informal... what do i do?

We've talked about this in exec because technically we could take two girls in informal. But not one person wants to do it because we never want to be the house that just takes friends of members. We want the best and the brightest and that means checking applications, resumes, getting recs and spending some time with a wide range of girls so that we know who is available. All of the above are absolutely contrary to how informal is done. No thanks. We want no part of it. Now, if Panhel wants to really get involved, have a week of parties so that potential members are able to see every house that has spaces to fill, well, we're on board with that. But until then we don't want to be part of an inherently unfair system.

Personally, I find informal receuitment so much more fair than formal recruitment. The only unfair thing is how fewer girls they take so not everyone gets a shot. But informal recruitment IS based on connections and who you actually are and whether or not you actually fit in with a house. You have an entire semester to make a connection with houses rather than one week and some crappy superficial 5 minute conversations. I think if everyone went through a second semester rush, or "informal", then people would be a lot happier in their houses. So to the op, don't get discouraged. Just meet some girls. You don't have to be in the house to befriend them.

How in the world can you say the informal process is more fair than formal recruitment when you don't even get a chance to visit a house or make an impression unless you know someone. Here's a hint: when a recruitment process is based exclusively on connections, it is inherently unfair because you don't get a chance if you don't know the right people. It needs to be cleaned up. NOW. It is an absolute black mark on an otherwise commendable system. And did you really say" Don't get discouraged... Just meet some girls." REALLY? The person who wrote this clearly is part of the problem, not part of the solution. And here's another point that we were talking about at dinner the other night. Perhaps if the houses that traditionally COB and do informal gave everyone a chance and didn't just take their friends, they would become better houses.

@yup, are you a member of axo? if so, when do you plan on choosing the girls and will you reach out to them if you want to get to know them better?

To follow up on that, yeah. I guess I don't see anything wrong with recruiting your friends in an informal rush. That's how life is. You wanna be apart of my house? You should probably be my friend first. Informal rush isnt just a petty 5 minute conversation and seeing if I like what you're wearing or how you did your make up. I wanna actually know who I'm recruiting if I've only got 5 spots. I wanna know you well. So just like it is in the real world when you interview for a job, it's always good to know someone. And that's just how the cookie crumbles whether you like it or not. You call it shady and unfair, I call it not throwing a complete stranger who thought a simple email and meet and greet was her way in and ends up not fitting at all.

I actually like informal recruitment. I feel like it's a better way to get to know PNMs. I do wish it were more structured so we could see more girls go through.

But at my house the actives are actively looking for girls who are bright and involved and kind and fit in with our personality. It's not just about connections.