Panhel Preview was interesting in a few ways. One was that I had never seen the Student Union Ballroom
(not a great picture, as the crystal chandeliers are covered)
Even though every sorority was allowed only the same number of people at the table
(You had to stand at the doorway and count, as an active), it was very plain to see who were the major players - and my silly method of the summer seemed to play out. I remember wearing a pink plaid kilt/skirt & pink twin set to this, because the DZs made a comment about the pink! Guiltily, I signed up at my Rho Chi's sorority, knowing at the time that I wouldn't really be giving them a chance.
All but two of the Pitt sororities are in one dorm (Amos Hall); the other two were in a duplex just off of campus. All chapters are called "houses", whether or not they're in Amos Hall or a house.
Open Houses were that Sunday afternoon. We met our Rho Chi at the Student Union, then started on our way. I wore light blue pants & sweater, with a navy blazer, a scarf looped loosely around my neck, with my pin anchoring it.
Rubies had an actual receiving line - each PNM was greeted by the main officers (each with a corsage), and handed off to a sister to show her around the house. It was beautiful, and my rusher was upbeat but "posh". There was no mistaking that this was the rich girl's sorority!
Diamonds were next. They had a welcome song, and were peppy and down to earth! You couldn't help but laugh at the patter that was going on as you went from room to room.
On to
Opals! Again, a song, followed by a cheer. Very feminine house, with very nice sisters - but I was paired with someone with whom I was a tourguide. She was a sour type, and the only thing we had in common was our jobs.
Jade were like a pep squad on speed! There were about 20 sisters who never stopped singing or cheering, and it made it hard to hear. My ever-so-bright-eyed rusher & I sat down and made puppets out of brown paper bags for Children's Hospital. I remember thinking that, if the kids weren't sick when they went in, they would be when they saw those bags!
Then we went to
Emeralds, my Rho Chi's GLO. They were friendly, maybe a little over-friendly due to our Rho Chi. Guess what we did? Right - paper bag puppets for Children's Hospital. I made a dragon, but they didn't have any scissors to allow for fangs. Hmmm...
Topaz did their best to do a door song, but it came off as a cheap imitation. The rusher wore jeans & a t-shirt, and my little group (Ann, Meg, and Lisa) all raised our collective eyebrows. The conversation centered on a topic that could be a give away to the GLO. Then came out the paper bags!
The
Sapphires had a very comtemporary house, and very ultra-chic in a Vogue way sisters. While they sang, it wasn't in an inviting way. All four of us mentally cut them immediately.
The
Pearls had a door song, and seemed very down to earth. I could go into the discussion we had, but again, it would tip off something about this sorority. I knew it wasn't for me, but another woman in my Rho Chi group sailed through in sheer bliss.
The
Garnets had sisters humming a song as you walked in, and you were paired off with a sister who showed you through the house. They were very real, admitting that they were tired from the long day, and we all giggled. This was the only house who disclosed financial obligations from the start.
The last house was the
Amethysts. They had a
great reputation on campus, sang and cheered at the door, then we sat down to the now dreaded paper bag puppets for Children's Hospital. I knew two of the sisters from campus activities, and thought I was being wise when I suggested, "Why don't we try to get to know each other better, rather than play with the bags?" Meg looked at me in shock, and I realized I blew it!
So, at the end of the day, it was suggested that we make a list, ranking the sororities by how we liked them. We were then told to sit back, and wait for the telephone calls for Chat Dates. I had decided that I would only accept Chat Dates from:
Diamonds
Rubies
Emeralds
Opals
Jade
Garnets
Amethyst
Threaded Mode
