IrishPipes' Retro Recruitment Story

[AnatraAmore]

Can we know who Wexford is? Or at least have a hint? (At least then we'll know who the chapters still in the running are...)

On another note... I can't imagine trying to keep all of the chapters straight even with notes - I counted at least 8 chapters that started with Alpha! I envy any PNM (including you) who could!

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by OldAOPi

4-H does rush? I actually work for Extension and am a county 4-H Extension Educator - not in your state, but it used to be a part of rush?

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.

[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.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

You never know.

But it turns out I was right about Phi Mu, so I don't feel so bad about getting a few wrong

Anyway, guesses this round:

Tipperary: Phi Mu
Clare: Sigma Kappa
Monaghan: Alpha Delta Pi
Kerry: Delta Delta Delta

I am working largely off of physical house descriptions, so if anyone moved between her rush and mine, this won't work at all.

4 for 4 this round, DBB.

[irishpipes]

Third Stage –

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.

Waterford: This was the first time I felt out of place here. They had definitely been a favorite up to this point, but for the first time I really noticed the other rushees and not just the chapter members. Many of the rushees were not like me or my friends. I suspect that a lot of the reason that I like this chapter is because Barbara, the really popular girl from my high school, didn’t get in and I feel flattered to still be invited back! I am upset that I don’t talk to Gerri this time because she is in the skit. The skit is excellent but I just can’t shake the feeling that I am acting here when I talk to anyone but her. If they really knew me maybe they wouldn’t like me… But, I LOVE Gerri, so I just don’t know!

Kilkenny: This skit was the best of all. It was a Disney theme again, “The Wonderful World of Kilkenny,” and the energy and enthusiasm were contagious. I am extremely impressed by how good the vocals are! I feel very connected here. Melissa is at this party and she leaves saying they are now her first choice.

Wexford: I don’t remember this party at all! I do remember talking to Kristen, a fellow rushee and a classmate of mine from high school. She said they invited her even though she had cut them and she went since she didn’t have a full schedule. I giggle and tell her that Wexford did the same to me and I don’t understand these rules at all! The best part though is that I see Joelle here from the infamous team of Pam and Joelle!!! After the 2 of them made sure that all of us knew they were only going back to top chapters and I’m sure they made derogatory comments about Wexford. Is it bad that this makes my day? Kristen and I leave Wexford and walk together to Dublin, which we both have next.

Dublin: I remember that I had seen Kristen here last stage. She tells me her older sister is an active here so they pretty much have to take her, but she likes some other chapters too. I don’t remember anything about this party, but I wrote “no” on my booklet, so something must have made me feel that his wasn’t the place for me. I suspect it had something to do with my mixed feelings about Tricia, but I can’t remember.

Limerick: This chapter does a camp theme. They serve dirt cake out of little terra cotta flower pots. There are canoes and paddles everywhere and the entire house is decorated like summer camp. It is truly amazing. Today I was disappointed that I didn’t get Tracy again. Instead, I got a senior who I could tell wasn’t very impressed by me. She asked my major and I told her I was deciding between math and accounting. She told me that accounting was nearly impossible at U of I (as if I couldn’t cut it.) Then, I asked her what she was studying, and it was – you guessed it – accounting! I realized that I wasn’t totally sure if I liked this chapter or if I just really liked Tracy! I also felt like this rusher was trying to “put me in my place.” I left feeling very confused.

After this stage I wish I could have gone back to Kerry, because I am sensing that Waterford and Limerick will probably cut me. If Kilkenny cuts me too I might as well drop out like Missy. Hopefully at least one of those 3 will be on my list of invites!

[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.

[deadbear80]

Irishpipes, you don't happen to still have pictures lying around from when you rushed, that you can post, do you? I totally have the images of your outfits in my head, thanks to your great descriptions--but it would be awesome to see what they 'really' looked like!

[violetpretty]

Lox, Stock and Bagel! What a cool name for a bagel place. It reminds me of the characters from Nightmare Before Christmas!