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The results were pretty amazing. Sorority chapter total went from 100 to about 180 after Formal Recruitment and quota went from 25 (with many not hitting quota) to 56. Gamma Phi successfully recruited total for their colonization and the university is open to 2 new chapters in 2017 (one to replace Kappa, who was suspended). I have noticed University of Minnesota is in a similar spot where they are in a metro area that has so much to do, resulting in a delay of expansion. If they were in the Boonies, Greek Life would probably be huge. |
While Austin does have the rep of a cool city with tons of live music, etc., the "Big 6" mentality has done a lot to cripple the system.
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I was also surprised at how ugly the houses were, on the whole. None of the stately mansions you see at other SEC schools. |
Actually most of the sorority houses are very beautiful and have Southern style architecture. They are somewhat small though. Most only house around 50-60 girls compared to other schools that have a competitive greek system. Because the houses are smaller, the competition to "live in" can be fierce.
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Just heard my rec girl is now a NM of UT Kappa Alpha Theta!
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Emailed both my rec girls and heard nothing back so far from either one of them...stalking their social media didn't work either. Hopeful they found sorority homes but not optimistic so far.
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Charley Strong's, UT's football coach, daughter pledged Zeta!!
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WOW! Lucky Texas ZTA! I know they are thrilled!
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So some interesting information I found out about Texas Rush- Open Rush (meaning not by invitation only....) did not begin until at least 1988.
I saw an Alcalde article mentioned on "that other website" and looked it up and it's legit.... Also interesting that that during the time my mom was at UT- the sororities were not registered with the university as student organizations..... Who knew someone involved in a "rebel" organization in college would go on to have 8 children who weren't even allowed to chew gum or say "shut up" to each other..... hehe Info can be found in the January 1988 Alcalde on pg 14. Not sure if I am allowed to post a pic here? |
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DH is a lifetime member so we have an Alcalde subscription. |
If you search for "Alcalde Google Books" it will bring up a page where you can search through back issues. If you search there for "Alcalde Panhellenic" it brings up several articles about Rush during the 60's, 70's & 80's.
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Wow, so all of the rounds were invitation only. Did girls register for Rush with PanHellenic, or did they independently let the various chapters know they were interested? No wonder so many chapters have come and gone or struggled in the past. I am proud that Kappa Delta had the brass to try it again and make a go of it in 1980!
Did Nebraska also have invitation only until recently, or am I delusional about that. Someone did in the Midwest....I think... |
All rounds were by invitation only. You registered with Panhellenic and you filled out an information form for every chapter and mailed it to a chapter representative. The chapters decided who they would invite out of all the applicants. Don't you know that was some job!
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Yes, indeed, Greek Life was not recognized by the University for a number of years. Panhellenic hired their own director. Her office was off campus on the ground floor of a private dorm. It was to her that Texas Kappa Delta alumnae went to to see if they might have the opportunity to recolonize. You also have to understand that at this time 1000+ girls would register for rush and quota for every chapter was set at 50 (for years) It didn't matter how many registered, quota was 50. It was the wild West. I am so very proud of our Sigma Epsilon Kappa Delta chapter. (Even if UT Mom ranks us #11) We have been #1 or #2 in grades for several years, raised thousands of dollars for our community service projects. What a testament to those alumnae who took a risk 35 years ago and put up their own money to buy a House which they knew was a necessity to survive. I couldn't be more proud. I know I'm ranting a bit but so be it.
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Unbelievable! What a system to break into, and Sigma Epsilon does us proud.
I love hearing about how recruitment has evolved and transformed over the years at various schools. Recruitment is probably more fair, more open and more diverse now with RFM than at any other time in our past |
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Prior to that, the President and Recruitment Chair from each chapter would give a presentation to all of the PNMs in the Union on the first day of recruitment. The second day of recruitment invite lists would go out and it would be the first opportunity for PNMs to visit the actual chapter houses. Invites for this day were based on recruitment applications and recommendations. There was no way to visit all of the houses as there were less parties on day 2 than actual chapters. I would have appreciated an Open House round when I went through. There were a few chapter houses I didn't enter until I was a Rho Gam as a senior. It was hard to decide what chapters to accept invites from after the short presentations on day 1. |
So you couldn't accept invites to all chapters who invited you?
