"Sisterhood Is Powerful" by Prudence Mackintosh (Texas Monthly, Sept. 1976)

[utkdce]

Originally Posted by Eightisgreat

I for one, wish someone would actually revisit this article for Texas Monthy on the notion of how things change, but somethings stay the same. The classic "Big 6" may still be a force at UT, but the descriptions have certainly changed and from my observations, some houses love talking the big 6 talk, but don't really represent the image presented back when the article was written. (Although the High Schools and Camps may be important...the type of girl they are cranking out is very different...therefore making the chapters very different) Many people on GC say the Big 6 will always have influence on rush at UT but the fact remains if someone would actually write an article on how the houses really are today, maybe, just maybe UT rush could become a better experience because girls aren't made to believe what is not true. And then we can spend the next 30 years talking about that article.

Amen!!

[Just interested]

I'll second that!!

[DubaiSis]

It did seem weird to me that there was almost no mention at all that there even WERE any other chapters. A person would have to read carefully to catch that, and the outsider would never guess that there were more than 15 chapters at the time of her experience and the time of writing. You might guess that there were 2 or 3 bottom of the barrel chapters, but 10?

The point is it is a very interesting, engaging story, and I'm sure the author never intended to insinuate there were only 6 chapters worth joining at UT. But because the article is so entertaining, that is what she inadvertently did.

And what fun is there in talking about the "Middle Six" that make quota every year, get the girls they want and don't have to live up to 50 year old reputations. It certainly wouldn't be an article worth discussing 30 years later. It would go something like this, 1000 girls went through rush. The Middle Six chapters worked very hard to prepare and spent hours and hours getting to know the girls going through rush. When the time came, some girls loved them, some girls hated them and some were just ok. They pledged 50 girls. The end. BORING. Or the story might describe how the Middle Six go through exactly the same hell the Big Six do, minus all the publicity. The End. BORING.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

It did seem weird to me that there was almost no mention at all that there even WERE any other chapters. A person would have to read carefully to catch that, and the outsider would never guess that there were more than 15 chapters at the time of her experience and the time of writing. You might guess that there were 2 or 3 bottom of the barrel chapters, but 10?

The point is it is a very interesting, engaging story, and I'm sure the author never intended to insinuate there were only 6 chapters worth joining at UT. But because the article is so entertaining, that is what she inadvertently did.

And what fun is there in talking about the "Middle Six" that make quota every year, get the girls they want and don't have to live up to 50 year old reputations. It certainly wouldn't be an article worth discussing 30 years later. It would go something like this, 1000 girls went through rush. The Middle Six chapters worked very hard to prepare and spent hours and hours getting to know the girls going through rush. When the time came, some girls loved them, some girls hated them and some were just ok. They pledged 50 girls. The end. BORING. Or the story might describe how the Middle Six go through exactly the same hell the Big Six do, minus all the publicity. The End. BORING.

It would be interesting if someone could do a long-term life satisfaction study and compare the women in the Top Six and Middle Six.

I'd pay good money to see someone write another version of this about the top ten or twenty Greek systems around the country complete with sample photos. Can you IMAGINE the outcry in today's politically correct climate.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

complete with sample photos.

I couldn't believe there was an era when ANY of those outfits screamed "top tier"!

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I couldn't believe there was an era when ANY of those outfits screamed "top tier"!

I have to agree. I had read parts of that article here on GC, but it wasn't the original article and didn't have the photos. I have to admit to being underwhelmed by the photos as they are not AT ALL what I pictured when I read the descriptions.

And I don't get the Tri Delta photo. She talks about Farrah and then they put up an example that doesn't resemble Farrah at all.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

And I don't get the Tri Delta photo. She talks about Farrah and then they put up an example that doesn't resemble Farrah at all.

You have to remember that "college Farrah" and "Hollywood Farrah" are about 10 years apart. I'm sure that in the 1960s, most Tri Delts there probably did look like this:



As for the pictures, the first 3 look like The Official Preppy Handbook and the second three look like Sears Fall/Winter Catalog 1978.

[Shellfish]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I couldn't believe there was an era when ANY of those outfits screamed "top tier"!

I went to school a couple years after this article, and the Pi Phi, Kappa, and Theta wear was basically the norm for everyone; it was a place where most students were from, well, financially comfortable backgrounds.

