University of Alabama Recruitment 2007

[mystikchick]

I would just like to say that the description of sisterhood on the Gamma Phi's page for Bama is beautiful and makes me get kinda mushy even though I'm not in a sorority. It's the best explanation of what you all try to convey each time you talk about 'sisterhood' that I, as a non-greek, have read yet. Kudos to you ladies, and congrats on a successful recruitment

[mcdonald56]

where is the gamma phi description of sisterhood given--is it written by a bama gamma phi?

[mystikchick]

It's under the "scrapbook" section: http://www.uagammaphibeta.com/scrapbook.htm

It's credited to anonymous, but I think it's lovely regardless.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by mystikchick

It's under the "scrapbook" section: http://www.uagammaphibeta.com/scrapbook.htm

It's credited to anonymous, but I think it's lovely regardless.

My chapter reads that at pref.

[Gung-Ho-Chi-O]

Ah...you girls bring back such fond memories of Magnolia Drive :-)
I feel old or sound like my mom saying this...but does anybody remember the good old days when it was called rush, not recruitment, & the girls were only ever called rushees, not pnm's? I'm only in my 30's so it wasn't THAT long ago! The terms just sound so sterile & not personal & more like a robotic process when rush at Alabama is so unique & practically it's own institution, especially compared with some schools!

The whole KD situation reminds me of one year at Alabama when Kappa didn't meet quota...back in the day when every sorority typically did. It seems to me KD made this decision on their own to have fewer pledges in their new class this year. Not to sound rude or put Kappa down, but their not filling quota that particular year was not by choice, as they even generally conceded to. EVERYONE seemed to go crazy ridiculing them, particularly the houses Kappa typically competes against for the girls they are interested in. Out of the other 4 sororities that got a good kick out of a rare weak rush for a strong sorority such as Kappa, one of them even went so far as to print up long-sleeved tees with the number of Kappa's pledge class on the front & some crude statement on the back!! That's right... they even thought ahead so the tees would be worn throughout the fall.

I thought this was tacky & was not amused...showed no class...but those tees were the most visible things going across the quad for quite a while.
Imagine how this made the new pledges feel :-( Actives were on the defensive, as anyone would be, telling anyone that even looked at them the wrong way..."It's QUALITY...not Quantity!'' Maybe the KD's this year should print tees & adopt Kappa's mantra from that year for them!!! Ha!

I'm just kidding but I think with a sorority having as rich a history as KD has at Alabama, people don't need to worry about their chapter or question their member's choices. I can tell you one thing...the strong sororities at Alabama know who they want practically years in advance...the girls in the houses know who is "back at home" & will be joining them in the near future. They know not only who they want but who they will be fighting to get them. It's not like they are going into rush to meet all the girls & see who they like from a few brief encounters during the week, although some sororities do pledge girls they just met & grew to adore. The focus of most actives who have a girl from home or a relative they are pulling to pledge is to make sure their girl meets the rest of the girls that aren't from her hometown or that haven't met her previously from a spring party or visit to the University.

That's all they really have to be concerned with...they are not in a frantic rush to meet these rushees & decide who they would prefer to have join. This year in particular,all of the sororities should be proud to have pulled
off such a feat with such large numbers & in that heat no less!!!

Does anyone have any more pics from bid day? I was thrilled to see Gamma Phi Beta & A O Pi but want MORE MORE!!

Come on ladies...post those pics!

[blackngoldengrl]

To me it makes sense if you are a strong chapter (and can manage it financially) to take less members and keep the numbers under control. I can't imagine the number of sisters present in one chapter there, especially since my whole chapter was as big as quota at Alabama!

My only thought when seeing this idea posted (taking less than quota purposefully) was what about the girls who didn't get bids on bid day? Doesn't that mean that there were about 12 that went bidless?

[kk_bama]

Originally Posted by Gung-Ho-Chi-O

I'm just kidding but I think with a sorority having as rich a history as KD has at Alabama, people don't need to worry about their chapter or question their member's choices. I can tell you one thing...the strong sororities at Alabama know who they want practically years in advance...the girls in the houses know who is "back at home" & will be joining them in the near future. They know not only who they want but who they will be fighting to get them. It's not like they are going into rush to meet all the girls & see who they like from a few brief encounters during the week, although some sororities do pledge girls they just met & grew to adore. The focus of most actives who have a girl from home or a relative they are pulling to pledge is to make sure their girl meets the rest of the girls that aren't from her hometown or that haven't met her previously from a spring party or visit to the University.

That's all they really have to be concerned with...they are not in a frantic rush to meet these rushees & decide who they would prefer to have join. This year in particular,all of the sororities should be proud to have pulled
off such a feat with such large numbers & in that heat no less!!!

I have to agree wholeheartedly. Honestly, KD probably only wanted to take 52 girls, but when they found out quota was 73, they had to scramble and get some more. They will be absolutely fine, as will everyone else on the Row! What a fabulous 2007 Recruitment for everyone!

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by Gung-Ho-Chi-O

Ah...you girls bring back such fond memories of Magnolia Drive :-)
I feel old or sound like my mom saying this...but does anybody remember the good old days when it was called rush, not recruitment, & the girls were only ever called rushees, not pnm's? I'm only in my 30's so it wasn't THAT long ago!

You're not old! I know because I'm older than you and I'm not old.

