The Panhellenic Aspect of Sorority Recruitment

[AGDAlum]

I can't help with current PH efforts, but the query reminded me of rush at Mizzou in
1971.

The NPC groups were competitive and isolated in "siloes," to use a contemporary buzzword. There were fewer PNMs that year than in years past (and in years to come)--lingering effects of the counterculture/antiwar movement. Quota was lower in 1971 (25) than it had been in 1970 (34). It was my first year on the member-side of rush. Our chapter was small and we were anxious.

The first evening of workweek the Alpha Phis showed up on our front lawn, singing, "Hey, hey, hello, we are Alpha Phi. Hey, hey, hello, come along with us." We went outside and joined our chorus to theirs: "Hey, hey, hello, we are Alpha Gam..." and we and they moved along to the Chi O house....eventually the song morphed into "Hey, hey, hello, we are the Greeks." And we made our way throughout Greektown, stopping at each house and adding those women. (The fratboys weren't sure what to make of the swarm.<g>)

It was a very moving way to begin rush -- and obviously it made such an impression on me that I remember it clearly 40 years later!

[scrapinfificat]

Originally Posted by AGDAlum

I can't help with current PH efforts, but the query reminded me of rush at Mizzou in
1971.

The NPC groups were competitive and isolated in "siloes," to use a contemporary buzzword. There were fewer PNMs that year than in years past (and in years to come)--lingering effects of the counterculture/antiwar movement. Quota was lower in 1971 (25) than it had been in 1970 (34). It was my first year on the member-side of rush. Our chapter was small and we were anxious.

The first evening of workweek the Alpha Phis showed up on our front lawn, singing, "Hey, hey, hello, we are Alpha Phi. Hey, hey, hello, come along with us." We went outside and joined our chorus to theirs: "Hey, hey, hello, we are Alpha Gam..." and we and they moved along to the Chi O house....eventually the song morphed into "Hey, hey, hello, we are the Greeks." And we made our way throughout Greektown, stopping at each house and adding those women. (The fratboys weren't sure what to make of the swarm.<g>)

It was a very moving way to begin rush -- and obviously it made such an impression on me that I remember it clearly 40 years later!

Tears, crying ~ what a memory.
What a wonderful way to begin rush.
What a wonderful way to begin recruitment today not to mention fun!
Thanks for sharing.

[OneHeartOneWay]

Originally Posted by AGDAlum

I can't help with current PH efforts, but the query reminded me of rush at Mizzou in
1971.

The NPC groups were competitive and isolated in "siloes," to use a contemporary buzzword. There were fewer PNMs that year than in years past (and in years to come)--lingering effects of the counterculture/antiwar movement. Quota was lower in 1971 (25) than it had been in 1970 (34). It was my first year on the member-side of rush. Our chapter was small and we were anxious.

The first evening of workweek the Alpha Phis showed up on our front lawn, singing, "Hey, hey, hello, we are Alpha Phi. Hey, hey, hello, come along with us." We went outside and joined our chorus to theirs: "Hey, hey, hello, we are Alpha Gam..." and we and they moved along to the Chi O house....eventually the song morphed into "Hey, hey, hello, we are the Greeks." And we made our way throughout Greektown, stopping at each house and adding those women. (The fratboys weren't sure what to make of the swarm.<g>)

It was a very moving way to begin rush -- and obviously it made such an impression on me that I remember it clearly 40 years later!

What a great story! I got chills!

As for me, I like when chapters support- I mean really support, not just offer lip service- to a chapter that is struggling. ALL of our groups have smaller chapters, struggling chapters, SOMEWHERE, so I love the karma aspect of sisters at one school helping a group out, knowing that hopefully our sisters are receiving similar assistance at another school.

An example- on one campus with a small number of chapters, FR didn't go so well for one of the chapters (we've all had off years, right?). Even though all chapters were still below total, the other groups agreed to a informal "ban" on COB events for two weeks, to help the chapter with a bad FR catch up. All the chapters did PR for that group, ate lunch together as Panhellenic, and did similar type things to introduce women to that one chapter. Once that chapter had reached quota through COB during those two weeks, all the chapters resumed COB events to reach total.