Jane Doe's Retro Rush at San Diego State in 1961
 

Follow Jane's "story" as together we recreate her experience as told by the pages of her Panhellenic Rush Booklet.

11 NPC groups were on the campus of San Diego State College in 1961:
Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Phi
Alpha Xi Delta
Chi Omega
Delta Zeta
Gamma Phi Beta
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Delta
Pi Beta Phi
Sigma Kappa

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psjtitabql.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psdvek4sen.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psal4eax1l.jpg

Wow! "Campus attire, flats and no hat." My mother rushed in 1959 and recalls a similar dress code though hers included gloves.

When I rushed in 1963 it was the FIRST year we didn't wear hats! But we all wore heels and hose for the first round.

Similar book to the one I received when I went through rush 10 years later. Same houses were on campus too.

DaffyKD

Am I the only one who read "Dean Wormer" instead of Mrs. Marjorie Warmer?

Great idea, Nut!

I thought about "Dean Warmer," too. Watch out for the double secret probation.

Nope, you are not the only one.

DaffyKD

Yep, I did a double take because my brain read "Mrs. Marjorie Wormer" and exploded.

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psbg0erlcg.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...pscyctqvos.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psgta2qs9v.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psx1bjml8p.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psi9mj6rrk.jpg

I LOVE this thread! I wish we could see the dresses she is making notes about, "polka dots", "blue stripes", etc...I bet those were some amazing matching garments!

Where did you happen to get ahold of this pamphlet? What a fun blast from the past!

Most of the houses were remodeled by the time I went through rush. They no longer looked like small neighborhood homes. Fun to see them in more of their original state.

DaffyKD

I'm willing to bet that this came from a Chi Omega alumna, considering who the OP is. I had my rush pamphlet in my scrapbook from my first year of membership and it was very similar to this one (although a different campus and not as old as this one). I wrote lots of notes each night after parties. The scrapbook was destroyed in a flood, unfortunately.

No, I purchased it from eBay!

I'll post more when I'm back at my desk later this week (including which group Jane joins!).

So, the plot thickens...

In 1961, rushees started with 11 sororities to visit at Open House (30 minute parties). Next, for Group I they attended 11 again (5 on one day, 6 the other). Group II was a series of 8 (45 minute) parties, 4 one night, 4 the next. Group III was a series of 5 (45 minute) parties. Group IV was 3 (one hour long) parties and Group V - Preference was 2 parties, each lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Party flow: 11-11-8-5-3-2 -- six rounds in one week!

What will Jane do? Where will she go?

Well, she didn't go Alpha Gam!

Clearly, this campus had a "no hat" policy in 1961.

Jane's Top Three:
 

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psmoimp9h7.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psikuoripg.jpg

Yay, we're still in the running! She must be conforming to our core values of love, labor, learning, and loyalty...and no hat.

I remember shopping for rush clothes - summer of '67. Yep, I'm that old.
Villager dresses and a Villager suit for 3rd round. Circle pin with my initials. Straw bag with initials on the leather closure. Bernardo sandals. It was a uniform sort of like the Pulitzer dresses thing.

FSU had 19 houses back then. The heat was indescribable.

Black dress for Pref night, white dress for pledging. Oh, and never, ever be seen drinking at a fraternity party or anywhere.

Group !! had Jane running back and forth. The houses she visited were not next door to each other using the schedule listed. In September heat in So CA in the days that you would not think of leaving heels at home. Ouch, my feet are killing me reading this!

DaffyKD

Jane's top 2 for Pref:

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psmootjvth.jpg

I researched "7421 Via Capri"

Looks like it was/is a 4000 sq ft private home in La Jolla built in 1960!

Do you have an actual name for Jane Doe? If she did end up joining Gamma Phi, I'd love to look her up in our database.

I do not, unfortunately.

It does appear that Jane received her 1st choice: Gamma Phi Beta!

This was scribbled on the back cover. A song perhaps she learned on Bid Day?

Gamma Phi B etc.
We are the pledges who
really aren't lazy
With our ____ drive
you all crazy
We will ? you
with ?
And honor your vows
But when we are through
We will be just like you
We will be

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psmhnk8j9x.jpg

Totally fun thread!


I think I need to get some new hats now, though...

Hooray for Gamma Phi! And we had different words, but I totally know the tune of the bid day song!

Congrats to No-Hat Jane and the '61 Gamma Phis of San Diego State!

This has been one of the most enjoyable threads. Thank you for sharing No-Hat Jane's story!

Yay! GPhiB!!! I have been advising and house corp board at this chapter for over 10 years. I know a lot of the older alumnae. I'm now really curious about who No-Hat Jane is!!!

Too much fun. The only thing that might have made it more fun (if that is possible)would have been photos of suggested rush attire.

I agree. Now that there are so many yearbooks online it's fun looking thru the late 50s & early 60s editions and seeing how fast dress/hairstyles/makeup changed.