Sororities at UA
 

Does anyone know anything about the sororities at the University of Alabama? I'm not talking about rumors and that kind of stuff...but I mean if you are in one or go there, what do you think about them? What are their general reputations? Esp. if you know anything about Kappa Kappa Gamma at UA. Thanks!

If you go to the Rush forum, you will see that there is a topic that already adresses all of the question that you have asked

Well I will give you the insight you are looking for that nobody here seems willing to provide.....

*Pi Phi...really nice girls
*AOPi...party girls
*KD....exclusive and rich
*Phi Mu...pretty girls, nice
*Tri-Delt...exclusive, blond, and rich
*ZTA...sorry to say but this is the sorority with the worst rep on campus as far as the guys go
*ADPi....about half and half: Nice girls, party girls.
*KKG...elite and exclusive
*XO...sweethearts--the type of girls you'd like to bring home to mama
*DZ....much the same as XO and Pi Phi

I'll probably get hate mail for this and the thread will probably lock, but I'm merely answering the question exactly as you asked it. Hope this helps.

Daisy, since you're not too vocal on these boards, I'll excuse that comment.

And...a person can't get hate mail if she doesn't provide one in her profile http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif.

Again, questions like "What's XYZ sorority like at UA?" are unnecessary, especially for prospective rushees. For all we know, rolltidesoon will go into Fall Rush with an inaccurate outlook on sororities (she'll have you to thank for that) at UA.

Rolltide, I encourage you to check out the thread in the Rush Forum. There are many other young women who will also be rushing with you in the Fall. You will find more appropriate information there.

[This message has been edited by OohTeenyWahine (edited April 24, 2001).]

Damn straight! They're like that on this board too. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

This is something I probably would've appreciated a few months ago when I was considering UA, LOL. But in a way I am grateful to be rushing at a school where I don't know many people because I won't have any pre-concieved notions. I think it will be better to go in with a clear conscience because then I can meet the girls I click with for ME, not who I already think I want to be like. Know what I mean? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

thanks for the info, daisyflower. in all honesty, i don't plan on going into rush thinking "oh i'm not interested in this sorority because...." i was just curious because the sororities at each campus are SO DIFFERENT and i don't really know many sorority girls down there, so i don't have anything to go by. but i really do plan on keeping an open mind when i go into rush!

I would like to give major propts to my sisters of Gamma Sigma Sigma at University of Alabama. I'm not certain if that is the school you were talking about but they are always strong on that campus. And just this past weekend they brought 10 girls to the Mississippi Valley State University to visit the brothers of Alpha Phi Omega. They are a National Service Sorority.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The best thing any rushee can possibly do going into Rush is to have general knowledge about each sorority (their mascot, their philanthropy, etc.). Your rush manuals should give you that info, but visiting national headquarter websites is a good tool also. By knowing a little about the sorority, it shows the sisters that you cared enough to do some research.

BUT, the most important thing about Rush is to go in with a completely open mind. Don't listen to folks giving you their opinion about the girls in each chapter. (No disrespect meant to daisyflower here!) http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Instead, listen to your heart and, by doing so, you'll find the house where you fit the best. Trust me, even with a Greek population as large as UA's, you'll be able to figure out which girls you have the most in common with. They may be the most "popular" on campus, or they may be a small house that just happens to have some really nice girls.

Size isn't everything and popularity CERTAINLY isn't - because people define popularity in so many different ways. It's like trying to compare apples and oranges. Hope this helps and Good Luck with Rush http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Is it just me, or is Oohteenywhatshername always putting down someone else's replies or topics? This is my first time to post, but I just had to get this off my mind. I have also noticed she gets pretty bummed when someone disagrees with her. Maybe she sat out in the sun too long and has forgotten her manners. A little more patience, politeness, and tolerance, please...

In my opinion, OTW always gives fabulous advice and she is a true asset to this greek community online. She tells things like they are: we shouldn't be telling prospective members what OUR opinions of the chapters are, b/c as OTW says, they will go through rush with the wrong outlook. This is pure speculation (and i'm playing devil's advocate) but maybe ZTA was her favorite house before and now that you've told her that, she'll give up all dreams of being "crowned" b/c who would want to be in the sorority that the guys don't like http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif BTW - what guys think of your potential sisters should NOT factor in when choosing a sorority - its about sisterhood, not a dating contest. If you want to see what the sororities at UA are like before you rush - wait until second semester, watch how involved they get on campus, what kind of girls the ones YOU meet are, and see if you think you would fit in. Don't go on other people's opinions! Best of luck rushing!

