Opinion: Good idea or bad idea?
 

I just thought I would get the opinion of the GCers out there.

At one of the popular radio stations down here, one of the interns is going through rush, and chronicling her rush experience in a BLOG for the radio station's morning show.

Here is a link to the site. If it doesn't take you right to her blog, you might have to scroll down to where it says, "Briana's Rush Blog". There is a picture of her, and she tells where she goes to school and everything. Apparently she has already been "called out on it" (DJ's words). Not sure what was said or by whom.

This a very popular radio station that alot of college-aged kids listen to.

Briana's Rush Blog

My question is:

Do you think that doing this will have an effect on her rush? Good or bad?

I do think it will have some kind of effect, but who knows whether it will be positive or negative. I guess it depends on what she says.

Anyway, What do ya'll think?

As long as she is discrete, doesn't mention chapter names or specifics regarding her absolute impressions (like GC PNM's), I can't see where it would be different than posting here in R-Stories.

We'll see...

This reminds me of Tootie going through rush undercover on The Facts of Life.

I think she'll probably get questioned on her sincerity, and how much of it is to promote the radio station, even if those aren't her intentions.

For those who don't want to have to search down the page for her blog, here is a direct link to it...http://internbriana.blogspot.com/

Thanks for that!!! :)

http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/Merch...ewedge_350.jpg

Sounds cheesy to me.

I'm withholding judgment till we see what she writes. It seems to me that this could turn out to be a positive thing if she handles it well -- there is so much negative speculation/rumor/gossip about what sororities do and what rush is like, and part of the reason those are taken seriously is that there's a dearth of honest, fair accounts out there. Think about how many young women go through rush each year, and how few articles or even novels depict what really goes on. There's hardly another activity that involves so many people and yet is such a closed book (and it's not like we're talking about ritual that has to be private). So I'd like to see more blogs and features in school papers and so forth expressing a variety of real experiences. Not only are they interesting to read, but they could go a long way toward countering all the myth and innuendo that's out there.

For someone that says she has wanted to rush for such a long time, she seems woefully underinformed. I mean, she doesn't know what clothes she'll need? Um, how about checking your Recruitment information packet or the school's web site?

In explanation of my above remark, I know more than a couple people in radio. If they didn't think they could make a big score on this, they wouldn't do it. In other words, they've already decided the outcome - if Briana is going to really do this normally and see if she gets a bid, or go the geek route and still see if she gets a bid. Either way, I'm really leery about how this will end up.

If done correctly, I think this will do a world of good for recruitment. We all know that there are those "maybe joiners" out there who would join a sorority, but don't want to deal with formal recruitment. By demystifying it a bit, it may help others see that it is a system that (for the most part) works. Course...it may scare a few off as well.

One person posted a comment that said (in part) "You cannot mention any national fraternity or sorority by name without written permission of that particular organization. "

How can she be forbidden to post names of groups without their permission if she's writing a personal account? If I followed that sentence to a T, that means that I can't mention that my husband is a Sigma Chi right here in this post without the Sigma Chi HQ permission. That's just silly to me.

This commenter also said "you are being watched very closely by the ladies in San Marcos"...which kinda sounds stalkerish. But probably very true.

PsychTau

This is exactly what my concern was. Her picture is on there and everything, and word of this is going to spread. I would be willing to bet that every girl in every house on the TxState campus will know who she is when she walks through their door. And if she DOESN'T make the greek system sound rosy and every chapter sound like the best women on the planet, then she could easily find herself bid-less.

This is not something that I would suggest for someone who is serious about wanting to join a sorority. (And it seems like she is.) I would hate to see her lose out because she did this.

Yeah there are quite alot of PNMs on GC who tell their stories in the Recruitment Story forum, but it is for this exact reason why they are encouraged to keep personal details (even the name of the school) out of their posts.

Even if she posts after recruitment, the chapter she joins might not be thrilled with some of her comments. When I was an undergrad, a girl at my school wrote an article for the student newspaper about her rush experience. Some of her comments, even those about the house she ended up joining, were kind of questionable. :rolleyes:

She can legally say what she wants. A lot of people are misinformed about usage like that, including our own HQ sometimes. Groups could strongly frown upon but they don't have a leg to stand on unless she says something false. It's just a scare tactic.

I don't blame the greeks for looking out. It's a publicity stunt, regardless of her intentions being honest or not. It's very difficult for the sororities to know her intentions.

