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Days One and Two –Open House
Open house was broken up into two days. We visited 4 houses the first evening and then the rest the next day. It was full frills rush, so matching outfits, great food, lots of yard art, the whole shebang. I was not a particularly girly girl, so this all surprised me a great deal. I had a small notebook with me to keep notes, but I really could hardly tell the difference between a Sigma and an Epsilon at this point.
January: The first house I visited. We stood outside, and I was a bit freaked out when they came out and matching outfits singing at the top of their lungs. I made a mental note that this was not the place for me if that’s the kind of things they did. I was led into the house, which had undergone a major addition and renovation the year before. Seeing how nice it was made me think maybe I could handle the matching outfits and singing after all. The first girl I spoke with was nice, but quiet. The second a bit more outgoing. I was still wierded out by the matching outfits. I wrote down “too girly” in my notebook after I left.
February: It took me about 10 seconds after arriving at February to realize everyone must dress in matching outfits and sing loudly. I was also amazed that although my older sister’s friends had a done a good job about not giving me the stereotypes of houses, that in the few hours I had been at MWU, I already knew them based on the other rushees’ comments. The Februaries were known as the party girls. And as they came out, they did look like they were having a good time. I had great conversations. Maybe I wasn’t a party girl, but maybe I could learn to be; I liked them.
March: This was the house that, despite being one of the older chapters at MWU, was facing low numbers and possible closure. I was wary going in. Their house was beautiful, extremely cozy and looked like a real family’s house. Even though we were paired up two rushees to one rusher, I liked that and it took off some of the pressure. I liked the Marches I talked to. I couldn’t understand why they were struggling.
April: April was my last house of the first night. I had heard really nothing about them from the other rushees. They flew under the radar. Their chapter house was the newest on campus, and really bright and modern. But the conversations with the two people I talked to were just awkward and difficult. Maybe I was just tired, but I was happy when the party was over.
May: I started off the next day at May. May was the newest chapter at MWU. They had colonized the previous year. They did not have a house yet and rushed in one of the fraternity houses. Being the 18-year-old that I was, I really didn’t want to be in May. I wanted to have a home at college, not a meeting room in the student union. I made a mental note that I would cut them if I had the chance (I realize now how immature this attitude was.).
June: I was happy to see that the next house, June, was an actual house. One of the first people I saw after being led in was a girl who had been in my older sister’s high school class but had moved away before she graduated, and her mom had been my grade school principal. I asked my rusher if that was Karen, and she said yes, and motioned her over. Not only was Karen the person I thought she was, but she was the June president. She remembered me, and she, the rusher, and I had a great talk. I had always looked up to Karen and her mom, so I was excited about June.
July: July was THE house at MWU, according to the other rushees. There was a girl in my rush group whose mother and grandmother were Julys. She was basically told don’t come home unless you are a July. The whole group was exited to finally get to July. Almost as soon as I walked in, I felt uncomfortable. My rushers were perfectly put together, but the conversation never got beyond the basics. I didn’t think I’d fit in at July.
August: This was the house of OSF#1, although she was not at rush due to an internship. I also recognized two other girls from my high school in the skit. Both of the rushers I had talked a lot about the fact that the Augusts had been intramural champions for practically forever. They each asked me what sports I was into. I told them I couldn’t even run out to the mailbox. I wasn’t sure if I would fit in the athletic house, but I did have nice time.
September: September was one of the oldest sororities on campus, and many women I had greatly admired from my hometown had been Septembers at MWU, two favorite teachers, one of my parents’ best friends, and a woman I babysat for. I was excited to see the place where they all had lived. The Septembers didn’t disappoint. They were all very sweet, and really made me feel at home.
October: This was the house of my rush roommie’s sister. They had the reputation of being the prettiest girls on campus. And they were. It seemed as if each one was more beautiful than the next. Joanie was every excited to get to her sister’s house. But besides being beautiful, I found the Octobers were great conversationalists too. I told Joanie how much I had enjoyed October when we left.
November: This was the house of OSF#2. It had also been the home of one of my great aunts, who had been a November in the 1930s. The house was beautiful. And from what I heard from the other rushees, it was right up there with July as one of the top houses. The Novembers seemed very laid back and welcoming. As I left November, having had a great time, I saw OSF #2 standing on the stairs smiling at me.
December: This was the house, based on the rush brochure, that I was the most excited to see. It looked like what I thought a sorority house should look like – a big Tudor with Ivy on the outside walls. I had comfortable conversations at December. It was a great way to end the first round.
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