A 1996 Retro UF Recruitment

[Blumarine]

My Recruitment Story

I went through Formal Rush at the University of Florida in 1996. Since it’s been 12 years, my memory may be a little rusty, but I’ll try to tell it as accurately as possible. I’m going to name the chapters after Vera Bradley patterns…

Frankly Scarlet
Botanica
Pink Elephants
Cambridge
Puccini
Kensington
Peacock
Night Owl
Java Blue
Pinwheel Pink
Daisy Daisy
Riviera Blue
Café Latte
Raspberry Fizz

I remember being sooo excited to start college! My best friend “Cassie” and I decided at the end of our senior year of high school that we would go through Rush. Both of her parents had been Greek, and she had sorority connections through cousins as well. I did not have any family Greek connections, nor did I know anyone in a sorority, but I knew I wanted to make friends and get involved on campus.

I spent the summer working, hanging out with my HS friends and boyfriend “Scott,” and perusing the little booklet from Panhellenic that profiled the different sororities. This was back in the early days of the Internet, so there was no Greekchat to turn to for information. Today's PNMs are very fortunate to have this resource (especially the "stickies" with basic recruitment info, what not to say/do, etc.) I remember going on AOL and trying to find Rush advice or information about the different chapters, without much luck. I didn't know anything about recs or legacies or anything like that, but I could not wait to be a Florida Gator!

[Scandia]

I may have gone through Formal Rush in your group, since that is the year when I formally rushed. It did not work out due to circumstances beyond my control- but I am now a Theta Phi Alpha AI.

Please do post more!!!

[Blumarine]

Cool, another Gator! Scandia, that would be something if we really were in the same rush group. Back to the story…
The only dark spot in that summer before college was my breakup with Scott about a week before I left for Gainesville. We had been dating for a year. Scott wanted to move to Gainesville and eventually get an apartment with me, but I knew he was not “the one.” Scott did not handle the breakup well. He got violent with me (not a side of him I had seen before) and made a lot of threats.

My parents helped me move into the dorm on the first day possible. That very evening, there was a big meeting for all the girls going through Rush in one of the auditoriums on campus. We learned about Rush groups and Rho Chis and where to meet for Round 1 the following day. Since Rush groups were alphabetical, Cassie and I were separated. As naïve high schoolers, we had hoped to go to all the Rush parties together! After the orientation meeting, Cassie and I split up, since our dorms were in opposite directions. It started to POUR down rain during my long walk back. Plus, I got a little “turned around” and had to do some extra walking before I got back to my dorm looking like a drowned rat.

I had decided to be adventurous and let the UF housing department assign me a roommate. She had not moved in yet, so after my parents left I was alone. I vividly remember how sad and homesick I felt that night. My high school friends had gone out to the Florida Theater (a club in Gainesville at the time), but I stayed behind because I was still 17 and didn’t think I could get in. So there I was…alone. I hated the concrete block walls and overall “institutional” feeling of the dorm room. I started second-guessing myself…were my outfits right? Should I have colored my hair or gotten acrylic nails or just done SOMETHING different that it was now too late to take care of? Would any of the chapters actually want me?

Finally, I’d had enough of the pity party. I ventured out and met a few girls on my floor. Some of them were rushing, too! All of us were nervous and excited for Round 1 to begin!

[baci]

I am excited to see this thread develop! Go Gators!!!

[LucyKKG]

OH, I was going to thank you for the amazing code names! Yessss!

[baci]

Where are you?

[tangelo212]

Oh 1996, what a great year to be a Gator...I can't wait for your story to start!!