Someone referred her here, lol, that could be interesting...

For anyone curious, they have ADPi, AXiD, XO, DG, DZ and ZTA. Wonder how competitive of a rush it is?

She got her pref dress at Charlotte Russe. Ick. Sorry, personal dislike there.

hmmmmm
 

Talking about her life is one thing....possibly telling rush information and getting caught up is another. I say not good...but hey I am just a greek member...who am I to say. Her line sisters and big sisters may feel muchhhhh different! ;)

I am not exactly sure how competitive it is, but I do know that sororities are a big deal at Tx State. I am actually pretty curious to see what she has to say about my sorority.

And co-sign on the ick. Charlotte Russe is fine for little going out shirts that you won't really wear more than a few times, but for something NICE? Definately wouldn't be my first choice.

I went to TxState (was SWT). I am on our housing board there and I will go up to San Marcos a few times to help out with recruitment. Rush is pretty competitive between the top chapters, but not quite the Univ. of Texas. I just hope that she is smart with everything. I know how crazy Austin radio stations can be and I'd hate for her to ruin her chances at something she has wanted for quite a long time. If I were the actives in the chapters, I'd be very cautious! kddani, I thought the same thing about the dress!! We shall see how this one turns out!

I think this is more risky than posting here about Rush Stories.
--EVERYONE in San Marcos will be paying attention to this, there are a few from any given school on GC
--She has her picture up. Everyone will try to read into what she posts about which chapter she could be talking about.

You are absolutely right.

How weird would it be if she listened to the poster who told her to come here, and she found this thread? Oooohhhh......:p

Because she willingly became a "public" figure by allowing the radio station to publicize her rush experience -- it's safe to say that she's fair game.

Putting discretion talk aside, all the sororities will know about her. While I can see the sororities wanting to pick her up (hey, it's free publicity, right?)..at the same time I can see them not wanting to do so for the same reason.

That being said, I'm hoping that she does find this thread. I don't know if she really knows what the heck she's getting herself into.

What about "Lorie"? Even I know that recruitment in Chicago and Iowa is not the same as recruitment in Texas........

But I do agree with you all. This has traindwreck written all over it.

I don't know it all looks like a great time to me. As long as she doesn't openly "cut" some sorority she should have a great time.

I mean a blog is a blog. Obviously the radio station will get some advertising from this but if she was recruiting @ "my" school then I would enjoy having a conversation with her about her "candidness" with recruitment at "my" school.

I am sure she will get tons of advice and hopefully she will be smart enough to take most of it.

I am going to keep an eye out for how she handles herself.

Apparently she named on the air who her top 3 choices are . . . recruitement doesn't start until Monday.

What a dumbbutt.


It would definitely be wiser to have waited until post rush to post that blog.

I hope she has sense enough to change the names (though it doesn't sound like it). I also hope other PNMs don't listen to her opinions about the particular groups.

ETA:
PS - What school is this for? Is there only one Texas State?

YOU'RE BACK! :D WB! :)

How'd you get the old name back?

Ok, a couple of things.

Barbara's comment of Briana being "woefully underinformed" is an understatement. She didn't know about mandatory meetings? She doesn't even know where to be on the 22nd? I'm sure if I wanted to know about where to be on the 22nd, I could figure that shit out.

And her comment about the rec that she didn't revive [sic] (it's supposed to be RECEIVED, I'm assuming). Um, since when were PNMs allowed to hand deliver the recs?

I'm just not feeling this PNM. It just seems as if she's just relishing this new found attention just to go through rush. I wouldn't be surprised if, once she gets a bid (if she even gets one) she's going to realize that once things will be expected of her, she'll end up just de-pledging.

Is there anyone on GC from her campus or does anyone know of a member of any sorority from this campus? I'd really love to hear what they're thinking about this.

Obviously rush really doesn't mean THAT much to her if she couldn't be bothered to learn any of the details, such as oh, say, WHEN YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP.

Why doesn't the radio station pay to change her ticket ? :p

It's just looking a lot less genuine and a whole lot more publicity stunt.

It's not illegal for her to use the organization's names personally (that'd be like us saying "I'm a You-Know-Who" instead of saying "I'm an Alpha Gamma Delta!") but the radio station can not be using names, so if it's on the radio station website, she can't use names.

