Common
"Why did you join this community?"
-Responses are subjective, but you can mention your personal values, what you wanted out of college life, how you value female friendships, etc.
"I connected so well with my recruiter!"
-Be excited for them! Even if it seems small, it's so important to celebrate the little things to keep them excited and energized moving forward.
"My boyfriend/girlfriend doesn't want me to go through recruitment, and he said if I do he's going to break up with me. What should I do?"
-Tell her she's an independent woman! This is a brand new era of her life and it's important she paves her own path. Respect her relationship, but give her sisterly advice so she feels equipped to make her own decisions.
"I saw on YikYak that one of the sororities, Oozma Beta, is considered a "bottom house". I really liked this chapter, but now I'm having second thoughts."
-Remind her that recruitment is an individual process and that she shouldn't take other people's perceptions and opinions into consideration. While it's hard not to, it's important to remind her of this. If that chapter feels right, she should follow her gut.
*No show*
-Spam call, text, everything. Once you've tried everything, contact CPC Exec.
"How can I balance my academic life and my Panhellenic life?"
-Mention Panhellenic's commitment to academics, the resources available provided by both individual chapters and Panhellenic to help them succeed, and your personal experiences relating to this topic.
"I really want to see the same recruiter I talked to yesterday. Will I get to see her again?"
-It's possible, but no promises. Celebrate her connection, but remind her how important it is to be open to getting to know other members of that chapter and to not get her hopes up.
"I can't afford new outfits for recruitment and I'm feeling insecure about what I'm wearing. All of these other girls have such cute outfits and I feel like I'm at a disadvantage."
-Remind her that ISU Panhellenic practices values-based recruitment and what she's wearing won't impact her perception.
-Direct her to the PNM Thrift Shop
An active member of your chapter texts you, "How is Sarah (PNM) feeling about our chapter?" What do you respond to this text message?
-Remind her that you are not allowed to discuss private conversations with PNM's, whether good or bad. Be polite but firm with this.
Your PNM wants to drop the process. What do you do?
-Try your best to talk her out of it. Remind her of your positive experiences and validate her feelings. This a stressful time, so sometimes impulsive decisions like these pop up.
"I'm a little bit stressed about voting. What I should consider when ranking?"
-Ask them about the natural feelings they had while in the chapter space and talking to the recruiter. Did they feel calm? Stressed? Uncomfortable? Happy? Naming these feelings gives them a clearer picture of the match.
"I just love you (Rho Gam) so much. Could we get dinner after recruitment today, I just need to talk about a few more things?"
-Thank her for the kind words and let her know you appreciate the sentiment. However, let her know about the professional relationship that needs to be maintained when recruitment is ongoing. You are more than welcome to hang out after Bid Day, so you can also remind her of this.
"I have a family member/friend who's sick at home and I'm really upset about it. I feel like my current mood isn't reflecting my true self, and I'm nervous about how chapters will perceive me."
-Thank her for sharing something personal like that with you. Tell her you see and hear her, and this is a perfect time to be a listener. You can tell her that the right chapter for her won't make her feel inadequate or judge her. As long as she's trying, she'll find the right home for her.
"I'm afraid of getting hazed. My brother said his fraternity, Oozma Kappa, hazes their new members. I really don't want to go through that."
-ISU Panhellenic does not condone any forms of hazing and we take accusations and prevention very seriously. Mention these commitments and really emphasize the values we hold close as a community.
Your PNM tells you, "My friend told me which chapters are the best, so I already know who to keep and drop". How do you respond?
-Everyone's recruitment journey is unique. Even if you're best friends with someone, you both have different values and personalities, which impact what chapters/women you connect with.
Your PNM's are complaining about how hot it is and how tired they are while waiting for a late chapter. How do you keep the good vibes going?
-Start the chant that is specific to that chapter.
-Make small talk, ask them what they're excited about, etc.
-Just be a hype woman. We're all tired, but it's our responsibility to keep the energy up for them.
"The chapter that I loved just send me a message on Instagram stating that they can't wait to see me tomorrow!! I am so excited." (For context this is before Preference rounds).
-It's crucial not to "scare" her with policy. Tell her that you're excited for her, but to not get her hopes up because nothing is set in stone until she sees her list. Afterwards, get in touch with CPC Exec for further review.
"I am a person of color who is a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I'm nervous that I am going to get judged regarding my identity."
-Mention values-based recruitment and our DEI initiatives. ISU Panhellenic has a zero tolerance policy for any discrimination, and our individual chapters possess the same values. If you notice/overhear any conversation about possible discrimination, please contact CPC Exec immediately.
Your PNM is in completing her voting process. She is visibly upset and stressed. She is begging you to tell her your chapter so she can have some guidance. How do you respond?
-Gently remind her that you can’t share your chapter affiliation, as it's important to keep the process fair and unbiased for everyone. Reassure her that her feelings are completely valid, and encourage her to focus on where she felt the most comfortable, supported, and like herself.
Your PNM spills her lunch all over her white dress. How do you comfort/help her?
-Give her a Tide stick, direct her to the bathroom, and just help her clean up. Direct her to the PNM Thrift Shop if necessary.
"How will I know when a chapter is my future home?"
-A lot of it is intuition. Pay attention to how you feel when you're inside the house and talking to the women. The chapter for you is the chapter you feel most comfortable or "at home" in.
"I just talked to the same recruiter I did during Sisterhood rounds and we connected so well! She brought me to a room where it was just us alone, and I just felt so comfortable with her."
-Tell her you're glad she enjoyed her experience and keep questioning to ensure she didn't feel uncomfortable at all. Afterwards, bring this information to CPC Exec.
A recruiter made an inappropriate comment towards your PNM that really hurt her feelings and impacted her perception of the Panhellenic community. How do you handle this scenario?
-Check in with her directly, validate her feelings, apologize, and ensure she feels supported. This is also a good time to be a listener. Afterwards, contact CPC Exec promptly.
Your PNM is having a medical emergency while walking to a chapter house. What do you do?
-Depending on the emergency, provide water, snacks, etc., and contact a member of SFL immediately. If a PNM is unresponsive, call 911 immediately.
"Can I switch to a different Rho Gamma group because I don't like any of my Rho Gams?"
-This is crazy. First see if there's anything else going on and ask her why and try to get to the bottom of it. If that doesn't work, contact CPC Exec.