IrishPipes' Retro Recruitment Story

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by ISUKappa

I believe only UIUC has a 4-H house that is similar to a sorority. My cousin was in it for a few years, and she had a really good time. Most campus 4-H groups don't have houses (they may have a dorm floor or something similar) and are run more like non-greek campus organizations.

U of I's 4-H chapter is the only one in the nation with a house.

[OldAOPi]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

U of I's 4-H chapter is the only one in the nation with a house.

Interesting! I know UNL has a collegiate 4H group - but they aren't ever paired up with the Greeks. As far as I know. Thanks!

[OldAOPi]

Red and white 2-piece dress with shoulder pads and white mesh short sleeves (yes, it’s true), white hose with red and white low heels. Big square, white acrylic earrings with a red zig zag on them, and white acrylic beads with a large red square bead in the center of the strand.

Did you have big mall permed hair, too?

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by OldAOPi

Red and white 2-piece dress with shoulder pads and white mesh short sleeves (yes, it’s true), white hose with red and white low heels. Big square, white acrylic earrings with a red zig zag on them, and white acrylic beads with a large red square bead in the center of the strand.

Did you have big mall permed hair, too?

No! The mall bangs came a few years later! At this point it was hot rollers every day. I did have bangs but they hadn't obtained their own zip code yet. I will confess to frequently pulling back the hair that frames my face over to one side and putting in one big barette on that side. Not quite the single side ponytail, but a distant relative.

[OldAOPi]

You're right, those were the 90's. I already had 2 kids by 87 - and do remember using a lot of ponytail things then - side ponytails as you said. And the terrycloth pull back bands.

Shopped alot at Maurices for all the matching stripes and plaids and Big Chunky Earrings!

OK, now on with your story. I need more coffee!

[violetpretty]

I am loving these outfit descriptions! Was it a typo that you said Phi Mu was out of the running after first stage? Go Kilkenny!

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by JessSigKap

I am loving these outfit descriptions! Was it a typo that you said Phi Mu was out of the running after first stage? Go Kilkenny!

Oh geez yes. I fixed it. See, even now I am confusing myself! Now I know why DBB guessed what she did.

Oh, and since you all seem interested in the outfits, I will further tell you that the red and white dress was actually a solid red background with a white window pane pattern. The skirt was pleated and somewhat full and went down mid-calf. The top was a crop top with a V-neck. The really sad part is that I truly thought this looked good!

[irishpipes]

Next day, back at the classroom, the Rho Chis are very serious and say that this is it. We have to really think about our decisions. The cuts will be bad and we have to try to stay positive. I am one of the first to get my sheet, but I don’t turn it over right away because some other girls are already crying and I am scared to look. The Rho Chis tell us to look at our lists and then we should probably talk with one of them before circling anything since this would be so emotional. I turn mine over and…

Waterford
Kilkenny
Limerick
Wexford

Again with the Wexford! A line has already formed by the Rho Chis, but I am not going to talk to them. That would be humiliating to talk about being cut and stuff. (I wasn’t exactly an open book back them.) Instead, I calmly circle

Waterford
Kilkenny
Limerick

All along I have told myself that as long as one of my favorites was there I would stay in it. I am thrilled that 3 of my favorites are on the list! I was worried since last stage I had 3 favorites and 2 that I was not as excited about. I can’t believe I have retained all 3 of my top choices!

The Rho Chis tell us that after prefs things will be handled differently. Following our final party we are to come straight to our classroom to rank our chapters. Then, we are to stay by our phones (no cell phones back then) the next day until a certain time to make sure we don’t get “the call.” If we don’t get the call that we haven’t been placed, we should go to the Union to get our bids.

Later I went to Lox, Stock, and Bagel with Jenn and Shar. They had more than 5 invitations third stage which makes me a little envious. I interject that I had a full schedule but I didn’t tell them one of the parties was Wexford, which I had previously cut. I knew Shar would not approve of that! Shar is going back to her favorite, Kerry, and her “fallback” as she calls it, Leitrim. I can’t remember where else. She already knows who she wants to be her pledge mom in Kerry. I don’t know what she is talking about.

Jenn is going back to Clare, Kilkenny, and Offaly. She is having a tough time choosing. I hope I see her at Kilkenny tomorrow – we have really hit it off and I can see that she is not superficial and chose chapters because of the people she met there.

*************************
Out of the running is:
Alpha Gamma Delta and the mysterious Wexford (again).

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Oh geez yes. I fixed it. See, even now I am confusing myself! Now I know why DBB guessed what she did.

Yeah, I knew that Tipperary had to be Phi Mu because she said that was the one all the nice, pretty girls joined.

Okay, not really, I knew from the physical description of the house. It's very distinct. From the outside, it looks like two separate buildings, and they are connected underground.