It's like on TV where you see "Trading Spaces, Fraternity/Sorority" and the letters are blurred out and they don't mention the groups names. Or on MTV when they go into dorm rooms and blur out paddles, composites, etc. Those are trademarked group names that the groups do not allow to be in the media, so I would think radio was included and internet promotions for that station would be as well.

We have a girl like this on our campus, who is blogging the entire process. She didn't get a bid during formal last year, but she's been wanting my chapter since she got here, so she's doing informal this fall. After reading her blog though (it covers everything from boyfriends to parties to classes to sororities) even I'm iffy on her, and I was a hardcore supporter last year.

I think I might tell her to stop getting so excited, because my chapter responds very negatively to "OMG I WANNA BE YOU I WOULD TOTALLY DIE FOR YOU!!!!!!1!!!!!ONE!!!!!!!!!!11" We don't want hero worship or for people to be *just* like someone else in the chapter, we want friendship.

As someone replied on the blog, she appears to be quite underinformed.

Anyone notice that she said "I've wanted to rush since forever"
rather than that she wants to belong to a sorority?
That's like saying, "I want to be the bride," not "I want to be married."

There's a whole lot more to Greek life than rush!

AGDAlum

This is Texas State at San Marcos (used to be Southwest Texas State). It is about 30 or 45 mins south of Austin, where I live. I have some friends down there, but none in sororities so I don't know what they are saying. But I do know that if it was at my campus, EVERY chapter would be following it closely so I can assume that they are doing the same in San Marcos.

I think she is genuine in wanting to rush... I just think she is making herself look dumb for not having a clue as to what she needs to do. I looked forward to rushing for a whole year, and I can promise you that I knew EVERYTHING that I needed to know, and if there was something I didn't- I found out!!! I don't think she realizes what a big deal what she's doing is. She thinks this is just happy fun time and doesn't realize the effect it might have.

Just thought I would add:

They are talking about this on the radio right now, and the DJ said that if the girls are gonna be "whiny babies about it (because that's how they are) then she can discontinue it" He doesn't want her to get "kicked out of a sorority before she even gets in."

It pisses me off that they are saying such terrible things about sororities when they don't even know. GGRRRR!!!!!! I would love to call in and give them a piece of my mind but alas... BAD idea. :rolleyes:

I don't think it would be such a bad idea, as long as you could articulate yourself well and explain the issue at hand. Non-greeks are woefully mis-informed, and someone needs to set the record straight.

Some people on LJ are just stupid.
 

Apparently it's not only non-Greeks who are woefully misinformed:

I think the people on GC are being very "high and mighty" and rude. A sorority, when it all comes down to it, is about warmth and inclusion. Not haughty exclusion, it's a special bond yes, but it's not an elitist club, its about finding where you belong.

I wish that young lady all the best. What really gets me are all the "Woefully uninformed" type comments. The girl changed her airline ticket, and she seems very excited, I don't think ther's a quesiton as to if her "heart is in it". And ya know what? I didn't know about the mandnatory meeting, asnd for us, we didn't even find out where we were supposed to go till the night before.

Sorry, I just hate it when pepole stick their noses in the air and say things like "well if she ever gets a bid" and shit like that.

Her heart may be in it but obviously her brain is on hiatus.

O.K. Enough bitchiness from me about her. I'm just going to sit back & see how it all turns out.

Seriously? Oh brother. You might as well tell the others to f**k off b/c you prefer someone else.

Out of curiousity, what 3 did she say are her top choices?

The blog's been deleted.

I really think that is the best idea for her.

I really hate to say this- but I highly doubt that she will get a bid to anywhere. I would not be surprised if she was dropped by every house after the first day. That is really sad too, but I really don't think she should be surprised if it happens. :(

Wow...that's been done in the past hour or two because I looked at it right after lunch.

Well...in any case...even if she would have been able to handle it appropriately, everyone commenting on it was getting WAY out of control (which is not necessarily her fault).

Best wishes to her, whatever happens.

PsychTau

You didn't really miss out on much.

Someone called her fat and ugly in her picture post.

Then someone asked if she really said on-air who her top sororities were.

Someone else asked if she was even interested in anything AFTER rush.

Add to that your typical "sorostitute" and "buying your friends" crap and that was it.

I've been having trouble accessing Bobby's site for some reason.

Hopefully she came to her senses. But I'll place my bets that she won't get a bid.

Yeah, the show's site is down right now- probably some kind of server problem. I've been trying to see their show archives to see if they mention what her top 3 choices were if she really did say it on air.