A BIG TEN Recruitment Story

[brighteyedgirl]

I could barely sleep the night after the 2nd day of 14 party. I was a mess.

My personal rankings (in order of preference) were:

Lisa Love
Jason
Brody
Whitney
Spencer
Kristen
Lauren 'LC'


When I got my list for 8 party, I was shocked and a little upset. I didn't get Lisa Love or Jason back and it seemed like my conversations had gone really well!

I couldn't stay upset for long though, because there were girls dropping out of recruitment/crying/etc. I got it together and was really excited that I got 6 out of 8 houses back for today.

1. Spencer: I ended up getting dirty rushed here, and it was an awkward experience. I had good conversation, but it was a bit weird. I'd rather not get into details because I don't want to be identified, etc. So I'm going to leave it at that. I really enjoyed the video, however. I was tearing up a bit. Other than the awkward encounter earlier, I was really enjoying this house and could definitely see myself here!

2. [COLOR="rgb(0, 255, 255)"]Heidi[/COLOR]: Again, I didn't NOT enjoy this house, but it wasn't one of my favorites either. Their presentation was impeccable, but the video didn't touch me to the same caliber that Spencer's did.

3. Brody: After their beautifully done, WONDERFUL presentation that had me watery-eyed and the FANTASTIC conversation I had with two girls here, I definitely really liked this house. I could see that they had a strong sisterhood bond and that was something that I was really looking for. This house was definitely my favorite from 8 party.

4. Whitney: Their video was good! It didn't personally 'touch' me because I didn't see anything in their about their philanthropy, etc. It looked fun, though! I had a good conversation with the first girl that rushed me, but the second girl and I REALLY clicked. After that conversation, I was sad that the rounds seemed to be ending so quickly!

5. Kristen: After having an OK time her earlier, I was unsure about what to expect. Their video was so heartfelt and genuine that I was touched by it. You could really see what strong bonds they had, even without a house. The conversations I had here were kind of awkward, but they picked up their pace just as fast. I left 8 party giving this house serious consideration. It just seemed to speak to me!

6. Lauren 'LC' : Their video was great! You could really see how they became a sisterhood throughout the semester! I loved that we actually participated in their philanthropy by doing little crafts. I was double rushed here, but it didn't feel like it because the conversation flowed really well. I enjoyed this house! It wasn't my outstanding favorite, but it was seeming alright to me.


At the end of the day, my ranking for 3 party looked like this:

Brody
Spencer
[COLOR="rgb(0, 255, 255)"]Heidi[/COLOR]

Whitney
Kristen
Lauren 'LC'

[brighteyedgirl]

My 3 party list was a bit devasting for me, but I sucked it up because I did get a full schedule:

Heidi
Lauren 'LC'

Kristen



I was really upset, but I didn't let myself cry especially b/c there were girls who didn't get any 3 party lists at all.

Heidi: I was in tears at the end of their presentation. The sisterhood bonds that I hadn't noticed/seen before were pouring out of these girls. It was great, beautiful and I loved it. I really enjoyed the girl that I talked to as well. It was a great conversation and I had fun!! This house was my top choice!


Lauren 'LC': I was honestly touched by this ceremony. It seemed so personal, and the bonds of this houses sisterhood was easily seen. They meant a lot to each other, and it was clearly visible. I was so happy to be able to hear all the nice things everyone said and the conversations I had were wonderful. I connected with every girl I had ever talked to here, on at least one level. These were all wonderful ladies.


Kristen: This ceremony did not really impress me. I didn't feel the 'sisterly' love and the conversations were not flowing well. I got put with a girl who had never met me before, and it felt like 21 party all over again. I just didn't feel it, and I'm not sure why.


My list for 3 party was:

Heidi
Lauren 'LC'
Kristen


The whole day Monday was torture. Especially having lost my phone, it was so hard to not text my Rho Gamma FREAAKING out.

When I opened my bid, I saw the letters
.
.
.







ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brighteyedgirl]

[brighteyedgirl]

A picture of my LOVELY sisters!