[carnation]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

It would be interesting if someone could do a long-term life satisfaction study and compare the women in the Top Six and Middle Six.

I'd pay good money to see someone write another version of this about the top ten or twenty Greek systems around the country complete with sample photos. Can you IMAGINE the outcry in today's politically correct climate.

Well, back when it was published, it was pretty shocking but in the way that you had to laugh too because so much of it was pretty spot-on.

[Eightisgreat]

I also believe the camp factor is big at UT but with the competitive nature of admissions, it will become less a factor as not as many camp girls will gain admission OR camp girls start to make academic summer choices to increase their chances for a spot at UT. You have to get that acceptance letter before you ever apply for recruitment. But the camp girls that do make it to UT do have an edge…the bond is long and strong.

The fact is things have changed at UT. If we could just get that through the heads of PNMs I feel more rush experiences would be more positive and fulfilling.

[srmom]

I haven't posted in a while, but I am chiming in just because I seem to be getting a really negative vibe for members of some of the so called - big 6 house that is not fair (JMO based on the experience of many girls I know there now).

So Suzy PNM pledges a Big 6 only to find out that her “must have Big 6” is on academic probation and their social calendar is highly restricted because the chapter GPA is bottom of the barrel. (She is shocked because how can a Big 6 have one of the lowest GPAs??) She has never read about that, but like I said, the rules have changed, but no one is willing to talk about that…it just seems so easy to talk about the way it used to be. And then Amy PNM also pledges her “must have Big 6” only to find out that this group of women who on paper are class acts (you know they were all raised that way…) behave in ways that embarrass her and in a million years she just can’t figure out how that can be. Then Brooke PNM who followed her heart and was not pressured to believe the Big 6 is all that and a bag of chips; finds a true sisterhood, in an academically excellent chapter and loves that her house focuses on excellence instead of slamming everyone else to appear better.

Girls in the big 6 are just as academically capable as girls in other sororities (and the comment about being on academica probation - which house is on academic probation? I don't know of one, Just checked the Dean of Students Grade report and the lowest big 6 gpa is a 3.3).

Girls in other sororities can act like idiots and embarrass themselves and their houses too, that's certainly not limited to big 6 girls.

True sisterhood can be found in ALL the houses at UT. Every house is going to have people who get involved and people who just show up for chapter dinner and parties.

Who is slamming others to make themselves appear better?

In my daughter's case that is an unbelievable sisterhood, lifelong friends, and very, very little back stabbing and drama. This was not what she witnessed with some of her friends that got caught up in the "Big 6 " hype and later regretted thier decisions. I often wonder what some of thier retention rates are like..

Lifelong bonds are happening in big 6 houses too, and their retention rates are just fine from what I know.

And, there can be backstabbing and drama in ALL the houses. I mean come on - you've got a house of 200 girls - there's going to be drama~

Anyway - back to lurking.

Carnation - the comment from your friend about having 3 boys - AMEN!! LOL

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by Eightisgreat

I also believe the camp factor is big at UT but with the competitive nature of admissions, it will become less a factor as not as many camp girls will gain admission OR camp girls start to make academic summer choices to increase their chances for a spot at UT. You have to get that acceptance letter before you ever apply for recruitment. But the camp girls that do make it to UT do have an edge…the bond is long and strong.

The fact is things have changed at UT. If we could just get that through the heads of PNMs I feel more rush experiences would be more positive and fulfilling.

True, but with the economy as it is, many "camp girls" that would have gone to a more competitive private university will stay in state and go to UT. Girls with deep ties to UT have historically passed up private universities for UT - that only becomes more important now. Also remember, that many of these "camp girls" also go to VERY competitive private (and public) high schools, so actually getting into UT is less of an issue. I think this factor actually becomes a wash.

Originally Posted by srmom

I haven't posted in a while, but I am chiming in just because I seem to be getting a really negative vibe for members of some of the so called - big 6 house that is not fair (JMO based on the experience of many girls I know there now).

Girls in the big 6 are just as academically capable as girls in other sororities (and the comment about being on academica probation - which house is on academic probation? I don't know of one, Just checked the Dean of Students Grade report and the lowest big 6 gpa is a 3.3).

