A Different Retro Rush Thread

[paulam]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

Terrific thread! I'm also interested in what kind of challenges were felt by the Greek system during the turbulant mid-60s.

A few days later, we were called to a meeting with the representatives from Genesis. They sent a national Vice-President who lived in our city and she in turn invited a local alumna who had been a member of the chapter at the large state school nearby. She had been a campus beauty queen and in addition, she was very sweet and funny. As soon as the Dean had completed the introductions and left the room, the national VP looked around and said, “OK, girls, she’s gone. You can relax now.” We adored her already. She was casual (she didn’t wear a hat and gloves like all the other alums we had met) and the two representatives of Genesis made us feel welcomed and special. We spent hours asking and answering questions and laughing. One of the first issues we covered was that the other group would have no part in our chapter. We were also told that in the future when the university approved housing for sororities, we would have one as well. We spent a lot of time with these two great women and by the time they left, we were all in agreement that we wanted to be a part of Genesis.

We filled out our pref cards and it was a unanimous vote for Genesis. Several weeks later, the Dean called us to her office and announced that we had received a bid from our first choice, Sigma Delta Tau. We were thrilled and couldn’t wait to begin our pledgeship. A national Field Secretary came in and arranged for our pledging and we were now a provisional NPC sorority chapter on campus.

We spent the next 6 months completing our pledgeship and earning our pearls. Back then, this was the standard time for pledging. A date was set for our initiation and chartering and a number of national officers, including our national President attended. After our initiation we were treated to a luncheon at a beautiful club with many local alumnae and the Dean of Women, who called us “her girls”, attending. Panhellenic invited us to a reception on campus later that day where we were welcomed by the other six national sororities, Alpha Chi Omega, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, Phi Mu and Zeta Tau Alpha. We proudly wore our new Torch badges and serenaded our friends in the other sororities with some beautiful Sigma Delta Tau songs.

That Fall, we had a successful rush, separate from the other sororities with only Jewish rushees attending our parties. For the next two years, things continued to run smoothly and we grew to be a successful sorority on campus in terms of grades, philanthropy, social and campus activities. Then everything changed.

The late 60’s was a time of social unrest and racial and religious discrimination were at the forefront. All NPC sororities were informed that a separate rush was no longer allowable. Sigma Delta Tau would now participate in full rush along with the other sororities and each sorority would rush everyone who signed up, regardless of race or religion. We were the smallest chapter on campus and would now be competing with some top tier sororities for pledges. We were fortunate to have great alumnae in the area who helped us plan Fall rush. Since no sorority on our campus had a house, all rush parties were held at the homes of alumnae. Everything was in place until we learned that the pref round was to be held in a specific area of town. Unfortunately, we had no alums living in that particular area. The Dean gave us “dispensation” to have our pref party in the next subdivision over at the home of one of our alums.

We welcomed all of the rushees and did our best to make everyone feel welcome. We offered bids to numerous Jewish and gentile rushees alike. Every gentile turned us down and we ended up with a good-sized Jewish pledge class. Only one Jewish girl received a bid from one of the other sororities, which she declined along with our bid. It seemed it was all for naught, but eventually, all NPC sororities became integrated.

Alas, our chapter closed in the 70’s, like so many others a victim of the times when many students rejected the idea of sorority life, but we had contributed in many ways to our school, our national and our community. I am proud to have been a founder. We recently held our 42nd year reunion and thanks to Clairol, everyone looked fabulous…it was yesterday once more.

BTW, the four historically Jewish sororities were (in alphabetical, not biblical, order) Alpha Epsilon Phi, Delta Phi Epsilon, Sigma Delta Tau and Phi Sigma Sigma. All were always open to everyone but had been founded by Jewish women because they had no other options available at the time.

Now, if everyone will please excuse me, tonight is the first night of Chanukah and I am making my famous potato latkes (pancakes), which are traditional. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.

Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
ΣΔTPatriae Multi Spes Una One Hope of Many People