I'll say it before and I'll say it again...

I will not and shall not readjust my attitude to satisfy anyone.

I don't know where this person gets the idea that I'm pretty bummed when someone disagrees with me. I'm very much aware that there will always be people who won't agree with me. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif

I welcome ANYONE who has a beef with me to email me privately if you wish.

If you're looking for patience and tolerance you'll probably have to look elsewhere and won't find any from me...tough cookies. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/tongue.gif

Violetalum--

Who are YOU to come onto the board and criticize OTW? She's always right on the money.You say you've never posted before but I wonder. Could the Texas sun have fried your brain, by any chance?

I have visited the campus of the University of Alabama and it is a beautiful campus with beautiful fraternity and sorority houses. I would be honored to be in any sorority there, even though there are always rumors going on about each sorority. It's a great school with a great Greek community. My brother-in-law goes there so I may be a little biased in this statement but nonetheless, it's a wonderful school. Roll Tide!

I laughed til I almost cried when I read Carnation's post that made reference to those people from Texas. It is so ironic, because that strange website is what led me to Greek chat in the first place!!! See, a sorority sister of mine who went through a lot of ribbing when her daughter pledged a different sorority called me and told me about that web site because my daughter pledged Chi O this year. All my sisters were ragging me because I have bid day for my sorority at my house every year(for about 18 years and used to have preference tea here too. Now, pref is at the lodge and this year they used some beautiful bicolored yellow and red roses during rush. The roses were dead by bid day and word had gotten out about my duaghter'choice, so my sisters arranged them in a florist's box and had them delivered at the bid day party to me as a joke. We all laughed and they sent flowers to my daughter to congrat. her because they love her and want her to be happy with her choice. She is far away at a huge SEC University and loves her sorority so much but, I DIGRESS here, so back on track...) After reading the V's website back in the summer, I was so mad that they'd try to hurt so many young women. I saw a reference to greekchat on their site and went to it. I was hooked just like you, and wanted to keep up with what was happening. Also, I must confess that it helped me be not so lonely for my daughter and son who are both in school and are greeks. Greekchat helped me feel more in touch with their lives, or at least some of the parts they might think I am too old to relate to. I have been up and down with the SHSU girls and with Billy Optimist and many others. I love MAMAbuddha's attitude and some of ya'll are really a hoot. It also helps me relate to the girls I have worked with for 29 years as an alum. You will never know how much you all have helped fill a void this year until you are parents. Anyway I just don't think GC should be a place to be used as a bully pulpit. In many ways it takes a lot of courage to put your thoughts and fears and problems out there for everybody and many people really want a lot of opinions when they ask these questions. If one asserts herself as an authority, one should be an authority, and OTW said in a recent post that she knows little about NPC policy. Also, going through rush at a school with only one NPC sorority and several locals is quite different than going through rush at , say, a huge SEC school (NO I AM NOT FROM TEXAS), so some of your advice may not be as helpful as you think. It IS very scarey to go through one of these big rushes where every Rec counts and you need a three page resume of high school activities. I don't think it helps to have a general forum about "what is ABC like?" But, when someone asks a question about a specific campus, then it is only fair to let others answer. Just remember to take some of it with a grain of salt, as many times, people base their opinion on issues that really have little to do with the GLO as a whole , even on specific campuses. Also, it isn't very objective for you to get on here and rave about your specific chapter being #one at your school based on your opinion. We all asumme that it should be #1 in your heart, even though in your head, you may know that others may not agree. That should only fuel your desire to work harder. There are a lot of people out here who would have some pretty good advice but won't post because they are afraid of getting slammed for voicing their opinions. Who decides whose opinion is the most valuable, anyway? Wouldn't that be up to the individual reader? So, I love hearing about all of you and what is going on, just don't be too harsh, OK? OTW I think you have some good answers for many things, just not EVERY time. Is it OK for me to feel that way/and can we be "GC friends"? P.S. To whoever IS interested in Bama rush, go back and reread about LSU rush. Some places want 30 recs and other areas of the country don't even use recs. That is why these types of questions are OK. At some of these schools it really is the worst week of your life...at least until you open up that bid!

Violetalum, if you've been lurking on GC for awhile, then you know that we don't take the flaming of respected members lightly. OTW has strong opinions on some issues, as we all do, but the point is that if we disagree we just say so--we don't flame someone--unless it is the V's, who have lost the right to any respect here.

