Rush at Pitt Prior to NPC Crackdown!

honeychile · #1 06-27-2007, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopeful_Bubbles

Lol

I can't imagine starting college at 16...

It was odd in ways, but then again, I was always the youngest in my class. The truly weird part was that I had just gotten my driver's license!

Quote:

Originally Posted by petals

Honey, since your were planning on transfering did that have anything to do with how you ranked/evaluated chapters during rush?

It had everything to do with my choice in colleges, and to a large extent, ranking the chapters. Being a legacy, I didn't even consider going to a school without a chapter of ABC.

Sorry about the dentist bit (no pun intended) - I honestly hadn't noticed the time. AND, it was two and a half hours long, for those who feel that I needed that pain!

But onwards and upwards!

The Greek Advisor told my mother that both the Garnets and the Rubies hadn't realized my age, and that I had to have Parental Consent to accept a bid. My mother got into a bit of an argument with her, saying that this was NOT the time to bring this up, it should have been noted much earlier, she would consent to whichever decision I made. They compromised that she and/or my daddy would go to the Greek Office and sign the appropriate forms, and also at whichever sorority I received a bid the next day, so if I was given a bid, I could celebrate with my pledge class. While she was on a roll, my mother then said, "Well, did Honey get a bid or not?!" I about died of embarrassment, hearing her say that! The answer must have been yes, because she told me to head back to campus!

The line to the Greek Advisor's office was around the corner and all the way down the hall. The silence was amazing - no one cracked a smile unless it was a small, nervous grin. Finally, the first woman was called into the office. Five minutes later, she walked past us quickly, eyes downcast. Uh-oh... Then another, and another - each with a different expression on her face. I saw one woman who had been at one of the Prefs with me, and she had this big old envelope, trimmed in sorority colors! YES!!! That would be ME!!! Then more, some grinning, others downcast, until finally I reached the Office. The first thing the Greek Advisor said was, "Is your mother's name really Dixie Lee?" Well, duh! It was on the initial rush form! Then, horror of horrors, I was given a small envelope! They all said, "OPEN IT!!" I opened the bid and it said, "The Sisters of Alpha Iota Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi extend their bid to Honey, in the hopes that she will meet the requirements of being initiated into membership." I looked up in surprise - this wasn't the big honking envelope I had seen in the other women's hands! They asked me if I was happy, and I practically screamed with excitement - "YES!!!" They laughed and told me to head on over to the ADPi Suite.

I was beaming when I entered Amos Hall, which you could hear long before you saw. When I finally got into the elevator and off on the 10th floor (yes, they had run down 10 flights of stairs in those white tulle formals!), there was screaming and hugging and singing - it was wonderful! They eventually started singing the Greek alphabet song, and were shocked that I knew it already - my sixth grade teacher (from LSU) had taught it to us, and I remembered it. After everyone was there and accounted for, we had our Pledge Ceremony, then headed over to the All-Greek Mixer. Ann & Lisa were my Pledge Sisters, but *sigh* Meg had become a Diamond. Meg and I went on to represent our GLOs in Junior Panhel, and remained friends for years - to the surprise of many. I discovered that there wasn't an ADPi chapter at William & Mary, and ended up giving up my scholarship (I know, bad move!). My mother was heartbroken for a while, being a real drama queen about sending my grandmother's Key back to their headquarters, even though she could have saved it for her granddaughter, if... Pitt slowly cut back on the Frills Rush (of course, after I had my own dress!), but I have to admit, if it hadn't cost each chapter so much, it was spectacular, and I'm glad I got my frills!

tinydancer16 · #2 06-27-2007, 11:36 PM

WONDERFUL story Honey, thank you so much for sharing!

NutBrnHair · #3 06-28-2007, 12:46 AM

Yeah Honey! Yeah ADPi!!! Yeah to frills!!!!!!!

Leslie Anne · #4 06-28-2007, 02:15 AM

Wonderful story, honeychile! Thanks for sharing it.

I'm just a little confused about something...

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeychile

I saw one woman who had been at one of the Prefs with me, and she had this big old envelope, trimmed in sorority colors! YES!!! That would be ME!!! Then, horror of horrors, I was given a small envelope! They all said, "OPEN IT!!" I opened the bid and it said, "The Sisters of Alpha Iota Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi extend their bid to Honey, in the hopes that she will meet the requirements of being initiated into membership." I looked up in surprise - this wasn't the big honking envelope I had seen in the other women's hands!

