A Question About Sorority Rush at UT Austin
 

Myth.

Most of these camps are for primary school aged kids, and have Jr. Councelors in that are in high school. While it exposes girls of a younger age to bonding in a co-ed environment, it might expose them early to the likeness of what it might be like to be in a sorority and those that enjoy it, might go on and do other female bonding activites throughout Jr. High and High School and continue that into college. My guess is too, that a lot of kids who attend these camps come from families that MIGHT have Greek background.

What I will say, however, is that a lot of these kids are Austin locals who all grow up together, these girls go on to rush, and rush their friends, etc. I have several friends that were in "Big Six" sororites, and not a one of them (and these are Austin locals) attended one of these camps.

Interesting topic, but I'm thinking urban legend.

Hook 'Em.

Myth- and one I have never heard before. Where did you read these things Amicus?

UT, being a very prestigious state school with a long history of excellence, has many students who are related to alumni of previous generations. Naturally, some of these same kids will go to camps or engage in other UT related activities in youth as a result of their family's ties with the University. And some will go Greek if they end up going to UT.

Attending a UT summer camp in and of itself has no impact on a young lady getting into a sorority at Texas.

Texas Monthly September 1976, for one

Interesting. Not saying you never read these things- just asking the question since I had not seen them before.

I can see how a publication aimed at the general public might try to create this association- not necessarily out of malice mind you- to give a bit of glamour to a story, but it is not quite the right way to look at it I think.

Texas, like many competitive southern state schools with a large number of legacies in GLOs and heavy attendance by state residents, has a Greek community heavily populated by members who are local (as in from Texas) and may have many local activities in common.

In this sense, going to a UT camp is the same as going to a certain high school or belonging to a certain country club when it comes to Greek membership.

Yes, one could look at the numbers and interpret some kind of direct correlation, but it is- in my opinion anyway- just further evidence of a social progression that exists in any situation where you have a relatively limited number of people spending much of their lives in a relatively limited geographic area.

I just want to clarify, camp longhorn is not actually associated with UT (at least not now, I dont know if it was)
Neither are either of the other two mentioned.

I remember that story in Texas Monthly. It was a profile of "The Big Six", but that was years and years ago. My college roommate was from Austin and knew girls in almost every chapter so that and being just out of school (yep, I'm ancient) made the story interesting.

So much has changed since then, though. Several groups, not in the Big Six, have left campus and one group went on. While some things in the article may still be valid, I think you need to take its age into consideration when evaluating it as a source.

I think I tend to disagree a little bit. My daughter attended Campy Mystic and I can tell you that there are tons of sorority girls that work there during the summer that are in sororities. The camp also has campers through high school. The camp is set up a lot like a sorority- which was what initially drew me to the camp. Camp Mystic also has what they call M girls and I have been told that when sororities see this on a resume they know that the women has all the qualities of a good member. Being an M girl is a prestigious award at camp. You are living with these women for either a 1 month or 2 month term. They get to know you pretty well. I will also tell you that there was a post very recently on this forum that talked about UT/Camp connection here: http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...d.php?t=115513

Right. Again, here is what I will re-iterate.

When asked does a girl who attended one of these camps have a better shot at getting into a "Big Six" sorority than a girl who does not, I will say Myth.

Now, going to this camp and getting exposure to the sorority girls is wonderful. I am very familiar with Camp Mystic and Camp Longhorn and can tell you, if I see something like that on their rec, it is nice to know that they have qualities that can be similiar to sorority life. Here's the thing. If camp is the ONLY thing they've done, I would strongly worry about them socially, as it looks like they took no interest in their peers throughout high school.

Again, it ALL goes back to the quality of that girl. If she went to camp and is a demon on wheels, no one will want her, regardless of her pedigree. I also have seen some big chapters take girls who had NO legacy, small town, down home girls who were some of the nicest women you could meet.

I think at the end of the day, it's a nice thing to put on a rec.

Totally agree with this post. Are the big 6 the Chapters that have been on campus the longest or is there something else that distinguishes them?

The big six are some of the oldest sororities at UT. They were enshrined with that title by a Texas Monthly writer in 1976.

Good deal- you and I are on the same page too then- I was scratching my head earlier. TXAPhiGirl did a much better job of expressing what I was trying to say.

Bottom line about girls camps like Mystic and Waldemar, boys camps like La Junta and Stewart, and co-ed camps like Longhorn, is that you will meet a large circle of people, and get to know them extremely well after spending a month or more of your summer, year after year.

Many of these people will end up going to UT, and many of those kids will pledge. It always helps to know people going into the process, people who are willing to vouch for you, and, if need be, fight for you.

BUT, same goes for attending schools with kids year after year, playing sports with kids, etc. etc.

What trumps all that is coming in with a sparkling personality, a polished appearance and a great attitude.

So, No, you don't have to attend those camps, but it doesn't hurt. Get involved - get to know people - make a good impression.

Could attending camp be an effect rather than the cause? Rather, is going to these prestigious camps something that the women destined for the Big Six do anyway? Or, if a middle class family manages to send their Average Amy to camp, she actually is more likely to pledge a Big Six chapter? (Assuming of course that Amy got along well with the other campers.)

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

The September 1976 Texas Monthly article is entitled "Sisterhood is Powerful" and was written by Prudence Mackintosh, who pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma in 1962.

I also remember reading the Texas Handbook, similiar to the Official Preppy Handbook and the Southern Belle's Handbook that the proper progression for a Texas gentlewoman was


Camp Waldemar to Highland Park HS to Big Six Sorority to Junior League

I guess someone forgot to tell that to women like Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Seriously, your interest in sororities is not so slowly creeping into prune tacos territory.

Actually, she is a member of one of the big six and was a UT cheerleader, but that's not the point.

Why on earth would you use material written over 30 years ago as the ultimate guide to sorority recruitment at UT in 2010? That's old, old stuff. If I remember correctly, the Texas Monthly article did poke some fun at the groups with it's member profiles. It was not all serious praise. Let it go and move on, or at least enter the current century.

Really? OMG I HAD NO IDEA SHE WAS A PI PHI AND A CHEERLEADER!!!! Are you really that obtuse? That's totally the point. Even back in the 1960s, the path outlined by amicus was a ridiculous stereotype.

Hence why I've stayed away from a lot of his posts.

No, I'm not obtuse. The point is that is ancient history and no longer valid. The info is readily available and is in most stories that cover her background. Just read them.

Also, "attacking the man" is one of the worst fallacies.

Quoting 101
 

Ok, you're really confusing everyone and you apparently can't keep your posters straight. If you want to reply to the KBH remark, you need to snip the post before you quote it. Like so.

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TXalum1: Well she was in XYZ and yadda yadda.

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If you want to tell Amicus (who is a completely separate poster from LadyLonghorn in case you didn't get that) that he's relying on old fashioned stereotypes, you need to quote HIS posts.

What you are basically doing is criticizing someone who agrees with you.

Obtuse. Just like I said.

Also he doesn't know how to use his fallacies.

Anytime someone calls someone obtuse I channel Shawshank Redemption.

Ha. I channel WKRP.

OmG I went to Mystic! and Im a new AXO at Texas Tech! However I am the average amy. I stopped going to mystic around 13 But when I was preparing for rush I thought it would have been easier if I had kept going far as advice recs etc. I went into rush w/ out a single rec... and as a Jr. but all went well and I am So happy to be an AXO at Tech