Yup, I went through rush as an excited rushee too. I signed a pref card, then became a pledge. I had a Pledge Trainer and was given a paddle with our letters on in it which had to be signed by every member of the Chapter. The seniors purposely tried to make it difficult for all of us lowly pledges to do. I had phone duty which included door and wake up duty (no alarm clocks allowed in the dorms/sleeping porches). I had a Pledge Mom and was initiated in January. Then I moved up the Chapter Roll every year as new pledges came in. That meant I could speak in Chapter or pick a room before someone with a lower number.

YIKES! How horrible! How politically incorrect! I was hazed and didn't even know it! How did I ever survive?

[NUBlue&Blue]

Originally Posted by Zillini

You're not old! I know because I'm older than you and I'm not old.

Yup, I went through rush as an excited rushee too. I signed a pref card, then became a pledge. I had a Pledge Trainer and was given a paddle with our letters on in it which had to be signed by every member of the Chapter. The seniors purposely tried to make it difficult for all of us lowly pledges to do. I had phone duty which included door and wake up duty (no alarm clocks allowed in the dorms/sleeping porches). I had a Pledge Mom and was initiated in January. Then I moved up the Chapter Roll every year as new pledges came in. That meant I could speak in Chapter or pick a room before someone with a lower number.

YIKES! How horrible! How politically incorrect! I was hazed and didn't even know it! How did I ever survive?

I was there, too! We didn't have open air dorms, though, so we could have alarm clocks. But phone duty....those were the days!

[MVisKD]

Originally Posted by Gung-Ho-Chi-O

Ah...you girls bring back such fond memories of Magnolia Drive :-)
I feel old or sound like my mom saying this...but does anybody remember the good old days when it was called rush, not recruitment, & the girls were only ever called rushees, not pnm's? I'm only in my 30's so it wasn't THAT long ago! The terms just sound so sterile & not personal & more like a robotic process when rush at Alabama is so unique & practically it's own institution, especially compared with some schools!

The whole KD situation reminds me of one year at Alabama when Kappa didn't meet quota...back in the day when every sorority typically did. It seems to me KD made this decision on their own to have fewer pledges in their new class this year. Not to sound rude or put Kappa down, but their not filling quota that particular year was not by choice, as they even generally conceded to. EVERYONE seemed to go crazy ridiculing them, particularly the houses Kappa typically competes against for the girls they are interested in. Out of the other 4 sororities that got a good kick out of a rare weak rush for a strong sorority such as Kappa, one of them even went so far as to print up long-sleeved tees with the number of Kappa's pledge class on the front & some crude statement on the back!! That's right... they even thought ahead so the tees would be worn throughout the fall.

I thought this was tacky & was not amused...showed no class...but those tees were the most visible things going across the quad for quite a while.
Imagine how this made the new pledges feel :-( Actives were on the defensive, as anyone would be, telling anyone that even looked at them the wrong way..."It's QUALITY...not Quantity!'' Maybe the KD's this year should print tees & adopt Kappa's mantra from that year for them!!! Ha!

I'm just kidding but I think with a sorority having as rich a history as KD has at Alabama, people don't need to worry about their chapter or question their member's choices. I can tell you one thing...the strong sororities at Alabama know who they want practically years in advance...the girls in the houses know who is "back at home" & will be joining them in the near future. They know not only who they want but who they will be fighting to get them. It's not like they are going into rush to meet all the girls & see who they like from a few brief encounters during the week, although some sororities do pledge girls they just met & grew to adore. The focus of most actives who have a girl from home or a relative they are pulling to pledge is to make sure their girl meets the rest of the girls that aren't from her hometown or that haven't met her previously from a spring party or visit to the University.

That's all they really have to be concerned with...they are not in a frantic rush to meet these rushees & decide who they would prefer to have join. This year in particular,all of the sororities should be proud to have pulled
off such a feat with such large numbers & in that heat no less!!!

Does anyone have any more pics from bid day? I was thrilled to see Gamma Phi Beta & A O Pi but want MORE MORE!!

Come on ladies...post those pics!

Great post!!!!!! Everything you said really hits home!

News straight from the second floor of the KD house:

I have spoken to a current KD senior, and she had NO CLUE that they did not meet their numbers....She said everyone was so excited about the new members and it seemed she genuinely did not know that they didn't meet quota. She said that all of their top girls pledged and that is all they care about! I am not sure if the Exec board is keeping it quiet or what, but I think that publicizing whatever did happen would hurt all of the new pledges (and actives!) feelings.

Thanks for everyone's insight and for sharing all the news of the chapters at Alabama. It has been great to read all of the good news! I have a few pictures from friends that I will post soon!

[MVisKD]

I can't figure out how! Any advice?

[bamabelle99]

I MISS MAGNOLIA DRIVE TOO!!!!

That said, if KD wanted to meet quota, they would've. They are very selective, they have the right to be...and like a previous poster said - they know years in advance who is going to be in the house.

When I was in school, I remember a few Old Row sororities not making quota - not because they couldn't, but because they didn't have too. In general those houses will always be strong and don't need to take quota to have a successful rush (I refuse to call it recruitment).

[kk_bama]

Originally Posted by mystikchick

It's under the "scrapbook" section: http://www.uagammaphibeta.com/scrapbook.htm

It's credited to anonymous, but I think it's lovely regardless.

It is a great description of sisterhood! I'm amazed at the sisterhood within the Bama Gamma Phis .... but I know that the bond is strong at many chapters across the nation as well.