I wish I had seen your thread earlier.
I'm at a school just down the road..
Anyways, I am SUPER glad you decided to stick it out.
As far as your rec question, everyone I know at Chapel Hill who rushed/pledged a sorority had recs. The Panhel people make them out to be "optional" but unfortunately I think they are really important in distinguishing the many girls who rush.
BEST OF LUCK!