That 70s Rush!

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by AXi1257

How can you ladies figure the school out like that?? I have no clue especially since it's retro.

I'm also waiting for the conclusion- can't wait!

Ha ha I think VP shares my interest in Greek history. The campus is relatively simple to figure out in this particular case, and if you look at what groups closed soon after her rush time frame, it confirms it.

ETA: There are a lot of clues if you are familiar with Greek life at other schools - even if just by reading GC or volunteering in your own org. We know it is a large state school, but not SEC. It is competitive, but only has 13 NPC chapters. It has at least one traditionally Jewish chapter, and that chapter is somewhat smaller than others. House architecture styles include Italian and Spanish villa (very few locations would have that) as well as modern and classic Georgian. 4 chapters were struggling with numbers. School is in a large town (yet everyone seems to know each other.)

[AXi1257]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Ha ha I think VP shares my interest in Greek history. The campus is relatively simple to figure out in this particular case, and if you look at what groups closed soon after her rush time frame, it confirms it.

ETA: There are a lot of clues if you are familiar with Greek life at other schools - even if just by reading GC or volunteering in your own org. We know it is a large state school, but not SEC. It is competitive, but only has 13 NPC chapters. It has at least one traditionally Jewish chapter, and that chapter is somewhat smaller than others. House architecture styles include Italian and Spanish villa (very few locations would have that) as well as modern and classic Georgian. 4 chapters were struggling with numbers. School is in a large town (yet everyone seems to know each other.)

OK- I have a guess after feeling like a stalker to find it out...

[That_70s_Rush!]

You can all stop guessing. I purposefully changed and omitted a few details in order to keep JSU and myself anonymous. These details do not change my rush story at all; they just serve to obfuscate the location. Greek life has changed there a lot, and I did not want my online legacy to the school and Greek system I love so much to be translated as "well, ABC is really horrible at JSU ...... they have been since at least the 70s!" to anyone who might google the school and any chapter now or into the future. Rest assured knowing that no one who has sent me a PM has guessed correctly.

And on with the story...

Bid Day
When we wake up the next morning, everyone is a nervous wreck, including me. After a fitful night’s sleep and late night conversation with my folks, I am even more convinced that I want to be a Donna. A few days ago, I didn’t know a thing about sororities. Now I am praying for a bid like my life depends on it.

Bid day is actually in the evening, so we had all day to marinate. At this point in time on my campus, there were no phone calls. If you didn’t receive a bid, you found that out when bids were handed out. You received an envelope with a card in it that said you had not been invited to join any sorority. Yikes! Since classes have not started yet, a bunch of girls from our floor decide to go shopping and then take in a movie. We make a pact that we will NOT discuss anything rush related. It doesn’t do much to soothe our nerves, but it does provide us with a little distraction. We’re back in our dorm by five and get ready for the big event. I wear yet another sundress and platforms.

The activity center is a mad house, buzzing with anticipation and anxiety. The various sisters are standing in groups outside, holding huge banners. Inside, the RCs are standing in their own areas holding up big signs with their names on them. Once everyone makes it to their RC, they begin handing out the bid cards. There are screams. There are tears. Girls begin to dash outside to join their new sisters and make the trek back to their new homes for the festivities. I open up my bid card and read it with stunned disbelief. It reads …………..

[Buttonz]

Originally Posted by That_70s_Rush!

You can all stop guessing. I purposefully changed and omitted a few details in order to keep JSU and myself anonymous. These details do not change my rush story at all; they just serve to obfuscate the location. Greek life has changed there a lot, and I did not want my online legacy to the school and Greek system I love so much to be translated as "well, ABC is really horrible at JSU ...... they have been since at least the 70s!" to anyone who might google the school and any chapter now or into the future. Rest assured knowing that no one who has sent me a PM has guessed correctly.

And on with the story...

Bid Day
When we wake up the next morning, everyone is a nervous wreck, including me. After a fitful night’s sleep and late night conversation with my folks, I am even more convinced that I want to be a Donna. A few days ago, I didn’t know a thing about sororities. Now I am praying for a bid like my life depends on it.

Bid day is actually in the evening, so we had all day to marinate. At this point in time on my campus, there were no phone calls. If you didn’t receive a bid, you found that out when bids were handed out. You received an envelope with a card in it that said you had not been invited to join any sorority. Yikes! Since classes have not started yet, a bunch of girls from our floor decide to go shopping and then take in a movie. We make a pact that we will NOT discuss anything rush related. It doesn’t do much to soothe our nerves, but it does provide us with a little distraction. We’re back in our dorm by five and get ready for the big event. I wear yet another sundress and platforms.

The activity center is a mad house, buzzing with anticipation and anxiety. The various sisters are standing in groups outside, holding huge banners. Inside, the RCs are standing in their own areas holding up big signs with their names on them. Once everyone makes it to their RC, they begin handing out the bid cards. There are screams. There are tears. Girls begin to dash outside to join their new sisters and make the trek back to their new homes for the festivities. I open up my bid card and read it with stunned disbelief. It reads …………..

TEASE!

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Ha ha I think VP shares my interest in Greek history. The campus is relatively simple to figure out in this particular case, and if you look at what groups closed soon after her rush time frame, it confirms it.

