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Retro Recruitment
I've been a lurker here for a while, and I love the retro threads. So here's mine. I went to a West Coast college that had a casual, but competitive rush. I came from a family where nobody had been in a sorority, other than my uncle's wife who was a Kappa at Penn. My mother was kind of a hippie in college, so she thought sororities were horrible.
My university had fall rush before school started. When I opened the door to my dorm room, there was sorority paraphernalia everywhere. I noticed that several other doors on the dorm hall had greek letters and symbols all over them too - keys and anchors and kites and arrows. Never having heard much about sororities, it all was alien to me. It soon became clear that most of the blonde, cheerleader types seemed to be in certain sororities and the debs seemed to be in certain sororities. (I am neither blonde or a deb). Over the course of the year, I got to know a lot of girls in sororities because I had Pi Phis, Thetas, DGs, Kappas and ADpis on my hall. My roommate was in the Go-Gos and was always doing fun things. I thought it would be interesting to see what this whole sorority thing was about. I was sure I wouldn't actually join one, but wanted to go through rush - kind of like a research project. I had to promise my mother I would never join. We had nine sororities: Theta Pi Phi Alpha Chi Omega Chi Omega Kappa Alpha Phi AGD DG ADpi I rushed in the 80s, so I'll use 80s bands for the sororities. A Flock of Seagulls Go-Gos Wham! Men At Work Culture Club Cyndi Lauper The Clash Devo Frankie Goes Hollywood |
LOVE the code names!
I'm pulling for Cyndi! |
I love how she set the stage!!! More, please!
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I hate to admit it but I loved The Clash. So I hope you rocked the casbah and had a great rush!
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i love the 80s!! this oughta be a good one!
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Slightly hurt that Dexy's Midnight Runners didn't make the list.
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I think I'm gonna "Relax" and go with Frankie Goes to Hollywood, tho... |
Yes, I think it's no secret who I'm cheering on.
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Yeah, I'll root for Flock of Seagulls just because of the hair! Woo!
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I have loved Culture Club since I was very young (and I have NO idea why), so I'm rooting for them with cuteASAbug! :)
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I have some free time at work, so I'll continue the story. Glad you like my code names!
Several of my friends were rushing also as sophomores, and they told me what types of clothes to wear each day. Being a compulsive shopper, it wasn't really a tough sell to get me to go buy a few new outfits. Then I headed down to school, where we would be staying in dorms for rush. Although I had a casual attitude going into it, you can't sit through the orientation with 700 other girls and not get caught up in it. I remember the chapter presidents getting up and each saying something inspirational about sorority life. They all were so beautiful and poised. It was very intimidating because all the girls rushing were so beautiful. I went to a Southern California university, and everyone looked like they stepped off an episode of "Laguna Beach," had the show been on the air back then. We met our rush counselor, who was really sweet, and I really loved the other girls in my group. It was a real wide range. Many of us sophomores already had preconceived notions about some of the sororities. A lot of people wanted to be Go-Gos, Culture Clubs or Frankie Goes Hollywood. I still told myself I had no intentions of pledging. I was starting to get a little nervous about this whole rush thing! |
So the first day of rush came, and by this time, I was totally nervous. I changed clothes several times.
The first house we went to was: Devo: I hadn't heard much about this house. None of the girls on my hall were in this sorority. I got my first taste of bursting, and was totally overwhelmed. They were very peppy. The way I would categorize this house was very sweet girls who seemed to really like each other. Wham!: This was a house that had gotten a bad rap from some people. It seemed like a real diversity of girls, but I couldn't really get a feel for the personality of the house. The conversations were okay. Culture Club: I'd heard a lot about this site, and I had two girls on my hall who were Culture Clubs. By this point, I was used to the bursting. This house seemed to be filled with beautiful girls. They seemed to really like each other too. Cyndi Lauper: We walked next door to Cyndi Lauper. I feel bad saying this, but this was a house that a lot of people seemed to make fun of. It's so weird now because this is such a strong sorority nationwide, but at my school, it was definitely one of the weaker ones. The girls seemed to struggle to make conversation. The Clash: This sorority had recently colonized on campus, and it was smaller than the others. One of the sisters had gone to my high school and was pretty and popular. But it was hard to get a feel for the house. Flock of Seagulls: I was excited to go to this house because one of my dorm friends was in the house as well as a girl I'd known long ago when I lived in Colorado. It seemed to have a real diversity of girls. I could definitely see myself as a Wham. I was a little turned off by one sister I talked to who had transferred from a school in the Northwest, and said it had been a transition to get used to this chapter because it was so different than the other chapter. The unspoken assumption here was that the Seagulls at her old school were superior to these Seagulls. I got the feeling she was still adjusting. Frankie Goes Hollywood: This house intimidated me the most. The girls in this house were all ridiculously beautiful, athletic and very, very blonde. And when they burst out of their door, it was a sea of blonde. I am anything but blonde. A girl on my hall was a Frankie, and I remember her polo shirts always matched her espadrilles which always matched the bow in her hair. I had some good conversations. The word was that the Frankies, Culture Clubs and Go-Gos tended to go after a lot of the same girls. Men At Work: This was an up-and-coming sorority that had really gained momentum. It had a great diversity of girls, and I had really good conversations here. They weren't intimidating, but seemed to have it together. Go-Gos: This was the house I knew the most about because my roommate was a Go-Go. She, like the other sisters in this house, seemed to have it all together. She was cute, smart and had a great personality. The house had cheerleader types and debs as well as athletes and student leaders. It was a little intimidating. It was at this house that I had the best conversation of the day. This sister was so funny and down to earth. We really clicked. I left feeling a little confused. I was really starting to get sucked in. And I was so nervous that the houses I liked wouldn't ask me back. I still assured my mother that I had no intentions of pledging. At this point, my top picks were: Go-Gos Culture Club Frankie Men At Work Flock of Seagulls |
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Great thread! |
Yes!!! Grosgrain belts. And occasionally Top Siders.
