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Rush began at noon on a Sunday, with orientation at the student center and open houses at each chapter.
The Panhellenic rush chairman went over all the rules –
1. After 5 p.m., chapter members could begin calling us to schedule coke dates. These were informal meetings with sorority members, usually one-on-one, but sometimes small groups of actives and rushees got together as long as there were an equal number of actives and rushees. They could last no more than an hour, and sorority members could not pay for a rushee’s food, beverages or other expenses. Coke dates could take place throughout the week and each chapter was allowed a maximum of three coke dates with each rushee.
2. Rush counselors were not allowed to reveal the GLOs to which they belonged.
3. Sorority members could greet each other in passing on campus, but could not engage in prolonged conversations outside of parties or coke dates. After preference parties Sunday night, Silence began. This meant that sororities could have no communication with rushees whatsoever until bids were distributed. To do so would be a major rush infraction.
We then met with our rush counselors. Beth was very nice, and we all vowed to search composites in each house to find out where she was a member. (They didn’t think to tape over composite photos then.) That accomplished, we departed for open houses.
Debut – The tent talk about this house was intense. This was the “beauty queen” chapter; in fact, the reigning Miss America contestant from our state was a sister. The house itself was lovely and the sisters were welcoming, but I didn’t see myself as the Debut type.
Candy-O – There were several girls from my high school in this house, as well as a couple of sisters whose parents were friends with mine. I remember coming in and signing their guest book with a huge purple ostrich feather pen, which I thought was really cool. I loved their chants and the sisters were friendly and fun. But I hadn’t really been happy in high school and the fact that so many girls in this house were from my school gave me pause.
Panorama – I had mixed feelings about this house. The members were OK, but not very easy to talk to. They had all us rushees get in a circle and taught us a song where we acted out their letters a la “YMCA.” It really made me feel strange and some of the other girls said the same thing as we were walking to our next house.
Shake It Up – loved this chapter. I felt relaxed and at home here. I recognized one girl from my high school – she was a year ahead of me and had had a rep as a partyhead, but we’d always gotten along and I was glad to see her.
Heartbeat City – I was very interested in this group going in. An older girl in our neighborhood was a member (but had long since gone alum) and another neighbor was an active member. But high school reared its head again. During the house tour, my guide, after learning my high school, asked if I knew So-and-So. I started to say “Oh, yeah, So-and-so who had to get married a few months ago?” I stopped myself but she knew what I’d been about to say and I knew she knew. I also knew then and there that I would probably not find my home in HBC.
Door to Door –I just didn’t get a good vibe from them, for whatever reason. It seemed like there were more alums than actives, nobody seemed to be having much fun and I just didn’t know what to talk about. To be fair, this chapter had lost their house in a fire the previous January and were using a fraternity house for rush, so I’m sure they didn’t feel completely comfortable.
After the open houses, our RC walked us back to the student center and told us she’d see us tomorrow for first parties, which would take place over the next two days. I got in my car and drove home to await coke date invitation calls!
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