ETA: There are a lot of clues if you are familiar with Greek life at other schools - even if just by reading GC or volunteering in your own org. We know it is a large state school, but not SEC. It is competitive, but only has 13 NPC chapters. It has at least one traditionally Jewish chapter, and that chapter is somewhat smaller than others. House architecture styles include Italian and Spanish villa (very few locations would have that) as well as modern and classic Georgian. 4 chapters were struggling with numbers. School is in a large town (yet everyone seems to know each other.)

And the fashion is kind of region specific, or at least, what was acceptable to wear at recruitment.

[That_70s_Rush!]

............. Donna.

I know I screamed as I raced out to find my new sisters. It was one of the most joyful evenings of my young life. I had come home.

I had already written up a lengthy conclusion to my story that took JSU Panhellenic and some of the girls I mentioned throughout the story to today. I also originally planned to reveal my affiliation, but since a few people on this thread seem to have turned its focus to figuring out where JSU is, I no longer feel comfortable doing so.

Here's what I will say:

Lisa went on to pledge Laurie.

Tina accepted a bid to Hyde.

So what about me? In retrospect, my impressions were correct. After being at JSU for four years, I know I could have been happy in any of the chapters I preffed, but I made absolutely the best decision I could have made. My sisters were my foundation throughout college, and loved me for who I was and who I grew up to be. Once sophomore year rolled around, I ended up dating a Milwaukee fraternity brother who was also a Prissy Prep grad and in fact one of those who told me I should pledge Jackie because they were foxy. I guess I changed his mind. We married shortly after I graduated and have a few legacies and grand legacies of our own now. Yes, That 70s Rush!, the girl who once had no knowledge of nor interest in Greek Life, now is the matriarch of a little Greek dynasty.

And the moral of this story? Be true to yourself. When it comes to making decisions that have to do with matters of the heart, like choosing a sisterhood or husband, sometimes the best decisions are the obvious ones we might overlook at first glance.

[EEKappa]

Excellent story! Thanks so much for sharing, and in such great detail. We don't really need to know where you ended up, it's just nice to read a happy ending.

[DaffyKD]

Originally Posted by That_70s_Rush!

And the moral of this story? Be true to yourself. When it comes to making decisions that have to do with matters of the heart, like choosing a sisterhood or husband, sometimes the best decisions are the obvious ones we might overlook at first glance.

What a wonderful story. Brings back so many memories. I too knew nothing about rush. The only thing I knew about sororities were that they were all drop dead gorgeous and their father's all were bank presidents. My was short, brunette, not gorgeous at all and my father was a salesman. When one house asked me what my father did (were not allowed to ask on our campus I found out later) I thought about what to say-- should I say he is the president of some bank or.... I know, I told her that he was the chief garbage collector for our town-- imagine her face! Only went through rush so I could move out of the house a week early since my mother and I were always at each other's throat. First house I went to was KD. I knew at that moment I found my home. I had no self confidence, had been the biggest loser in HS and yet, I found a home that wanted me for me. Follow your heart and you will find great treasures.

DaffyKD

[ZTA72]

Great story! What I would really like to know is...did you date your now husband in high school or *discover* him later in college?

Thanks for telling your rush story, wow the memories!

[WVU alpha phi]

I loved this rush story! I wish I could figure out the schools and chapters.. I always have a special interest in any rush story with an Alpha Phi chapter.

[That_70s_Rush!]

Originally Posted by ZTA72

Great story! What I would really like to know is...did you date your now husband in high school or *discover* him later in college?

Thanks for telling your rush story, wow the memories!

He was a year ahead of me and in high school only had eyes for girls his own age. There was nothing that remotely resembled interest, much less a date, until college. I, however, had other plans for him even back then.

I am glad people enjoyed my story. It was really fun to write and brought back so many memories.

[ZTA72]

Originally Posted by That_70s_Rush!

He was a year ahead of me and in high school only had eyes for girls his own age. There was nothing that remotely resembled interest, much less a date, until college. I, however, had other plans for him even back then.

I am glad people enjoyed my story. It was really fun to write and brought back so many memories.

Isn't it great when our plans work out?

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by That_70s_Rush!

I also originally planned to reveal my affiliation, but since a few people on this thread seem to have turned its focus to figuring out where JSU is, I no longer feel comfortable doing so.

I am sorry if you think that a few posts hijacked your thread. Most veteran GCers know that I maintain a database thread that lists every NPC chapter at every college with Greek life in the US and Canada. (You can find it stickied in the recruitment forum.) By doing so, it isn't too difficult to put two and two together. Violetpretty is another GCer who shares my interest in that kind of data.

I believe that my own NPC is one of the "oh, dear" chapters on your campus. Despite that, I don't think it affects whether or not you reveal your campus or the names of chapters. This was 30 years ago. It's not a big deal.

[AGDAlum]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

I am sorry if you think that a few posts hijacked your thread. Most veteran GCers know that I maintain a database thread that lists every NPC chapter at every college with Greek life in the US and Canada. (You can find it stickied in the recruitment forum.) By doing so, it isn't too difficult to put two and two together. Violetpretty is another GCer who shares my interest in that kind of data.

I believe that my own NPC is one of the "oh, dear" chapters on your campus. Despite that, I don't think it affects whether or not you reveal your campus or the names of chapters. This was 30 years ago. It's not a big deal.

Thanks for the nostalgia ride! That was indeed what a big state university rush was like in the 70's. Though my campus had 13 NPC chapters back I don't think it was JSU....I can't guess the identities of either JSU or "Donna," but I'm glad that your experience turned out so well.