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Wow, I had no idea this was at all common as late as the mid 90s. Fascinating...and stressful for all sides.
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I rushed in the 2000s and that was my experience.
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When I went through in 1982, I was invited to 10 of the 15 houses and had to decline two invitations with regrets. One of the ones I turned down was Gamma Phi Beta; even though I had met some wonderful girls during summer rush (also a thing; Panhellenic called a halt to it several years ago after multiple violations of the rules), I had high school and family friends in the other houses and felt that my chances would be better there. Went to all eight houses, then was handed four invitations (the maximum you could accept) for the next round. Five houses had dropped me, leaving three remaining--but Gamma Phi put me back on their invitation list, and after visiting the maximum three houses on pref night, I had Gamma Phi at the top of my list. Later, the rush chair told me that they had never gone back and reinvited someone in the middle of rush, but several girls urged her to put me back on the list because we'd had so much fun that summer.
Also, even though Panhellenic wasn't officially recognized by the university, every sorority and its members were prominently featured in The Cactus yearbook every year. |
This is so amazing to those of us not from Texas!
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When I went through at Tulsa, I had 3 party invites for (2 party) Pref and had to regret 1. All 3 were/are great chapters and I would have been happy to be in any of the 3. I was tearing up that I had to regret one.
(Your jaw might drop with this next part ...) I was actually able to WRITE on the invite "So sorry I have to reqret. XYZ is a wonderful chapter with amazing women." (The invites were 2 page carbons -- 1 went to Panhellenic, 1 went to the sorority.) On bid night (in my new XO shirt), I saw some of the XYZ girls who came up, hugged me, congratulated me and said they were sad that I had to regret also (b/c they read the copy that went to the chapter), but knew I would have a wonderful Greek experience in Chi Omega. |
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But sorry, at the end of the day PNM's should be welcomed to every single house on the campus. |
I really like the "decline with regret" option. Sometimes girls get cut later in the process and rethink rankings. When I rushed, we actually got all the invitations physically, so there were no delusions that "so and so really liked me but somehow, XYZ ranked me higher and bumped me out of so and so's list". You either had an invitation or you didn't. However, as a rush counsellor I definitely saw girls decline invites in early rounds, be cut heavily in later rounds and think to myself that her perfect match may have been left on the floor in round 2. Decline with regret would allow for chapters to extend an invite later. Most times it wouldn't make a difference, but it might...for both the chapter and the PNM. Especially for WRC, but I guess in most locations RFM has taken care of that.
God, I really am a Panhellenic Greek life geek. |
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Texas PNMs have an embarrassment of riches. They have so many great chapters to join. To see so many PNMs walk away from great chapters, because they didn't get their top pick is frustrating. To see them walk away because they didn't get a pick that Greek Rank would approve of is crazy-making. |
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You're kidding, do they really? |
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Yea, when you look at the bid day pics, chapter officers, activities, etc of the "struggling, bottom, no one wants" Texas chapters you seelarge chapters with gorgeous girls involved in every conceivable campus activity, including queens and campus leadership, but they are still trashed. So myopic. Oh well, it does keep out some problem members with attitude, so maybe it's all good.
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Holy cow. So glad I never went to Texas. My prayers and sympathies are with any lady who rushed there. O.o Seems more brutal than other SEC. My first rec girl rushed there, but she went DG--out of state gal, a soph. She felt AXiD were too pageantish.
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It attracts those who define themselves as such. Every bit more I read about UT makes me more pleased my daughter chose not to rush. |
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ETA: moms like this one are a huge part of perpetuating the tier talk and the nastiness. She's carrying stuff from 30 years ago around. You'd think she'd get tired of carrying all the baggage, but apparently not. |
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I swear, I just can't stand it!!
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