OTW didn't claim to be an expert but she's entitled to her opinion. We Greekchatters come from all stages of the Greek life--some are collegians like she is and others are long time alums with daughters who are now Greek, such as you and I--but every day on this site, we learn something new or hear a new viewpoint. If we disagree, we can just state that but we surely don't have to use an ad hominem attack just to discredit someone else's view!

Ok, I just gotta chime in here.. not into the argument, but into the debate about someone on GC stating their opinion on a specific sorority...
JMO (PLEASE NOTE THAT!) but give me a BREAK!

If someone posts on this bulletin board that they want to know the reps of houses on a campus, and someone responds, all that respondent is giving is THEIR opinion. Rushee's are going to hear different opinions from all over.
They may use these opinions to form their own, but quite frankly, anyone that takes on another's opinion without evaluating against their own knowledge and experience is weak-minded anyways. Especially opinions posted by random individuals on the Web that they have never met!!!
Andk, heck, I WISH someone would have given me the lowdown on certain houses prior to my rushing.
When one is affiliating themselves w/ a group, they are deciding that they will be automatically perceived -by people who do not know them as an individual- a certain way because that group is perceived as such. I want to make sure I know what that perception is before I affiliate. "A man is characterized by the company he keeps."

I'm not saying those perceptions are fair, or even accurate, but they are there. Let's be realistic, folks.

OTW is the BEST!!!! One smart, funny lady http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif. I'm so glad that she's a GC Moderator...she does her job well!!

[This message has been edited by newbie (edited May 02, 2001).]

I would like to say that I agree with a lot of what violetalum has to say. She really hit the nail on the head with a lot of her points about stating our opinions on this board OR being afraid to do so. Sometimes GC members do snap at posters for questions they have asked or answered.

In regards to OTW, she is a very active member of this message board who apparently takes her job as a moderator very seriously. I mean that in a GOOD way. However, there have been a few posts that could be interpreted as rude. For example, when I read OTW's response to daisyflower's post it really upset me. She states, "since you're not too vocal on this board, I'll excuse that comment."

Carnation...

You asked violetalum who SHE thinks she is for questioning OTW's antics, since OTW is an active and respected member on this message board. On the flip side though, who is OTW to excuse someone else's comment on this message board? Those sort of statements are enough to keep people from posting and from answering posts.

Again, we are all equal members of this community and have the right to ask and answer any question we so desire. That means that OTW can say whatever she wants...as she said she would...BUT she, along with everyone else, needs to respect what other people have to say too - such as daisyflower's statment.

http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gifI hope this makes sense to you all. I did not intend for this comment to be rude. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Greek Love,
Christina

[This message has been edited by shopgirl (edited May 03, 2001).]

Shopgirl--

I agree that we're all due our say, which was my point. However, there was no need for violetalum, who's a newbie at that, to make her first post ever by flaming a longtime member and moderator. She could've simply stated her viewpoint and left out the insults, which are--considering the diversity of the members here--relatively rare!

There's a huge difference between attacking someone's opinion or position and verbally attacking a person. For sure, I try my best at school, at home, or on this board never to do that--UNLESS THERE"S A WACKO ATTACK!!!

So many GC members words have been interepted the wrong way. Especially people who are new the boards...they rarely get a chance to get to Senior Member status before someone snaps at them. I have only been a member since October and in this short time I have seen too many people stop posting due to people misinterepting their writings. Why do you think I stopped posting for so long? It's because I got snapped at one too many times for some of the littlest things. Unfortunately, our only means of communication is through our writings which can so easily be twisted into whatever the reader wants it to be. It's like our own sororities or fraternities....if we don't give some of the new members a chance, how will they grow to become senior members? Give them a break. I didn't intend for this to be rude so please don't interpret this the wrong way. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif I just hope you all understand where I'm coming from and try to give other GC members a chance to explain themselves before snapping at them. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by ZTAngel (edited May 02, 2001).]

This was my problem with violetalum's post. rolltidesoon didn't ask a question about NPC policy, she asked what the groups are like in reputation. If she would have asked "do you need recs" and OTW would have said no because at her school you don't, that would have been valid reason to call her on it. But that wasn't the question, the question was about opinions.

