Did the ceremony seem weird in contrast to the other groups doing more lighthearted activities or was it very effective in contrast?

At the time, I liked it -- of course though, Ruby was already my favorite group.

In retrospect, had I been advising the Rubies at that time, I doubt I would have recommended that they make that much of a departure from the norm.

that was quite a departure for the norm, but sometimes thinking outside the box can be a plus!

I could see it working both for the group and against it. It definitely makes them stand out, but some rushees might be put off by the seriousness of the party before Pref. I think I would have liked it, but that's just me.

Anxious to hear more!

NutBrnHair,

I think you are rushing at a school that I know with a chapter of my group. I certainly don't mind waiting for the big reveal, but please, please, please, tell us more.

I think I've got a pretty good mental image of the whole scene.

Dear Readers,

I'm headed out the door for the weekend...the next chapter will be on Monday! Sorry.

But, but...BUT...guess where I'm going? I'm attending the wedding of two of my pledge sisters' children! Isn't that wild? I don't think I've ever known the parents of the groom and bride -- we were all in school together!

Almost finished!
 

Since Nut had attended 3 parties Invitational Round and a rushee could only attend 2 parties Pref Round, a decision would have to be made. Nut clearly liked the Rubies best, but which other group’s party should she attend? Her OA was a Sapphire…but…the Pearls had a better campus reputation. Hmmm. Well, it ended up not being a very difficult decision since Nut received only 2 invitations!!! She accepted pref invites to both Ruby and Sapphire.

Attire for preference round was “formal.” Almost all rushees wore floor length dresses. Nut chose her Junior/Senior prom dress – a white dotted Swiss with muti-colored raised flowers. She wore lime green wedge sandals that matched the green accents in the dress.

Rubies party was first. The first portion of the party took place in 2 lovely rooms at the Topia Alumni House. Each rushee’s name was called out by a Sister of Ruby. All of the Rubies were wearing floor-length white dresses and their sorority badge. The food was elegant. Susan called Nut’s name and after they received a plate of food, went to a couple of folding chairs in the corner. The room was full of extra chairs to accommodate the large group. After initial chit chat, Susan began telling Nut about the wonderful experience of being a Ruby. She told Nut to look around the room and see the other rushees who would quite possibly make up the Ruby pledge class. Nut noticed one rushee who looked sooooo old – was she forty? Hmmm. At an appointed time – all of the Rubies left the room to prepare for the ceremony. The rushees were asked not to speak as they left the Alumni house and walked towards the chapel for the ceremony. The path to the chapel was lined with Rubies, all holding a lit candle in silence. Once inside the chapel, the officers were standing in front with their white gowns and long white gloves. Each rushee was seated in the large semi-circle of chairs. The other members of the chapter stood behind all of the chairs. The officers each had a speaking part. There was singing and humming and when it was over, each rushee was given a flower with a poem on a card, tied with ribbons in the sorority colors. The chapter members filed out, leaving just the officers to sing the last song. The rushees left and again went through a line of Rubies with candles – this time they were singing. The rushees were asked to gather at the foot of the steps to the art building. The members assembled on the steps for one last song. This one was full of 3 part harmony – it was beautiful. Then…after a brief moment of silence…the sorority CHEER!

oooooh....i got goose bumps. it sounds absolutely beautiful. i can't wait to hear more.

Okay, it's only been an hour but...

(chanting) Up-date! Up-date! Up-date!

Next-to-last Installment
 

Nut’s last pref party was with the Sapphires. She had not made special connections with any of the members, but her OA was a member and all of the sisters she had met had been very nice. The party was set up in much the same way. Nut’s OA called out her name: “The Sisters of Sapphire are pleased to welcome Miss Nut Hair.” After getting a plate of food, OA led Nut to a table with 2 other Sapphires and 2 other rushees. They began talking about activities of the weekend and boyfriends. The sisters started kidding OA and said “She wants to be pinned.” “She wants to be engaged.” “She wants to be pregnant!” To which OA finally stopped them and said, “Honey, I could be if I wanted to be!” Sweet naïve little Nut was stunned. Later, OA turned to Nut and asked what she planned to do later that evening. “Tonight?” Nut asked. “I guess going back to the dorm and go to sleep. I’m going to church with friends in the morning.” After a lovely ceremony of singing and emotional speeches, the ceremony ended. Some rushees were crying. Nut was ready to sign her bid card.

