[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by sugar and spice

To UWO_2007: Congrats on Gamma Phi! They're a really strong sorority all across Wisconsin, and I'm sure you'll have fun meeting your sisters from all over the state.

To everyone else: I'm reading this thread for the first time, and you guys have been insanely rude to a rushee for no reason once again.

For the record, I don't think that the age gap between someone in their mid-20s and an 18-year-old is necessarily a big deal. Maturity gap, sure. But I know 28-year-olds who would fit in just fine in a pledge class of 18-year-olds, and I know 16-year-olds who have already bypassed that stage in their lives. Age ain't nothin' but a number. I don't know how old the original poster said she was, but if she's having a successful rush and getting invited back to houses, it seems clear to me that she's clicking with these ladies on some level. If she was being a condescending buzzkill, they wouldn't be inviting her back.

Furthermore, if the rushee is at a Wisconsin system school that is not UW-Madison, it is unlikely that her pledge class will consist entirely of 18-year-olds anyway. Many of the system schools have smaller Greek systems with less traditional pledge classes. Sure, there will be plenty of 18-year-olds, but there will also be a decent amount of upperclassmen and juniors rushing, both transfer students and non-transfers, and it's not out of the ordinary for these students to be older than is traditional for students to be. I rushed at Madison, the biggest and most traditional Greek system in the state, and my pledge class was still almost half sophomores with a smattering of juniors.

I really wish people would not try to speak for campuses where they aren't familiar with the Greek system.

I think you're reading too much into these posts. I didn't find that anyone was rude. Posters simply warned the OP that it may not be possible to pledge some groups and to look into it. They also pointed out that it may be difficult for someone who is nearly thirty to identify with 18-21 year olds (and vice versa.) No one got ugly. Some people expressed disbelief that age wouldn't be a factor, but that's their right. Apparently it wasn't the case with UWO_2007. She isn't in a such a different place that she can't make a bond with her new sisters. But...I think she is an exception not the rule! Congratulations, again, UWO!