Also, I don't think OTW's comment to daisyflower was unwarranted - df answered with a bit of an attitude ("I will give you the insight nobody seems willing to provide.") That almost sounds like an accusation that we want to withhold info. We don't - we just want rushees to go in with as clean a slate as possible and without inaccurate information.

Plus - prospectiverushee (post here more girl, I miss you!) directed rolltidesoon to the very lengthy UA rush thread in the rush forum. It covered everything a rushee needed to know. That should have been the end of the whole bloody thing.

Oh, while I'm here, I'll say it one more time: I think all these "what do you think of" and "what is XYZ like" threads should be banned/closed. They do nothing to contribute to discussion of Greek life and do even less to put a positive spin on it.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Thread Nazi

I am really sorry that one question started such a huge argument. I was honestly just curious about the sororities there. Trust me, I'm not the type to hear something from ONE person that I don't even know and assume that it's true. Also, 33girl, you said that there is very lengthy UA rush thread, but all I could find was one with 5 posts. If there is another, please let me know, I'm new to this board so maybe you know something I don't.

[This message has been edited by rolltidesoon (edited May 03, 2001).]

I'm sorry - I honestly thought it was longer than that! I must have been thinking of the LSU thread. But from what some people have said the 2 are somewhat similar so it couldn't hurt to check that one out too. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

This my attempt at a politically correct, non-offensive just-my-opinion-and-you-don't have-to-agree-and-I-won't-get-mad-if-you- don't-,and sometimes my mood affects how I interpret things just like yours does you-friendly GC post--- I mentioned the LSU rush discussion in my second post. It is very good. Also, the reason I mentioned recs, NPC, etc. is that, while many of us went thru formal rush, we may have gone thru at small schools or schools where rush just wasn't that competitive, OR some of us may have gone thru rush at a school like Alabama where rush is HUGE, competitive, long and arduous and most girls had better have their "ducks in a row," so to speak, well before rush ever starts. We networked for 6 months trying to find alums from all of the sororities that were at my daughter's school. So I would assume that, if a young lady wanted to know about the sororities at Bama, she would also appreciate hearing about every part of sororities--recs, dress code, how panhellenic structures rush,whether legacy retention is relevant, activities, philanthropies as well as how each sorority is perceived. You may or may not want to be in the sorority that dances on the bar, but how are you going to find out reputations and other things like that during rush? The girls will be on their best behavior then, you can bet. And, as I also stated, you need to take what you hear with a grain of salt, but, if you consistently hear the same thing about a group, you can bet there is some truth to it. At a school like Bama that sort of thing is good to know, esp. when you may have to pick several sororities to cut after seeing them for 15 minutes during an open house where you are also seeing 20 other groups for the first time. I honestly meant no harm when I said what I did, I just don't think that people who post all the time and are well known on GC and aren't afraid to give their opinion realize how harsh they may sound at times.
After all, didn't you love that teacher in school who always said, "Don't be afraid to ask because there is no such thing as a stupid question.", as opposed to that teacher who had forgotten that we were there to learn and put you down if you asked a question. I do not know what else to say except I am sorry that I was misinterpreted and that some seem to think that I am Hitler, Idi Amin, and one of the "V"'s rolled into one. But like others I reserve the right to my opinion and will not change my principles for anyone. Anyway I've gotta go "lurk" somemore. Good luck on finals! I am pushing the "Submit Reply" button with great trepidation....Then I am going to duck and run for cover

Thank you for saying what I've been thinking! Like I've said MANY TIMES BEFORE, I'm not going to hear something and assume that it's true without giving the girls a chance. I know that rush at BAMA is competitive, recs are not a problem and I have several friends at Ole Miss who have given me many tips, and I KNOW that BAMA rush isn't nearly as brutal as Ole Miss. So that's not the type of info I'm looking for. I'm not looking for the most beautiful or popular sorority, that isn't important to me, BUT if there is a sorority that has a reputation for sleeping around, call me shallow, but no that's probably not the one I want to join. But trust me, if someone says, "Oh XYZ has the worst reputation" I'm definitely not going to base my opinion of that sorority on what one person said. Like V said, if you consistantly hear the same thing from many different sources, than odds are, it's true. I just wanted to get some different sources! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