All rushees were advised during Rush to attend as many parties as possible each round. After attending both pref parties, Nut decided to suicide Ruby. Would this be a good decision?!?...

My guess is that Nut will recieve a bid from Ruby, even though she suicided...

Go ahead, update, I'm waiting. :p

*to the tune of the Grease song*

Tell me more, tell me more!

Careful, honeychile -- don't get a recruitment infraction because of too many frills in your post! ;)

That has to be the weirdest pref conversation I've ever heard.

I'm agreeing with a Ruby suicide.

With weird conversations like that, do you think that the other people remember it the same way?

In NutBrnHair's memory, it was the part that made the biggest impression, but I wonder if the OA remembers it as we-had-some-random-small-talk, then I told her all why she would be a perfect sapphire, and that she had no idea that it turned you off that much.

Yeesh! You'd think women would have the common sense not to have those types of conversations during Rush...especially at Preference!

Although I usually wouldn't support suiciding a sorority, this time it might have been for the best.

Can't wait to hear more!

When I was being rushed during informal recruitment at one school, we were all playing Monopoly and a one girl made a really gross comment. A couple of others chimed to agree and I was almost throwing up visualizing what they'd said. The other girls in the room were horrified-like, "did they really go on about that in front of a rushee?"

They called me to offer a bid that night. Um, nope.

Now Nut, we want to hear the end of your story, please!

The end of the story…
 

As it turns out, Nut’s story has a very happy ending. Bids were given out on Sunday afternoon. Nut opened her envelope to reveal a bid from Ruby! Nut’s hometown friends Carol, Kay and Holly all received Ruby bids. Leslie the fun R.A. who was disaffiliated during Rush was a Ruby and Susan who prefed Nut was the Pledge Trainer! Ruby pledged quota of 30, which made chapter membership close to 80. Nut became an officer of her Pledge Class and later served the chapter as Personnel Chairman and President.

The End.

Key:
Ruby = Chi Omega
Pearl = Phi Mu
Sapphire = ADPi
Emerald = Alpha Gam

University of Topia (UTopia) = Mercer Univ., Macon, GA

CONGRATULATIONS, MISS NUT!!!!



Those tacky Sapphires! :p

YaY for Chi Omega & NutBrnHair! :D

And another thing...
 

The rushee who Nut thought looked like a forty-year-old at pref...was one of two Juniors in the pledge class and she was later chosen as the Model Initiate.

Your preference at Chi Omega sounded absolutely gorgeous.

Thanks for sharing your story, Nut! :)

I'd know Topia University anywhere!

Thanks for the story!

Ohhhh I loveeee it!!! I never knew you were Personnel chair or President! Way awesome :)

I kind of knew Ruby was Chi O - just had that feeling when you said "if I were advising the chapter at the time" ... :D

Great Story!
 

I love reading all these threads, but I have to say that I love the Mercer University Campus. I was there back in Feburary taking a tour of the greek housing with some other members of the Fraternity/Sorority Housing commitee at Florida Tech (Florida Tech is in the beginning stages of building Greek Houses) and the Chi-O house was the first one we visited. It was quite lovely and the sisters were SUPER nice to let us strangers come in and tour their house (granted we were with the Campus Greek Advisor at the time!!)

Thanks, Nutty, for your fun story!:D I love the school name: U of Topia!

One of my favorite gc'ers, and a Monmouth Duo sister!
 

I have always loved Carnation and her fascinating stories. Loved hearing about your rush. Sorry you couldn't stay at Arkansas and cheer. but not finding a sorority I am so glad you got to transfer, I had no idea. This one, like AGDee's are s great for any pnm and I hope they read them. Also great for me after being away for a whole year. I am kinda freaked about going back and afraid I will commit some huge recruitment infractions and I won't know so many new girls, so really helped me too. I amm so glad you both have taken the time to tell your stories but then use them as a great recruitment guide. Thank you. You are such a neat woman and this just makes it better. I am soooo glad they got you to do this! I love Pi Phi and our connection. So happy you did this. LOL

tee hee hee being from good ol macon, ga myself when you said that there were 4 sororities and UTopia university was baptist i was like MERCER!!!! because macon state doesn't have a greek life and neither does wesleyan.

which is sad on wesleyan's part since that's where adpi and phi mu both started

:rolleyes:

Thanks for this.
chi omega mom X2

I love reading these stories. So much has changed, and so much has stayed the same.

I love re-reading my OWN story! Recruitment is my favorite time of year.