Univ of Texas at Austin Rush Story fall 2009

[srmom]

Question: Do you think the dirty rush accusations come more from PNMs who are not familiar with UT and summer events thinking "Oh I went to dinner with XYZ! That means they must really like me and I'm getting a bid!" whereas girls who are familiar with UT know better than to think that a summer invite = a bid (because they know how common it is?)

Honestly, I don't know. Maybe the reason we are reading the "dirty rushing" allegations on GC is because these girls have done some research, have read the threads, know that "silence rules" exist, and that there are rules against contact.

I would imagine that most girls rushing don't really have a clue as to what is kosher nationally and what isn't, they just know that at UT, you and your friends might get a call before your orientation from different houses asking you to do something with them. I doubt very seriously that they are reading the fine print on the website as they sign up for recruitment (although their moms may be ).

Gone are the days where you would get a formally printed invitation to attend a luncheon at some well heeled alum's house in your city (that's what it was like back in my day). Now, it's just, "Hey, I hear your orientation is June XX. A bunch of us are going to go eat at XYZ, then hit up the party at ABC, wanna come?"

It is totally about getting to know girls before they show up for the first round party 15 minute meet and greet. Many girls wouldn't have a CHANCE if they didn't have the opportunity to get on the radar before formal recruitment - because of the "highschool, camp, hometown" connection/networks that are complained about - if they didn't get some face time during the summer. (awkward sentence - but do you know what I mean?)

And yes, a large percentage of girls end up with a bid, maybe not where they were hoping for or expecting, but most get a bid. Some unfortunately get released from all the houses, and it is really sad. I wish I knew the answer - if I did, I'd be sure to tell my friend whose legacy daughter got released. Noone knows but the girls in the chapters.

[Low C Sharp]

I wish I knew the answer

I'd like to see a system where panhellenic makes up a list of all pnms released from recruitment after each round and distributes the list to the houses. Any house that wanted to give a released pnm a second chance could invite that pnm to the next party without counting her against release figures, and would be free to extend her a bid without counting her in quota. That way, houses are never forced to invite or bid any pnm they don't want, but they have an incentive to re-invite pnms who might have slipped through the cracks due to shyness, lack of connections, whatever.

The last time I suggested this, someone pointed out that sneaky pnms might collude with their #1 house and deliberately be rude at every house in order to be cut, with the understanding that #1 would invite them back as an "extra." I can see that as a risk in small systems, but would it really happen at a place like UT? Wouldn't actives in the other sororities talk, realize what was going on, and report it?

[AXOrushadvisor]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

I'd like to see a system where panhellenic makes up a list of all pnms released from recruitment after each round and distributes the list to the houses. Any house that wanted to give a released pnm a second chance could invite that pnm to the next party without counting her against release figures, and would be free to extend her a bid without counting her in quota. That way, houses are never forced to invite or bid any pnm they don't want, but they have an incentive to re-invite pnms who might have slipped through the cracks due to shyness, lack of connections, whatever.

The last time I suggested this, someone pointed out that sneaky pnms might collude with their #1 house and deliberately be rude at every house in order to be cut, with the understanding that #1 would invite them back as an "extra." I can see that as a risk in small systems, but would it really happen at a place like UT? Wouldn't actives in the other sororities talk, realize what was going on, and report it?

The only problem I see with this is the same problem I was told exist with a sophomore/jr quota. A lot of time these women are still active in recruitment with smaller houses. If there were a separate quota it would hurt the smaller houses and help the larger houses. I had heard our campus was going to do a separate quota, but it didn't end up happening for that reason. I can tell you a lot of sophomores were released because most folks already had a large sophomore class and need the freshman for housing and membership.

[TXAPhiGirl]

I went to Texas and I understand where you're coming from, and the disappointment that happens when you don't get into the sorority you want. When I was there, they had just started automatic placement, and I believe that they were to have now, so that all girls can find a home with one of their choices. With cross cutting, sometimes, it does happen where a girl does not make it all the way through, and I apologize if that happens to you. It does get quite competitive, and it is hard, because a lot of chapters are required to take so many legacies a year, and are faced at that time with who to take and how to pick and choose. Also, with quota and ceiling, there are only so many girls chapters are allowed to take. A lot of sorority rushing is about who you know, and who you meet, and I'm sad at Texas that you had a rough go of it. It is an extremely difficult place to rush. Sometimes it's about where you live, sometimes it's about what you're wearing, sometimes it's about who you know and sometimes, it's about nothing at all.

