A (Not Quite) Retro Recruitment to help pass your day...
 

Inspired by the recruitment story of a very articulate GC-er I thought I would gather my own recruitment memories (taken from my journal at the time) and see where they take me. I have another GC username, but since it so completely gives away my affiliation I’ve set up another username. :)

Once upon a time I was an overly-confident eighteen year old getting ready to start my first semester of college. I knew very little of Greek life in general, and what I did know I had gathered from word of mouth, Saved by the Bell and a Lifetime Original Movie. My mother had never attended college and my father had had an illustrious ten year career at a state college, but had not joined a GLO.

Going in to college I hadn’t really planned on rushing, but my best friend (we’ll call her Marti) was good friends with a girl (Sarah Beth) who was in a sorority on campus, and she encouraged both of us to sign up and give it a go ("Why not, I've got nothing to lose!"). We obliged and found ourselves getting excited about recruitment. I had the grades (not stellar, but above average) and had been very involved in high school activities. At that point my university didn’t require (or even encourage) recs or that we even attach pictures to the applications. I would later find out that I was referred to as, “You know, the girl with the great eyebrows” (Thrilling right?:p)

At our small liberal arts college the Greek population was pretty small – less than 10% of the already small student body. When I rushed there were four Panhellenic sororities which I shall refer to by names of characters from one of my favorite shows, The Big Bang Theory:

Leonard
Sheldon
Howard
Raj

Disclaimer: the sororities mentioned herein and the characters of The Big Bang Theory do not in any way shape or form reflect each other. Any similarity to the aforementioned character is strictly coincidental. The colors were chosen based on what I thought would be easiest to read.

Information Night
Upon arriving we found that we were two of roughly 80-90 girls rushing (I told you it was small!). We sat in the theater and listened as the Rho Chi’s (though they may have been Rho Gamma’s back then…?) gave their spiel about the schedule, hazing, silence, extra-curricular partying, etc. Then we listened as the four sorority presidents gave introduction speeches about their respective sororities.

The four women were dressed in suits and skirts, and I remember that the Sheldon president was gorgeous as well as bright and friendly. The Howardpresident looked like she could have been a “mean girl”, but came across in her speech as gracious and articulate. The Leonard president had the longest hair I had ever seen ("Like seriously, it was past her butt!" - Why was that journal-worthy at 18?), and spoke as though she were a professional public speaker – she made great eye contact, was loud, clear and funny. I really liked her! The Raj president reminded me of myself when I stood up in front of the student body to give my speech for student council my junior year of high school. She looked painfully nervous and it was hard to hear what she was saying. My heart went out to her as I remembered what it was like to loathe public speaking.

After the speeches we were sorted in to our four PX groups. Marti and I were not in the same group (not cool). We then went off to different rooms in the student center and did some kind of meet and greet activity. I remember neither the game nor what I said, but I’m sure I was decidedly average. I’m not clever enough to stand out during those things. The PXs introduced themselves, and as the week wore on it was pretty obvious which sororities they were in.

The night ended with the PNMs receiving our recruitment shirts (“We got a free t-shirt! Score!” Clearly my priorities in college were where they should have been. :rolleyes:), and then Marti and I met back up and went home to rest up for class and the first set of party, which would be the philanthropy round. (Recruitment took place during the first week of school.)

Thanks to this thread I found a website that lists all of Sheldon's shirts (and Leonard's) although I failed to find the greek letter one I assume it was a physics joke :D

I also can't help but imagine the people you met at each chapter as the characters. Too entertaining!

My favorite Sheldon shirt is the Wesley Crushers one.

I love Sheldon's shirts. I want them all.

For you
http://www.sheldonshirts.com/index.html

(It even tells you which ones are discontinued)

You are me HERO.

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0...=1193695016000

Meanwhile, I must pull for Sheldon.

I thought that this shirt had the Greek letter "phi" on it, but upon visiting the website I found out it's the Green Lantern symbol. Fail!

http://files.myopera.com/Giovanni198...n%20Cooper.jpg

I'll be editing my disclaimer! :D

I don't know whether to be more horrified that you thought it was a Φ or that you didn't immediately recognize the emblem of the Green Lantern. :eek:

In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power... Green Lantern's light!

Okay, I'll be quiet now. :o

Live-in was checked out at Ikea a while ago by a kid who was wearing a green lantern ring.

He didn't know whether that was awesome or sad.

Green Lantern tee-shirt = awesome. Greek Lantern Ring on anybody who has hit puberty = pretty sad.

Dork!

/me too

Jim Parsons (Sheldon) has an article on CNN.com today.

That's all I have to contribute.

I have no idea what any of you are even saying in this thread. No clue.. nada...zilch. It's like you're speaking another language.

First, LOVE the theme. I mean really, how can you not? And four sororities is perfect! However, when you started naming your friends I was really hoping you'd go for Penny, Leslie, Bernadette, etc... :D

Like Drolefille, I am having the hardest time not imagining these sorority members as the BBT characters. I may just have to give in and imagine the Raj group as Indian men who can't talk to women. Now that would be one great recruitment party. Maybe they had to spike their own punch to get through the week! Or their lives.

I also love seeing another liberal arts/small system story. Woo hoo!

So excited for this one, and for BBT to come back in a few weeks! Let's get our inner nerds on.

I would normally root for Sheldon, but since he's chock full of fans, and in honor of my location, I will root for Raj. And AGDee, you REALLY have got to get with the program. Between BBT and Chuck, that's really all you need in TV. They're both funny and smartly written.