Going out prior to rush?

[troygirl]

Hi everybody!

I'm new to this board, and just found it a little while ago. I am going to be a sophomore at USC (CA), and I'm rushing this fall! (I'm sooo excited!)

For those of you who are USC-knowledgeable, how strict are the rules about people not being allowed on the row prior to rush? The reason I ask is because I'm staying at a friend's before moving in, and they are all planning on going out to the row the week before classes start (that's when rush starts). I'm tempted to go out with them, because I don't want to stay at my friend's house alone (with his parents!). Plus, I love going out and can't wait to meet all the new freshmen! It just seems like such an exciting period of time on the row, but I also don't want to get in trouble because I went out with my friends. I know of people who've gone out to the row before and still had a successful rush, but I'm worried because I will most likely recognize people who are in sororities while I'm out. What do you guys think?

I was trying to figure out why this rule exists, and I thought that maybe it was to prevent incoming freshmen from getting any misconceptions about any sororities or fraternities? I had a friend tell me that it was the one time of the year when the sororities don't have to compete with one another.