ADPi was Garnets, right? So why did your envelope look different?

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeychile

I'm glad I got my frills!

Me too! I got a wonderful vicarious thrill from reading your story.

honeychile · #5 06-28-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne

Wonderful story, honeychile! Thanks for sharing it.

I'm just a little confused about something...

ADPi was Garnets, right? So why did your envelope look different?

Because of the blue color!

The Chapters are (and please read the explanation afterwards):

Garnets = ADPi
Sapphires = AEPhi
Amethysts = Tri Delta
Opals = DZ
Emeralds = DPhiE
Topaz = TPA
Diamonds = Theta
Rubies = Kappa
Pearls = SDT
Jade = ChiO

This was at the time when AEPhi & SDT were allowed to rush non-Jewish members, but very rarely did. TPA was the same way with non-Catholics. It's hard to understand in this day & age, but what would happen during Rush was that they would steer the conversation towards the High Holy Days ("Do you want to see the Sedar Plate that my boyfriend got me?") or Catholic school. It was mostly understood by both parties that eh, not a match.

Also, I really did like some of the Emeralds - I just didn't like the way my Rho Chi handled our group. First, I didn't find out until afterwards that she was supposed to have disaffiliated - and she definitely intimidated us, if not more. One of the people in my Rho Chi group did become an Emerald, and one of my favorite GC people is one

.

AlwaysSAI · #6 06-28-2007, 09:49 AM

Not going to tell us who the Emeralds are, huh.

AlphaFrog · #7 06-28-2007, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

Not going to tell us who the Emeralds are, huh.

She gave a list of the sororities at the begining...

If you really want to know, figure out who's missing.

AlwaysSAI · #8 06-28-2007, 10:01 AM

It was Tri-Delta!! Silly me

AlphaFrog · #9 06-28-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

It was Tri-Delta!! Silly me

Are you sure? Final answer....???

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeychile

Amethysts = Tri Delta

honeychile · #10 06-28-2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

Not going to tell us who the Emeralds are, huh.

Sorry - it was a lapse on my part - I've edited it.

NutBrnHair · #11 06-28-2007, 10:14 AM

honeychile...thanks for this thread. I loved following it.

(I can't believe we didn't sway you with M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E and a corndog -- with punch, no less! Yummmy! LOL)

I am still amazed at some of the hokey themes that were used in the 1970s & 80s and stunned that chapters pledged quota year after year! Maybe we should start a thread on retro skits/themes from the dark ages!

AlexMack · #12 06-28-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

honeychile...thanks for this thread. I loved following it.

(I can't believe we didn't sway you with M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E and a corndog -- with punch, no less! Yummmy! LOL)

I am still amazed at some of the hokey themes that were used in the 1970s & 80s and stunned that chapters pledged quota year after year! Maybe we should start a thread on retro skits/themes from the dark ages!

Now this idea I can get behind!

honeychile · #13 06-28-2007, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

honeychile...thanks for this thread. I loved following it.

(I can't believe we didn't sway you with M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E and a corndog -- with punch, no less! Yummmy! LOL)

I am still amazed at some of the hokey themes that were used in the 1970s & 80s and stunned that chapters pledged quota year after year! Maybe we should start a thread on retro skits/themes from the dark ages!

LOL - I seriously felt that my intelligence was demeaned by some of the skits! Only when I saw that all of the sororities were using them did I "give in" a little.

And it wasn't Mickey - it was all the carrying on about that cake! I think they kept me around so long because I was blonde (at the time)...

33girl · #14 06-28-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

I am still amazed at some of the hokey themes that were used in the 1970s & 80s and stunned that chapters pledged quota year after year! Maybe we should start a thread on retro skits/themes from the dark ages!

I remember reading about some of the more "skit-heavy" campuses in the Phoenix when I was first initiated and thinking "wow, I don't think we could get through this without laughing ourselves to death."

honeychile · #15 06-28-2007, 10:21 AM

I can't find a photo of the white tulle formal that will copy, even though I have seen it recently. It was a very classic style, strapless with a ruched bodice, and a flowing, Cinderella-like skirt. If I find a photo that will paste, I'll post it. The black formal was slinkier, and in satin. Both were really classic, really beautiful.