Shallow, superficial, trivial. Overemphasized: Women’s recruitment

Women's recruitment is often mocked and ridiculed by men. Men's recruitment process is often longed for and envied by women. The double standard existing between male and female recruitment is DePauw's worst-kept secret.

Female recruitment is thoroughly soaked in archaic practices. Each potential new member (PNM) is required to attend all three rounds of rush, visit all sororities and abide by an enforced dress code. Men, conversely, are allowed to skip rounds of rush, pick which fraternities they desire to visit and wear whatever they please.

The informality of male recruitment permits a comfortable and telling atmosphere for both PNMs and initiated members. Each fraternity creates its distinguished style of rush, giving PNMs insight into the chapter's values, goals and character. Without Interfraternity Council strictly monitoring recruitment conversations, guys are given ample opportunity to ask real questions and receive honest answers.

Women's recruitment, on the other hand, is much more structured and intimidating. Female recruitment has strict rules with harsh consequences for both PNMs and initiated members. Members cannot have pictures of boys posted in their bedrooms. Women are not given the luxury of using alcohol as a social lubricant. Chapter houses are not to have any flower vase that is more than 3" in diameter and 8" in height. The practices of women's recruitment have become so outdated (and in some cases, comical) that the option of sorority living has begun to lose its appeal. These rules are enforced to maintain equality among all sororities — but where is our equality amongst the fraternities?

Both sexes openly acknowledge that men and women are held to different standards. These inequalities are apparent, yet they remain unchallenged. When I speak to peers about why these inequalities are socially acceptable, I am often greeted with the same, irksome answer: Tradition. It is believed that tradition is the heart of the Greek system. When a student decides to join a chapter, he or she is agreeing to adhere to the practices. There comes a certain point when tradition stands in the way of modernization. By sticking to the "tradition" of idle chit-chat for round one, it is easy for a sorority chapter to miss the real "potential" in a PNM.

Perhaps we should direct our attention to the informality of women's "alternate rush." This process is an option provided for PNMs who may miss a round of rush due to prior commitments. Alternate rush for women has a laid-back setting slightly comparable to the setting of men's recruitment. The dress code for initiated members is lax and the atmosphere is much less daunting. Given the more friendly environment, I have found that alternate recruitment conversations promote a mutual understand of both PNMs and chapter quality.

Though they saturate their explanations in euphemisms, national advisors and rule enforcers send their message loud and clear: Men and women's recruitment differ because that's how it's always been. I thought the issue of equal voting rights had been solved by the 19th amendment.

— Strader is a sophomore from Danville, Ill., majoring in art history. opinion@thedepauw.com