I went to a midsize school in the south; I grew up in Germany and now live in New England; point being I have lived in many places and meet many people. I graduated from college over six years ago, so I by no means am an expert on today’s Greek Life. My knowledge is limited to my friend’s little sisters and brothers, my alumnae chapter, my family currently in college and my chapter alumnae letters. I have friends who went to college from California to Maine and South Dakota to Texas. We speak often and have so since we graduated from high school over ten years ago. Most are members of GLOs, some are GDI, I have listened to different views on Greek Life, from many different people, just as this board presents. The difference is, that if you are sitting at the campus cafeteria or your best friend’s couch when her big sister comes home from college and you ask some of the questions that are asked here, you are going to get open answers. You should still hear “keep an open mind,” “follow your heart,” etc, but you will also hear “ABCs are athletic,” “DEFs are the girls next door,” “GHIs are the prom queens,” I am sure you get my point. These young ladies who ask questions on here, obviously do not have someone to turn to, or they want more than just their cousin’s opinion. I thought what daisyflower said was interesting and her view only. I personally think that she should have included “Keep an open mind” and I am sure that ZTA and AOPi have positive points that would have been more appropriate. On the same note, no matter how much you tell people to be themselves; going through Rush is similar to a job interview, you are not going to show up at a party in cut-offs and a tank top. The same holds true for the GLOs, they are not going to offer a potential new member a beer or throw in JLo’s new CD and get up and dance. Everyone is going to have their clothes ironed, even when it is Philanthropy Day and they are in shorts and a Rush Week t-shirt, they are also going to be polite and put their best show forward. Unfortunately, you are not as an incoming Freshman at UA that is from Milwaukee, WI who is a Vegan and a practicing Mormon; going to know that “ABC” every Monday night after meeting goes to the Outback and then hits Senor Frogs. And again unfortunately at some schools, waiting to pledge your sophomore year is not necessarily and option, unless you are a member of the SA, Campus Tour guide, Business club, a cheerleader, etc.; my point is that you need to be very active and almost perfect your freshman year, with a high GPA. You can bet, if the sorority uses a point system, that the freshman ladies start off with the upper hand.

At my school, most of the sororities could not pledge you without a Rec; the more you had, the better. That said, if they wanted you, they would find someone to write you a Rec, even if that meant the night before Pref, they were on the phone to the local Alumnae Panhellenic or sorority chapter from your town, sending them out to talk with your hair dresser, or preacher, or second grade teacher, so they could invite you to Pref night. A dear friend of mine was a Pi Phi at Bucknell; she had never heard of a Rec until she meet me, eight years after she graduated from college. Every campus is different; every GLO is different between campuses. I am very new to this board and I have read several threads. It seems to me that the majority of people have good intentions when giving advice or opinions. The thing that other’s reading seem to be forgetting is that it is that person’s opinion only. I don’t think that attacking someone’s questions or opinions is necessary. There is such a thing as a dumb question, if you are asking it to be a jerk or to start s*&t. However, ignoring it keeps the fire from growing. Also, there are several threads on here that I believe that many people have started, because they are being inquisitive and would like to learn or understand. Just because you might think it is a stupid question, does not mean that the next person does. I have also seen a lot of responses jump on the negative bandwagon and make comments about how this thread has been done before “do you know how to use a search function.” The fact is I have used the search function. It can take forever you have to search each topic separately, under 150(+/-) forums. This board is here to help people who want to learn about the Greek Community and those that are Greek to meet new people, make friends and give advice, but that advice does not need to come at such a negative price.

If I state my opinion on here, it is only that, my opinion and it only comes from my experience as a member of Pi Beta Phi, at a midsize school in the south; where yes on occasion a girl was known to attend, to pledge a sorority that she could not get into at an SEC school and then transfer before her sophomore year.

As members of the Greek Community we have knowledge and possibly a bit of wisdom that can help these young ladies who are starting college, or are in college that did not have a successful rush, get what they want and what we have.

http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif

Okay, I've been avoiding this debate but I want to go ahead and say something now. Basically a lot of the GC addicts who have been here for months keep saying that threads asking for opinions shouldn't exist. Despite your repeated insistence these questions continue to pour in throughout the summer as more and more young girls prepare for rush. Also, many other greekchat regulars and experienced alumnae have sounded in on the issue to say that these questions are only natural for these girls to wonder about and that we, as knowledgable sources, should try to help them. I think that all of the self appointed "thread nazi's" need to relax their stance a little.
I believe that these threads should be patrolled in the following ways:
First - is this a school that has been discussed ad naseum in the very recent past? i.e. - U. of Alabama. In that case the girls should be told, politely, to perform a search.
Second - blatantly tacky and disrespectful commments regarding any members of our NPC family will not be tolerated. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif However, one such post resulted in members of that chapter coming in to defend themselves and those girls have since become very active and respected members of this board.
Third - all advice should be tempered by the simple facts that the right house is the one you feel most comfortable at and to go in with an open mind. I still think that if someone has some opinions regarding sororities on a certain campus and can voice them tastefully and with a good measure of positivity they shouldn't be flamed for doing so.
Fourth - if you don't like a topic or someone is obviously trying to incite controversy - IGNORE IT!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif

There has been way too much fighting going on here about these topics. I would really just like to see all the in-fighting stop and some of just agree to disagree. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif That's all. Thanks.