Girls in other sororities can act like idiots and embarrass themselves and their houses too, that's certainly not limited to big 6 girls.

True sisterhood can be found in ALL the houses at UT. Every house is going to have people who get involved and people who just show up for chapter dinner and parties.

Who is slamming others to make themselves appear better?

Lifelong bonds are happening in big 6 houses too, and their retention rates are just fine from what I know.

And, there can be backstabbing and drama in ALL the houses. I mean come on - you've got a house of 200 girls - there's going to be drama~

Anyway - back to lurking.

Carnation - the comment from your friend about having 3 boys - AMEN!! LOL

^^ All this! Like! Just as one shouldn't automatically think negatively about a girl in a so-called "lesser house", the same goes for automatically thinking someone is a snob/mean/drama/drunk for being in a "popular house".

Just us sitting here calling it the "big-6" is further carrying on a ridiculous stereotype. End it now! It kinda makes me barf a little in my mouth...

[utkdce]

Originally Posted by shirley1929

Just us sitting here calling it the "big-6" is further carrying on a ridiculous stereotype. End it now! It kinda makes me barf a little in my mouth...

Hahaha! So funny...and so true! End it now!

[Eightisgreat]

I was not "picking on Big 6 houses" but bringing forth that for some girls the Big 6 Houses are the only perfect choice just because they are Big 6. I feel confident that sisterhood can be found in the Big 6, but I was bringing attention to all the other houses at UT who the article even failed to mention as if sisterhood at UT was only viable at 1/3 of the houses on campus.

This is a post on a message board about greek life. The Texas Monthly article not only has mass readership, it also had afluent readership and a this article has been a mainstay for tiering UT sororities. This article basically has a cult following. It justifies to many people why they should go to UT recruitment with a very closed mind. It also is why many girls are shocked to find that not all Big 6 houses or any other houses can never achieve perfection. It is not logical, but the article makes them think perfection is behind all that brick and stone and that if they drive a BMW and wear a gold bangle then a bid belongs to them.

srmom.....There is big six right now that is on "social restriction" right now for grades. This restriction keeps them from having mixers and any social activies durning the week so that the girls focus on academics. And as far as slamming goes. It happens. House songs about the "fat" sorority, the "dumb" girls, etc....rude to the point that some pledges feel uncomfortable singing these songs...especially when they target suitemates, roommates and hall mates.

My whole point was never to pit Big 6 against the rest of UT. It was to say that TM, in my opinion, has an obligation to write a new piece on UT greek life that highlights the positive side of all houses and doesn't put 6 houses on a silver platter.

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by Eightisgreat

I was not "picking on someone else's idea of top sororities at UT" but bringing forth that for some girls the chapters that are someone else's idea of top sororities at UT are the only perfect choice just because they are someone else's idea of the top sororities at UT. I feel confident that sisterhood can be found in someone else's idea of top sororities at UT, but I was bringing attention to all the other houses at UT who the article even failed to mention as if sisterhood at UT was only viable at 1/3 of the houses on campus.

This is a post on a message board about greek life. The Texas Monthly article not only has mass readership, it also had afluent readership and a this article has been a mainstay for tiering UT sororities. This article basically has a cult following. It justifies to many people why they should go to UT recruitment with a very closed mind. It also is why many girls are shocked to find that not all the chapters of someone else's idea of top sororities at UT or any other houses can never achieve perfection. It is not logical, but the article makes them think perfection is behind all that brick and stone and that if they drive a BMW and wear a gold bangle then a bid belongs to them.

srmom.....There is one of the chapters that is someone else's idea of a top sorority at UT right now that is on "social restriction" right now for grades. This restriction keeps them from having mixers and any social activies durning the week so that the girls focus on academics. And as far as slamming goes. It happens. House songs about the "fat" sorority, the "dumb" girls, etc....rude to the point that some pledges fell uncomfortable singing these songs...especially when they target suitemates, roommates and hall mates.

My whole point was never to pit someone else's idea of top sororities at UT against the rest of UT. It was to say that TM, in my opinion, has an obligation to write a new piece on UT greek life that highlights the positive side of all houses and doesn't put someone else's idea of top sororities at UT on a silver platter.

Fixed your post for you...