In the late 90's at UCF, silence began on the day of Greek Forum (when PNM's met their recruitment counselors) and ended on Bid Day. Sorority women were encouraged to talk to PNM's over the summer, but you couldn't talk extensively about sorority life, for fear of fining and dirty rush accusations. If you saw a PNM out and about during strict silence, you could say hello and were expected to be friendly, but you absolutely couldn't talk about recruitment.
Recruitment Counselor disaffiliation began at the end of the spring semester and reaffiliation was on Bid Day the following fall. No letters on clothes, cars, bags, totes, bedrooms, jewelry, etc., and you were not to associate in public with women wearing letters (even if they were not your sisters). You could say hello and chat for a moment, but then carry on. (If they weren't in letters, you could chat all day!) When strict silence began, there was zero communication with sorority women and recruitment counselors were sequestered in a hotel with recruitment/panhellenic exec. Disaffiliated sisters of the same sorority weren't allowed to be alone together without another disaffiliated member of a different GLO present, and you were never allowed to be alone in the hotel or make any phone calls privately. Don't ask me to tell you about going to the bathroom!
When I was a recruitment counselor, I referred to the strict silence week as Nazi bootcamp.
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