Here's an article about one girl's experience with Bama sorority rush. Check it out. http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/s...storypage.html

I feel for the man that will marry you.

I am very tired and stressed, so please bear with me, but I have some thoughts I need to get out.

First and foremost - it is extremely bad etiquette in ANY forum to have your first ever post be a slam on an active member of that forum, no matter how long you have been "lurking."

The reason the "rep" questions drive me nuts is I have seen erroneous rumors and scuttlebutt (there's a couple 25 cent words for you) damage chapters to the point of extinction. I don't mean chapters that haze the crap out of pledges - they deserve all the bad publicity they can get. I mean the chapters that may not be prettiest or most popular and may be full of wonderful girls, but no one will give them a chance. And as we've definitely seen, national officers monitor these boards. How would you feel if it was your chapter getting extra scrutiny because someone posted on here "they have the worst rep with the guys"?

I can't count the number of times I've preached on here in favor of deferred rush. In my mind the 2 go hand in hand. Yes it sucks that women have to go into rush knowing nothing - yes it sucks that they feel they have to turn to a message board for advice. There is no substitute for seeing the sororities in person and how they operate day to day. Many of the women on my floor freshman year pledged and I definitely got to know who kept their pledges out till 3 AM, who was always happy during their pledge time and who did a personality 180. Had I not had that behind me I don't think I'd have known WHAT to do during rush. Your life is in such an upheaval at that time anyway - I think making a lifetime commitment is a lot to ask. My personal belief is that a lot of the unhappiness experienced in the Greek system could be lessened by implementing deferred rush.

The End. Just my o.

I didnt get the memo about etiquette, I will have to take this issue up with my secretary. That being said, here's my 2 cents.

Situation: Your in highschool. Senior year is about over. You come home from school one afternoon, sit down at your computer and begin researching fraternities/sororities you are interested in at the respective university that you will be attending. During your search you come across a site called "Greekchat". Here is where it gets tricky. You enter greekchat, go right into the first forum on the list, greeklife, and start reading some posts. For whatever reason, be it not searching or not going through diffrent pages, you cant find the info that you so desperatley need about the u. that you will be attending. You decide to create a screename and seek an answer from the many knowledgeable people on this grand site. Ok, now you created a thread called "How is XYZ at Scuttlebutt U.?" well you go eat yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, come back to the comp and see if anyone has replied to your post. One of the first replies that you get entails you getting your head bit off for asking this type of question. You have been condemned from the getgo for commiting the number 1 sin of greekchat. "Thou shalt do a search".

These kids dont know this stuff. It is possible to let these threads slide without reply, especially if you dont attend that university. Guys, its summer, the kids are going to be on here trying to get a heads up about what will happen to them in the fall. Kudos to them for that.

Lack of patientence and tolerance is something I had to beat early in life. Trust me, I tried to apply it in many places (golf course, work, school) and it just never did me much good. I'm getting older now, I guess I just think that its just not worth it to get worked up over the little things. Visting greekchat is relaxing. Its good just to sit back and read whats going on around the country. It shouldnt be like a job, where you just wind up completley flustered (5 cents) and mad.

KABILLYMAC,
Very well said!!! These young adults are coming here for advice from members of GLOs. In some cases, the first thing that happens is they are criticized for the questions they ask. This is the first introduction to Greek Life?!? No wonder membership is declining at many Schools. We should put ourselves in their shoes and try to remember the questions we had when we were 17 and 18, getting ready to start college and rush.

33girl,
I totally agree with your third paragraph… There is something positive about each GLO, and that is what should be emphasized. That is why I said in my earlier posting that, “I thought what daisyflower said was interesting and her view only. I personally think that she should have included “Keep an open mind” and I am sure that ZTA and AOPi have positive points that would have been more appropriate."

