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After the first day of rush, we did not wear the Panhellenic Name tag distributed at orientation. Instead, each house prepared hand made nametags for each girl who returned. These were elaborate, geared to the day's party theme. The active picking you up had it in her hand and pinned it on you as you entered and took it off you as you left. I remember name tags in the shape of sorority flowers and symbols, circus themed, related to the philanthropy, etc--a different one for each day you returned. They were saved, along with anything given to you at pref (flower, pearl, symbol) and you got them all on Bid day at the chapter you pledged. After I became an active, I realized just HOW MUCH TIME the artists in the house spent on those dang nametags. The blanks were all prepared during work week, and that morning when we got our return lists, the calligraphers frantically filled in the names. The next morning, we disposed of any that were not returning.
We also had food and drink refreshments--not just ice water-- at each house each round after open house. Some were more elaborate than others--fruit skewers, mini-cupcakes, cookies in the shape of a symbol, lemonade, but all were nice, particularly in the 104 degree heat that radiated from the sidewalks in Stillwater in August.
Decorations had a much more "homemade" look than today's Pinterest inspired concoctions, but they were certainly time consuming to create.
There was a LOT of singing. Even during the early rounds--you would be chatting with a active, and they would all suddenly burst into one of their sorority songs--a bit disconcerting the first time it happened, but fun to hear all of the sorority songs, some sweet, some hilarious. It was like sitting in a musical where conversation is happening, and suddenly someone is singing about being in love. Lots of singing at pref.
A lot of matching clothing, but they still do that now, don't they? I remember matching at the last two rounds, but not the first two, but being dressed up for all rounds. No shorts, No T-shirts, no flip flops--Lordy no. We wore dresses or dressy slacks each round + hose + pin.
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