Cheyenne,
Here's how they did informal recruitment at Pitt when I was there...
The sororities that weren't at ceiling had rush parties starting, I believe, the second week of class in January. They were very informal; maybe something like a "make your own taco" party or a movie night. Nothing nearly as structured as a formal rush party.
The PNMs would just arrive with the sister who was assigned as their "contact" (no singing or chanting as they enter the suite). The contact would always be a sister who lived in the suite so that she could sign the PNM in. Then the PNMs would mingle with the sisters and get introduced around. The parties usually lasted an hour; maybe an hour and fifteen minutes. Then the Rush chair would get up and make a little speech and the contacts would get the PNMs' coats and everyone would line the hallway and the landing and the steps and sing. Then everyone would meet to talk about their impressions.
The sororities would usually have two open parties, then a pref party and then give out bids the next day.
Oh, and Panhel and IFC would publish a rush calendar in the center page of the Pitt News.
Hope this helps a little
