A retro midwest recruitment

[ISUKappa]

Yay for an Iowa State story! It'll be interesting to see what rush was like 14 years before I went through at Iowa State.

[oldrusheenowmom]

The next morning the rush counselors handed out our computerized invitation list; I was lucky and received invites back to all the houses. I had to cut; The first cut was easy- my boyfriend had warned me about Gray, and the second and third were easy too- I hadn’t been impressed with Seafoam and had felt claustrophobic at Green (ironically my daughter’s house). But the last choice—I have a terrible conscience. I knew it should be Purple, but I felt like I owed them a second visit. So instead, I cut my dream house because of the things my husband and others had said. I hope most of you are saying grow up and think for yourself- don’t worry, I have- but I hope pnms reading this realize the choice is ultimately about you and what you have to live with.

[oldrusheenowmom]

The next days blend together: We moved into our own dorms- for me out of air-conditioned Maple and into old and hot Oak- One of my new roommates was quite a bit different than me- She had started rush, but had no invites after the first day- We didn't really click- I remember not being able to even take a napkin out of a house; not to ask to use the restroom; our rush counselors sat on blankets in front of each of the houses- guarding purses that you couldn’t take inside. I remember being rushed by a member of the pom squad (Navy) , the golden girl (twirler) (Fuchsia) , a former basketball rival (Red) —all in houses that I really liked. I see girls faces still-- I remember a girl “pardoning” herself from our conversation because the tone sounded and she needed to sing (Pink) Kind of a negative. Two had strong home town ties- one the town my mom had just left and one, the town where I grew up and lived until my parents divorced (Teal and Yellow); it was nice to have people call me by name.That is probably one of the things I most enjoyed- leaving a house and having girls call your name- I'm not sure that is "legal" now--My ranking of houses was Navy, and Red, then Taupe and Fuchsia, ,and the two hometown ties. One of my sister’s classmates was the rush chair for Taupe.

[khlkcca]

Keep going. I love the speed. I can follow the story better.

I am so amazed by the people that can remember every detail of rush. My memories are more like yours, scattered random tidbits.

Cold air dorms and phone duty, oh how I miss college.

[oldrusheenowmom]

My next clear memory is sprinting to houses after lunch one day because the computer had messed up, but we couldn’t be late to a party. For Iowa Staters, I sprinted from the Memorial Union to the Red house- a house on the south side of sorority circle. I remember the cute Pink Panther and trench coat opening at the Navy house—and unfortunately, I remember not clicking with the girl who rushed me at the party—the pom girl came in (probably some kind of signal that I didn't learn about until I was on the other side of rush) but I think it was too late. (A little side bar: I truly enjoyed rush; however, as I said earlier, I was home sick for my boyfriend and not sure that I wanted to join- I probably talked about him too much—in addition, my sister was not only Teal- but during this time she was the rush chair for Teal at the University of Iowa; she tried to support me, but at the same time, she was- shall I say, a little stressed).

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by oldrusheenowmom

For Iowa Staters, I sprinted from the Memorial Union to the Red house- a house on the south side of sorority circle.

As much as I love our Greekland, I hated how spread apart everything was during Rush!

[oldrusheenowmom]

Notice- I'm for speed; otherwise, my old age will kick in again-- (I did wish that I had at least a napkin reminder from all 16 houses)-- And- a late memory- I remember as the parties narrowed, we received themed name tags and each house and could not take them with us- I think one girl accidentally walked out with one and it was a big ta-do--
When we received invites for preferences, I had to cut from four to two. At this point in my “in love eighteen year old mind,” I made my choices based on the fact that I was going to get married and transfer schools, so I would make other people happy. I went to the two home town connection houses. I remember flowers, tears, hugs, and candles—and, of course, home town girls were paired with me. I believe yellow was in long black and Teal was in long matching blue. My friend, Karen, also had the same choices- she went with me to the first preference and then went to Fuchsia (who I cut) for the second. I did not have a “I know the house I want” feeling following preference- I even toyed with not listing a house and seeing if I would receive a snap bid. I was the last one in my rush group to turn in my card.

[OldAOPi]

Glad to see a midwestern thread! My sister went to Drake, my dd is at UNL and I was at Kearney State - now University Nebraska Kearney. My mom always wanted someone to go to Iowa State - not sure why she was obsessed about that but no one did. Not even her!