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Oh yeah -- loving it -- this was my "era" too. Good story.
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COMEDY! I'm an 80s pledge as well. I still can't get used to all the jeans, t-shirts and super casual outfits I see worn at recruitment events today. I went to a southern high school where Lilly Pulitzer rush outfits were being planned senior year.
The sorority women on my college were less preppy and more into the sophisticated black with pearls look, and our recruitment was in winter so forget espadrilles. But still, there were a LOT of hairbows and scrunchies! |
Ah - the bowheads!
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It was funny because mid-way through college I transferred to a school in the Midwest, where it was all pearls, Add-A-beads, monogram sweaters, long skirts and penny loafers - totally different than what we were all wearing in California.
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Since my child is occupied, I'll continue with my story.
We all had a lot to talk about after the first day. My sophomore friends and I compared notes, and we all liked the same houses. But I vowed to keep an open mind. I was still pretty sure that I wouldn't actually be pledging anyway. The way it worked for our rush is that if you received no bids, the rush counselor would knock on your door at night to let you know. So everyone got a little startled when there was a knock on the door. The next morning, we got our invites. I got all 9 houses back for skit day. We could go back to 7 houses. I decided to go back to: Go-Gos Culture Club Frankie Men At Work Flock of Seagulls Devo Wham! Wham! I liked this house better this time. They had cute skit, and I talked to a girl who was one of my roommate's best friends from home. The house seemed to show more personality. Frankie I had heard so much about his skit from my friends who had gone through rush the previous year. It was a Gidget skit, which played into their whole beach babe image. Very cute. And the girls were amazing. You couldn't leave and not wish to be a Frankie. Men at Work: This sorority was really growing on me. I met several more girls I really liked, and the skit was really cute. I could definitely see myself here. Flock: I don't remember much about the skit, but I got to talk to some friends from freshman year, as well as my childhood friend. I really liked this house and could see myself here. Go-Gos: Their skit was amazing. They had a waterfall when you arrived and a whole island theme going. Anybody who went to this school will immediately know the house I'm talking to. The girl I met the previous day came running up to say hello, and I got to talk to my old roommate. I was really falling for this house, which I didn't want to do. Devo: It's terrible to say, but I don't remember a single Devo or a single thing about the Devo skit. And to this day, I don't think I know any Devos. They have a decent reputa†ion, but nothing stood out to me about this house. Culture Club: My old dorm neighbor came running up to me when we got the house, and it made me feel very comfortable. I liked the other girls I met, but didn't really click with them. Their skit was okay. I left feeling not as enthusiastic about the Club. I remember talking to my boyfriend that night - a boyfriend who felt the same way about sororities as my mother - and assuring him that I didn't plan to pledge. It was starting to get complicated! |
These were my favorite bands. My home would be Flock of Seagulls
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...kofSeaguls.jpg |
YES! The hair!! I was trying to explain this look to my bf, but I couldn't put it into words.
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ahh no Duran Duran :( I will have to go with Wham-George was my first crush.
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Ok, I wasn't going to post this because I thought I'd look stupid, BUT I know it will make some people laugh.
When you were talking about that girl matching, I didn't know what some of the things were! I had to google "top siders" "grossgrain belt" and "espadrilles." Yeah, I was born near the end of the 80s...I bet my (future) kids will ask me who the Spice Girls were!! |
I'm hooked! I was going to say to Go Go the Go-Go's, but now it would be anticlimatic.
Please tell me that they wore the headbands and/or huge hair, too! |
So no knock on the door that night. This rush thing seemed relatively painless at this point. Then I went to get my invites and was sad to see that I'd gotten cut by Frankie and Culture Club. That hurt because I knew girls in these houses, and even though I realistically knew I probably wouldn't feel at home at either one, nobody wants the decision made for them. Anyway, I still had four great choices. I cut Devo.
