I know it's past formal recruitment for most universities now, but I *have* to relate this story....maybe it can help out the guilty parties in time for deferred recruitment! It's also kind of funny, in retrospect, although I was really kind of creeped out at the time.
When I went through formal rush there was one house that was really "in my face" about how involved and scholarly I was. The girl who was rushing me just went on and on about how she knew about ALL these campus activities I was just SO successful in (I really wasn't all THAT involved) and she introduced me to everyone in her house with "Hi, this is Emily, and it's just so amazing how she does A, B, and C activities and STILL manages find time to get AWESOME grades!!!!" I guess she knew about my grades from my grade release form...maybe? I'm still a little sketched out about how she knew my exact GPA.
On top of that, all the girls in the house were instructed to get really close to the PNMs because the girl talked literally two inches away from my face. I don't have an aloof or cold personality by any means but I definitely kept POINTEDLY backing away from her because I felt my personal space was so violated. Eventually I was backed up right against some furniture and I had nowhere else to go. I was SO uncomfortable that I could barely focus on the conversation, but I guess the girl didn't really catch on. Later on, other PNMs were complaining about how XYZ sorority is the one that "stands WAY too close and talks WAY too loudly." The latest I've heard is that XYZ is STILL taking this closeness approach...a friend who is a few years younger than me went to one of their COB events and mentioned how the girls were practically cuddling with her on their couch and it freaked her out.
Seriously, one time a sister of XYZ bragged about their "awesome" rushing approach and said "Yeah we stand really close to the PNMs so they feel safe and welcomed... kind of like they're an old best friend!"
Bottom line for PNMs and sororities: If you're invading someone's personal space even just a little bit, all they're going to remember about you is that they were uncomfortable when talking with you. So stand arm's length away and keep in mind that you are not a police detective... so don't interrogate!
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