Also, I said it earlier... If you want to do a search on "ABC" University or "XYZ" sorority, you have to search over 150 forums. That can be not only time consuming, but also frustrating. I know first hand I did two... one on USM, the other on Pi Phi.

PiPhiAlum and KABillyMac-
I totally agree with you guys. I think there's very few of us on GC that can honestly say they went through rush with a completely open mind. We all, in some form, tried to find out what each fraternity/sorority had to offer. Whether it was by going to the university for a summer session, asking a friend, or even going on greek chat, most us had some sort of opinion to begin with. Don't bite someone's head off for asking a question. If you don't like the topic, THEN DON'T POST!

My advice would be to go in with an open mind. I could tell you some rumors I have heard about other houses, but they're just that, rumors, and I wouldn't want to influence any decision you might make. I could tell you that XYZ sorority has a reputation for sleeping around or whatever, but I'm sure someone in XYZ would be happy to tell you the same thing about my house (even though it wouldn't be true). You are going to be able to find someone to say something bad about any house at UA. Rush is just really competitive there and a lot of girls will go to any extreme to get the girls they want. So don't listen to any rumors. Just go in with an open mind and find the house YOU are most comfortable in.

OK, i didnt want to put in my 2 cent but I cant beleive one innocent post coudl bring this much stuff up. I agree with the GCer's who think that its ok for her to ask this question. Like someone said anyone who replies is giving her/his own opinion and it may influence some people, but if it does than that is on that person. But i know at my school you have to go to every house anyways, so youd get to know the girls no matter what you heard about them. Also, no GCer should attack another. Whether its newbie, moderator, senior or junior member or lurking member. You dont have to read the post. WHy waste so much energy writing a reply about putting it somewhere else, when you could just skip over it?

Yeah, and I just love it that Mods and senior members can be bitchy and rude at free will, but the junior members and newbies don't even seem to have the right to an opinion or to ask a question. And no, I'm not generalizing, I'm not saying that all mods are rude or that all newbies are treated with less respect. But there seems to be this culture where the higher your post count is, the "better" you are on this board. Everyone here was a newbie once, and I can say, having been a lurker for a while, that there are cases of people who get EXPONENTIALLY less polite as their post count rises. I think this board would benefit greatly if everyone's post count were erased and people just got off their high horses for once. You talk about how we should treat "respected members" better...shouldn't we ALL be respected????

[This message has been edited by kappagirl00 (edited June 17, 2001).]

Kappagirl and others, I really didn't notice anybody being rude on GC until the Attack of the Trailer Trash that started last October and lasted well into this year. Like I said in an earlier post, it made people suspicious of any overly innocent post and spurred us into "kill mode" the minute we saw an insulting post. You just would've had to be there, to put up with the tons of filthy, vicious crap from 2 sorry women. Some of us who are normally calm people were highly surprised at what we eventually shot back at them.

But like I said, you would've had to have been there...don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes.... http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

I understand that, because I did read this board at the time. I WAS there. However, there comes a time when you need to let go a little. Because not everyone is the tag team, and not everyone is out to get us. But if we keep reacting as though everyone is, this board will quickly become not a fun place to be. After a certain point you need to let go and move on.

And I think whoever started this post was asking a perfectly valid question. Those of you who have never done formal fall rush cannot understand how confusing it is to choose from sororities you know nothing about, all of which are only putting their best foot forward. My first round of rush, all the sororities seemed the same to me. It was not until I heard from the sophomores in my rush group about the sororities' reputations and met more girls in the houses that I got a picture of how these groups were different from one another. But I didn't rely on such information to make my choices, and to assume someone would do so is a HUGE insult to their intelligence. Like I said, I think a lot of people on this board would benefit from a giant chill pill and a long nap http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by kappagirl00 (edited June 17, 2001).]

Of course, kappagirl00! I too went through rush at a huge school in a state I'd never even visited. I had no clue that rush was as demanding as it was there, that some sororities and some girls had made their choices prior to rush, that--well, I could go on forever. Because of that and the fact that I was once a Panhel advisor, I will always welcome legit questions from prospective rushees.

But "legit" is the key word. The tag team continues to visit this board, lurking (Hi, Barb. Hi, Kristin.) and making provocative posts under various names and this is why many people are unwilling to drop their guard. I, for one, will be glad when John institutes his new program this summer and cruddy people will be unable to try to start anything at all.

[This message has been edited by carnation (edited June 17, 2001).]