, unknown. This raises the question of whether or not the tradition of Formal Recruitment is the best way to go about recruiting girls into houses. The sheer size of the Greek system here on the U of I campus makes other systems seem impossible to replicate; however, it may result in better matches between potential new members and chapters.
Series/Report Name or Number
  • ANTH 411; Fall 2010
  • Ellen Moodie, Instructor
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/34697

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