To be honest, I don't really remember what the theme of this day was. I just remember that things seemed to get much more intense. That morning, I saw a long line of girls waiting for the phone to call parents, some crying. (This was before the days of cell phones or computers, man I feel old!!!!!!) Anyway, I headed off to my first house: Flock of Seagulls: I talked to some of the same sisters that I'd met previously, and again, I felt very comfortable at this house. I liked the fact that there was a wide range of girls. Go-Gos: I was excited to go here. Several of the sisters I'd met made a point of coming up and saying hi. I had great conversations. My rush roommate had loved the Go-Gos but had been cut from them that day and was really upset. She ended up dropping out that day, which made me sad. But I was very happy that I was asked back. Wham!: I just wasn't really feeling it here. I liked the girls I had met here. But I hadn't really clicked with anybody. There seemed to be an overall lack of enthusiasm at this house compared with the others. Men At Work: This was my second favorite. I really liked the girls here. And one of my favorite rush friends was really leaning toward this house. After 4-party day, I got together with some of my friends from my freshman dorm. One of my best friends was really dead set on the Go-Gos. She was on the tennis team with a Go-Go, and it was the only house she liked. It was the house she had wanted since Day 1. Another friend was torn between Culture Club, the Go-Gos and the Frankies. She had had a perfect rush so far, and we knew that she could probably have her pick of houses. She was one of those type of people: gorgeous, smart, funny, a model, blah, blah, blah. You'd hate her if you didn't love her so much. We were all a little surprised at how much we wanted this - especially me! On a side note, there had been an annoying girl in our rush group - I'll call her Buffy - who would lament each day about her perfect rush and how she just didn't know who she was going to cut. She just couldn't decide between the Frankie's and Culture Club and the Go-Gos. How was she going to choose? She just loved them all so much? Yada yada yada. |
I love your story so far, and since you've given it an 80s theme, every time I see your username, the Toni Basil song pops in my head and usually remains lodged there all day. So thanks for that. ;)
*sigh* ok, so since my "Frankie" choice was obviously way off, I'm going with "Men at Work" now. cuteASA, what's your thought now that Boy G. and co. are out of the running? |
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After Day 3, we were all living in fear of the dreaded Knock on the Door. I don't know whether a phone call is more humane because it doesn't seem quite as public. Anyway, I heard a knock early that morning, and I wondered whose door it was, and would I be next.
No knock came. Phew!!! As I walked out my door, I saw Buffy crying as she carried out her suitcase and fancy preference dress out on a hanger. I actually did feel bad for her. Unlike me, who walked in with no expectations of pledging, and was really just happy to be asked back anywhere, she was filled with confidence. So it must have been a big blow for her. And her mother was a legacy at one of the houses, she also was dealing with that added pressure. Anyway, I was nervous as I sat down with the rush counselor to get my invitations for preference night. I knew in my heart, that I really was drawn to one house. While I liked some of the other choices, and I'm sure I'd be comfortable at them, it wasn't the same. There wasn't that same feeling. She handed me my invites: Men at Work, Flock and Go-Gos. I was so happy! You could go to two, so I chose to go to Flock and Men at Work and Go-Gos. Now what would I wear? Unlike other girls who excitedly called their moms to share the news of where they'd be going for pref night, I decided against making that call just yet. I chose a dress I'd found at a boutique downtown. It was sophisticated but fun. After redoing my hair numerous times, it was off to: Men at Work: Beautiful ceremony. One of the girls I really liked came to greet me and told me how much she had enjoyed getting to know me. It was all very nice. Go-Gos: When I got to this house, I was really nervous. Then my old roommate came out to get me and I felt immediately better. During the week, she had made a point of letting other sisters talk to me and I hadn't had much of a chance to talk to her. She seemed so excited to have me at pref. night. I already knew how much she loved being a Go-Go, but it really came across at the ceremony, with all the girls in black and candles. I left, and I knew that if the Go-Gos would have me, that's where I wanted to go. It was going to be a long night! |
So how was pref at Flock? Or did you just have the two prefs?
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You could only go to two.
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results?
i am dying to hear where you ended up!
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So I did a lot of thinking that night. When I started the process, I really didn't think sorority life would be for me. And I thought about what had changed my mind. It came down to finding a house where I really felt at home - a place where I could become more involved, get inspired and make life-long friends. Through the whole experience, I'd felt that way at one house.
So I made a decision to suicide. I know, I know. It's not recommended. I probably could have been happy at the other house too. But I never entered the process intent on being in a sorority. So if I was going to do go through with it, I wanted to be sure about my decision. So I wrote down my decision: Go-Gos. I had really clicked with the girls I'd met that week. There were also so many amazing people in the house - people I really looked up to. I felt excited, apprehensive. How was I going to sleep at all!!!! |
Oh, you are KILLING me with the cliffhangers!!! We obviously know you went greek, so now we want to know WHERE!!!! :) :)
*humming "oh mickey you're so fine you're so fine you blow my mind hey mickey hey mickey" while waiting impatiently* |
Wait a minute. Retro recuitments can't wait until later.
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Everytime I see this thread pop up, I start singing a la Toni Basil.
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