A very retro rush - with frills

[dvs-dz]

Mercifully, there was no phone call at noon, but I didn't expect one since I listed all 5 sororities on my bid card.

At 2:30, everyone left their dorm rooms so the Panhellenic reps could put the bids on our beds. I was really excited because I couldn't wait to see the bid from Emma.

Finally, we were allowed to return to the dorm (masses of girls running up the stairs and down the halls). I saw the bid on my bed, tore it open, and read my bid from.....



Sense & Sensibility!



Huh. I was pretty shocked, but ran out to S&S's site to join my new sisters. As I met my pledge class, I saw that these girls were all my friends - practically all were Tri Wupsilons. Later I saw the pledge class for Emma and realized that wasn't the place for me.

Marianne, my roommate, pledged Pride & Prejudice. In fact, we were both elected president of our pledge classes, so we jokingly referred to our dorm room as the White House. Eleanor, in a surprise move, had put Persuasion down first on her bid card and happily received a bid from them (despite not attending their pref) - she said she had to do it for her mother. Eleanor was quite the character - her dorm closet wasn't big enough, so she had a closet bar in the back seat of her car where she kept her extra clothes. As for the Tri Wupsilons, all of us either pledged Pride & Prejudice or Sense & Sensibility.

My aunt had been called by Emma, and was told I just wasn't high enough on their bid list. She was supportive, even finding out when my initiation week was and sending me flowers. But she felt a lot of guilt over what happened, and our close relationship deteriorated. A few years later, she and my uncle were divorced and I haven't seen her since.

The years in Sense & Sensibility had their ups and downs, but my pledge class had a very strong bond. In fact, we still get together for an annual reunion - we've shared so many life experiences together!

So getting into the revelations -

I rushed in January, 1978 at Southwestern University (Texas).

Sense & Sensibility - Delta Zeta
Emma - Delta Delta Delta
Pride & Prejudice - Alpha Delta Pi
Persuasion - Zeta Tau Alpha
Mansfield Park - Phi Mu

[FSUZeta]

this was a fabulous thread!! thank you so much for sharing your experience with us!

it was so neat that when you gathered with your new pledge class, you discovered what a great fit your sorority was. i also liked that although you had made friends with your roommate and with girls in your dorm, it appears that you all made your decisions independent of each other based on what you felt was best for you, and respected each others decisions. good advise for any pnm!

[Ocalagirl]

Great Story!! I really enjoyed reading it!!!

[NutBrnHair]

Great story -- well-written & fun! Thanks for sharing.

Sincerely,

Nut B. Hair, lover of frills

[violetpretty]

This was a great story, I had no idea how frilly recruitment could be! I was glad you got a bid from S&S, since that was the one I would have picked based on your descriptions of preferences. Did it seem annoying to you that your aunt was all up in your business and trying to pick a sorority for you?

[dvs-dz]

My aunt wasn't annoying, just very eager. She and my uncle did not have any kids, so I was as close to a legacy as she was going to get.

[Leslie Anne]

Wonderful story! I was surprised that you didn't get Emma (I thought it was DZ) but so glad that S&S turned out to be the right sorority for you. Thanks for sharing!