bid day traditions

cuteASAbug · #1 07-27-2007, 01:05 PM

I'm so excited for fall recruitment next semester and for my first bid day on the other side! I can't wait.

I was wondering if anyone's chapters had any unique bid day traditions to make it even more fun! One of my friends pledged a sorority at the same time that I did, and she said that her chapter's tradition is for all of the new members to "ride the pony" on bid day. There is no actual pony. A weird tradition if you ask me, but they all enjoy it. Does anyone else have any traditions or things that are unique to their chapter?

SigKapCoug · #2 07-27-2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuteASAbug

she said that her chapter's tradition is for all of the new members to "ride the pony" on bid day. There is no actual pony.

Ride the pony? what??

cuteASAbug · #3 07-27-2007, 01:25 PM

All of the actives stand in a circle and chant, one by one, the new members go in the middle of the circle and pretend to ride the pony. I forget exactly how it goes but it's something like "come on Elphaba, ride that pony, show them how we ride that pony, front to front, my baby, back to back my baby, side to side my baby" and there are a couple more things, but I forget those.

ForeverRoses · #4 07-27-2007, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuteASAbug

I'm so excited for fall recruitment next semester and for my first bid day on the other side! I can't wait.

I was wondering if anyone's chapters had any unique bid day traditions to make it even more fun! One of my friends pledged a sorority at the same time that I did, and she said that her chapter's tradition is for all of the new members to "ride the pony" on bid day. There is no actual pony. A weird tradition if you ask me, but they all enjoy it. Does anyone else have any traditions or things that are unique to their chapter?

Yes, please explain what this means, I have a vision of 50 women in sundresses running around "riding" those stick horses.

banditone · #5 07-27-2007, 01:27 PM

cuteASAbug · #6 07-27-2007, 01:31 PM

My friend doesn't have any pictures posted on facebook of her doing it, but here is a picture of the same thing that I found on webshots (not the same chapter):
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo...60842895iswwra

NutBrnHair · #7 07-27-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuteASAbug

All of the actives stand in a circle and chant, one by one, the new members go in the middle of the circle and pretend to ride the pony. I forget exactly how it goes but it's something like "come on Elphaba, ride that pony, show them how we ride that pony, front to front, my baby, back to back my baby, side to side my baby" and there are a couple more things, but I forget those.

That sounds humiliating and embarassing. Not exactly how you would want your new members to feel.

cuteASAbug · #8 07-27-2007, 01:34 PM

I'd be embarrassed if it was just me because I'm shy, but if it was a lot of girls doing it, I don't think it would be a big deal. Besides, I don't think it's mandatory for anyone.

MaggieXi · #9 07-27-2007, 02:56 PM

I don't know if my chapter still does it, but we used to go up to the Alamance Fountain (a big giant fountain in the middle of campus) to take pictures and had the annual "dunking of the rush chair" -- basically the rush chair gets picked up and thrown in the fountain by the other actives. Eventually, most of our exec board gets thrown in as well... all in front of our new members.

Happy Freezing Bid Day!!! Luckily, the year I was rush chair, my roomate packed a second set of clothes for me!!!!

adpiucf · #10 07-27-2007, 03:13 PM

I've seen that before, but not since high school! Mostly with the girls' sports teams before a game.... something like this where everyone is standing in a circle, clapping, and bopping up and down:

Group: Jump out, jump in and introduce yourself!
Someone steps into the circle: My name is Amy!
Group: Yeah!
Person: I like to cheer/dance/softball/etc.
Group: Yeah!
Person: Now meet my girl, Betty!
Group: Betty! Jump out, jump in and introduce yourself!

And so on.

At my school, Bid Day starts with a theme at each sorority that lends itself to T-shirts and decorations. There are hand-held signs (glued to paint sticks) in the shape of the theme with each PNM's name on it. The sorority waits in a block for their PNMs waving their signs. The PNM finds her sign and that's her Bid Day Buddy. There are activities on the lawn outside the house ranging from professional photos to Bounce Houses, music, etc. Inside, there's food. It's just fun and chaotic. Each pledge class takes a professional photo as well as the entire chapter. And each class takes a silly group shot as well as a silly all-chapter shot.

One year, my alpha class decided we'd wear togas for our silly shot. Of course, we decided this 3 minutes before the photo

Another alpha class tied their t-shirts so their tummies were exposed and the front row wrote out "I Love ADPi" in marker on their tummies. The rest drew lions, diamonds and violets.

tld221 · #11 07-27-2007, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuteASAbug

All of the actives stand in a circle and chant, one by one, the new members go in the middle of the circle and pretend to ride the pony. I forget exactly how it goes but it's something like "come on Elphaba, ride that pony, show them how we ride that pony, front to front, my baby, back to back my baby, side to side my baby" and there are a couple more things, but I forget those.

youre joking... thats sounds really embarassing.

and if i was some frat across the street hearing a bunch of girls singing "show them how we ride that pony" man... i'd REALLY wanna do a mixer with yall that semester!

Buttonz · #12 07-27-2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuteASAbug

All of the actives stand in a circle and chant, one by one, the new members go in the middle of the circle and pretend to ride the pony. I forget exactly how it goes but it's something like "come on Elphaba, ride that pony, show them how we ride that pony, front to front, my baby, back to back my baby, side to side my baby" and there are a couple more things, but I forget those.

I think if I saw the group that I accepted a bid to do this I'd think twice if I made the right choice in accepting the bid and wonder if I would have been better off elsewhere.

SWTXBelle · #13 07-27-2007, 04:08 PM

Let's give her some alternatives, then! We didn't really have any, so I'm no help. All I really remember from my bid day is eating hot dogs that tasted like lighter fluid and getting a new car (from my parents) HEY - that would be a great bid day tradition!

MaggieXi · #14 07-27-2007, 04:18 PM

We always did the formal bid day pics as well as the goofy bid day pics.

Basically, before the girls run down the hill to the greek courts all the sororities are outside their houses banging on pots and pans, cheering and yelling. Then when the new members arrive with the rho chis there is tackling and more yelling an more banging on pots and pans like lunatics. While all this is going on, the fraternities usually sit on their porches and watch and occasionally yell things.

Eventually its just a huge mix of females running around huging and what not. Also, after the girls usually get down to the courts, lots of the actives will go visit their friends in other chapters to celebrate bid day. The courts usually quiet down for a little bit and the pnms go do their own chapter stuff. Later that night there is usually huge parties in apartment complexes to celebrate bid day and greek life in general. Everyone mixes!!! Its usually a great night.

cuteASAbug · #15 07-27-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Let's give her some alternatives, then! We didn't really have any, so I'm no help. All I really remember from my bid day is eating hot dogs that tasted like lighter fluid and getting a new car (from my parents) HEY - that would be a great bid day tradition!

That sounds like a great bid day tradition!