Might I suggest, if you're interested in getting involved socially, look at joining Texas Spirits, Texas Lassos, Wrangler Sweethearts or Disch Falk Diamonds. Each of these are ladies only groups that are involved with sporting/social events around UT. While some of these spots are occupied by girls in sororities, these groups reach out to girls who are Independent as well. Take a look.

Originally Posted by srmom

Honestly, I don't know. Maybe the reason we are reading the "dirty rushing" allegations on GC is because these girls have done some research, have read the threads, know that "silence rules" exist, and that there are rules against contact.

Originally Posted by srmom

I would imagine that most girls rushing don't really have a clue as to what is kosher nationally and what isn't, they just know that at UT, you and your friends might get a call before your orientation from different houses asking you to do something with them. I doubt very seriously that they are reading the fine print on the website as they sign up for recruitment (although their moms may be ).

Gone are the days where you would get a formally printed invitation to attend a luncheon at some well heeled alum's house in your city (that's what it was like back in my day). Now, it's just, "Hey, I hear your orientation is June XX. A bunch of us are going to go eat at XYZ, then hit up the party at ABC, wanna come?"

It is totally about getting to know girls before they show up for the first round party 15 minute meet and greet. Many girls wouldn't have a CHANCE if they didn't have the opportunity to get on the radar before formal recruitment - because of the "highschool, camp, hometown" connection/networks that are complained about - if they didn't get some face time during the summer. (awkward sentence - but do you know what I mean?)

And yes, a large percentage of girls end up with a bid, maybe not where they were hoping for or expecting, but most get a bid. Some unfortunately get released from all the houses, and it is really sad. I wish I knew the answer - if I did, I'd be sure to tell my friend whose legacy daughter got released. Noone knows but the girls in the chapters.

"Dirty Rushing" does happen all the time, but I have seen too, the heartbreak of girls being told all summer and even going through rush that they were definitely going to be a member of XYZ sorority, only to be cut at the end. For me, being here at UT, I understood "dirty rush" as one of two things: 1) a secret meeting between PNM's and 2) them (other chapters) rushing a girl that you want. According to Panhellenic at Texas (and this was 8 years ago, so if I'm off, let me know), "dirty rushing" was talking to any PNM after the first of the calendar year in which the PNM would be going through rush. They felt this didn't give anyone a fair advantage and wanted all the girls to start off on the right footing. The Greek system here, (usually in the spring) has an "unofficial" recruiting process entitled "Round-Up Weekend." Here, this is where seniors who are interested in the process come and stay with friends, and go to fraternity parties, and learn a little about Greek life. Technically, it's off the record, and so a lot of people turn their heads with the younger crowd here.

As for legacies, here is one thing I have learned at UT: Everyone seems to have a legacy from somewhere. The streamline for Texas, especially in the bigger sororities are a duel/triple legacy, and many of those sister-mother combination; not your cousin, or stepmom, but true lineage, and also, if that legacy was part of that chapter at UT. I will tell you being out of state, and your lineage being from a different school...well, from what I've seen means very little. Because the chapters do not have to fill (and don't) with legacies, usually only about 10-20 girls (depending on quota size) are taken from legacies. The remainder is filled by new women to continue chapter growth by creating new lines. Make sense? I really thought though with automatic placement, that every girl was to find a home, but I know that's only if they go all the way through Pref.

Greek life has shrunk incredibly since I was there. In '97, 1000+ girls were signed up, now it's steadying around the 700-800 mark. I think, taking provisional away during the summer, has indeed changed the rushing process as well. As far as I know, houses are still getting a "drop off" list from Panhellenic once rush is over and from there are able to snap bid off of it, but again, if they are already at ceiling (which used to be around 200 or so members when I was there), it's irrelevant. They can go up and over quota, but aren't able to pick up any one else if they're maxed out.
Unfortunately, we're not able to take everyone we want to.

[TXAPhiGirl]

Originally Posted by TXAPhiGirl

It does get quite competitive, and it is hard, because a lot of chapters are required to take so many legacies a year, and are faced at that time with who to take and how to pick and choose.

Sorry ladies, let me clarify: I'll use my roommate's chapter (though I won't name it). They have so many legacies, that it's ...well, it's an understanding in the house that they have let's say...10 spots they want to fill with "outside" girls. So, they take, 40 legacies, and have the remaining spots for new girls. Now, they'll vary that depending on what they see, and who goes through, and likeability, etc.

This isn't a panhellenic thing, done through Texas, but is done from house to house. Now, it might just be THEIR house, I don't know. I'd be interested in talking with some girls from other chapters to see if this is the case. Maybe that is not the case for others; maybe others take all legs. I'd like to know this too, as it helps the recruiting process for everyone.

Sorry for the confusion.