Know anything about Furman?

[DubaiSis]

Hey GCers, I have a friend whose daughter is attending Furman in the fall. She's planning on going through recruitment. So what can you tell me about their system? I understand they don't have chapter houses. From the reading I did I had one big question pop up - Alpha Kappa Alpha is listed with the NPC sororities. Do they do recruitment with the others? That seems unlikely, but the way they're listed it seems like they do.
How competitive is it? Any idea of quota and total? Any plans for expansion any time soon? Are recommendations required or strongly suggested?

She's going to be VERY green when it comes to recruitment, so any help I can provide her I'd like to do. Thanks!

[SWTXBelle]

My cousin-in-law is a professor there: I'll see if I can get any scoop from his wife, who would be the one to know.

Recs are always a good idea.

[AnchorAlumna]

What little I know - recruitment is in January, but the entire first semester is devoted to getting to know freshmen. It is not too early to send a rec! This helps the chapter know who's interested in recruitment.
No houses. Last I heard, no chapter rooms, nada. Somebody's apartment (on campus, everybody lives on campus...I think maybe only seniors can live off?) becomes know as the hangout where the current composite is hung.
Now...my knowledge is about 10 years old...hope somebody can give an updated version!

[Titchou]

Lots of dirty rushing in the fall due to January recruitment. Jan term is compressed and recruitment is sort of wild and crazy as a result. I believe it goes over 2 weekends. Or used to. No housing yet though it's been talked about. I don't think AKA participates. Their recruitment - that is, intake - is deferred anyway so that may be why it looks like they are with the others.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Lots of dirty rushing in the fall due to January recruitment. Jan term is compressed and recruitment is sort of wild and crazy as a result. I believe it goes over 2 weekends. Or used to. No housing yet though it's been talked about. I don't think AKA participates. Their recruitment - that is, intake - is deferred anyway so that may be why it looks like they are with the others.

The thing that is odd is that they have other NPHC sororities that are in a different group on their website. Maybe the AKA chapter is just Furman and the rest are citywide?

[DubaiSis]

Thanks. I hate to hear there's dirty rushing going on. Maybe you can PM me with some details so I can help prepare her.

[Titchou]

No need to PM...it's just because recruitment isn't till January. The usual fall chatter.

[DubaiSis]

OK, I'll warn her about bid promising and other stuff that might confuse her about what's actually going on.

[Titchou]

And watch her behaviour fall semester....they will be watching!

[PeppyGPhiB]

The only thing I know about Furman is that my ex boyfriend went there for undergrad and he's a real a$$hole. That is all.

[SAITrump]

I am not in a social but I heard a few things from friends.

One, during the first semester, members are not supposed to talk to Freshman except for academic reasons. They also may not add you as a friend on Facebook (tried to add a section mate that was in KKG). Also, they are not supposed to be at the same gatherings unless another group is represented. One member was a FRAD on my hall, but she is allowed to talk to you since she is paid by the university to help you as a freshman. They have also moved them to the north tip of Lakeside. This may be to limit "dirty" rushing. The separating hall is half freshman and half upperclassmen non-socials (like my suite).

I do not know if this is true, but someone else said we are not supposed to be on their halls and they are not supposed to be on ours. I lived next to a greek hall last year. I visited the KKG hall to see my SAI friends that lived there are were not KKGs.

Anyways...

Around October, a packet is delivered to every girl's mail box. It has information on rush and the sororities involved (DG, Tri-Delt, KD, KKG, Chi O, and ADPi). They are to return this along with a check (I believe it was $35 last year). Then they will receive more information.

As soon as they get back in January, rush begins. A lot of events take place in the parlors of Lakeside, so that it not a study spot for those few weekends. They will meet all the sororities the first weekend and had to be at the event at 8 in the morning. Then they get cuts. They return for two more weekends. Sunday of the third weekend, they gather and receive their bids (last year that was my birthday... with all the confusion on the halls, I missed getting laked!). They will return to their rooms with decorated doors and notes. Then they meet up with the rest of the chapter later and receive T-shirts and love. Beyond that is meetings and gifts from bigs.

I'm told it is a lot of fun. And there looked to be a lot of dressing up. I never heard of anyone having to get recs last year, but they may have done it over winter break. I know my step-sister needed them for UGA rush.

Good luck!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by SAITrump

I am not in a social but I heard a few things from friends.

One, during the first semester, members are not supposed to talk to Freshman except for academic reasons. They also may not add you as a friend on Facebook (tried to add a section mate that was in KKG). Also, they are not supposed to be at the same gatherings unless another group is represented.

If these things are really being enforced, it defeats the entire purpose of deferred rush. The Panhellenic needs to take a look at the updated Green Book rules about silence and such.

[DubaiSis]

33, that's what I was thinking. Who could possibly hold to these rules? If you want that clean of a rush, hold it in August.

I'll advise my PNM that there is a whole laundry list of rules, and do the best she can to follow them. But seriously, who could?