(hopefully this time it shows up)

[FSUZeta]

Loved your story! Would you mind trying to post the photo again?

[MaryPoppins]

Congratulations BEG!

[chi-o_cat]

Congrats on your bid to ASA! Thanks for your story. I would definitely recommend this one for future PNMs to read- lots of lessons to be learned here about staying positive and keeping an open mind.

[iuforme]

IndianaSigKap,
I am Linda from the other site. Please accept my apology for reposting on the other site what you had said here about recruitment at the competitive university in the midwest. I thought what you had said was informative and succinct. In my zeal to share that information I neglected to ask your permission to do so. I am sorry.
Apologies to BEG as well. This is her thread and I am probably not posting my apology to IndianaSigKap in the right area. Disclosure: I am a menopausal woman of a certain age (old broad) who is not very adept at navigating these sites and don't have the patience to figure it out. Tip: in 40 or 50 years you young women can also blame everything on menopause....really a perk.
Congrats to you BEG on your successful recruitment!
This site appears to have many intelligent and thoughtful young women who are generous to share your knowledge. I promise not to steal any of it again....at least not without your permission.

[greekdee]

To iuforme...as a hot flasher myself, I totally get it. It is nice to have an excuse for sticking your head in the freezer, though.

[IndianaSigKap]

Thank you iuforme. I appreciate it and it's good to have you on here! I hope you'll stick around.

[iuforme]

Hi Greekdee and IndianaSigKap,
I'm going to stick around and benefit from all your information...you all have so much. Thank you for putting up with me so far.

[brighteyedgirl]

i know that i'm a newbie to this, but i read that blog and the way that they address the two un housed sororities made me cringe. I know my organization is extremely proud of what we have accomplished, and hope to continue to do so - and i'm sure the same goes for the other unhoused sorority. But saying that we are not 'real competition' is just rude. I know great girls that chose to participate in recruitment specifically because not living in a house attended more to their needs.

IU recruitment is competitive, but it is JUST a sorority. There are TONS of GLOs on campus, as well as other great organizations to be involved at this great school.

I hope I didn't step on any toes, but reading about us "not being real competition" just stung especially seeing how much hard work these two new chapters have put into becoming established.

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by brighteyedgirl

I know my organization is extremely proud of what we have accomplished, and hope to continue to do so - and i'm sure the same goes for the other unhoused sorority. But saying that we are not 'real competition' is just rude. I know great girls that chose to participate in recruitment specifically because not living in a house attended more to their needs.

You are exactly right! Sisterhood should not be measured by a physical structure. I only lived in my chapter for two years. I was lucky. We had a live out policy. Sisters could live out as long as the chapter house was full. I don't feel like my experience was any less for it. In fact, I enjoyed living out because I knew that when I was with my sisters, it was because I wanted to be at the house and not because I had to be.

Enjoy your new chapter, it is a special group of women who take on the task of starting something new! Don't let anything someone else says get you down. ASA chose you and you chose ASA for a reason.

[BAckbOwlsgIrl]

I totally agree what everyone has said about living out.
Thank you GC for opening my eyes to non-housed chapters.

Here is my take on it.
LIFE IS ABOUT EXPERIENCES. COLLEGE AND SORORITY LIFE IS NO EXCEPTION.
I think that not only living in the chapter house but living out including both the dorms and in off-campus housing such as apartments should be part of the experience.
However, I will add that at some schools like, I believe University of Washington and University Idaho, have freshman move directly move into the chapter house, bypassing the dorm all together. I am COMPLETELY against this. I made a ton of friends in the dorm. It helped me from having sorority tunnel vision. It also helped me establish friendships out of greek life. Some people hated living in the dorms and the house for that matter. Regardless, both were experiences. Even bad experiences are GOOD. Okay, I hate going to the dentist, and that is one experience that I don't need, but, I digress.
Living in an apartment my senior year was a trial for real life. It gave me ME TIME. I was running around with internships and campus activities, I just wanted my quiet time.
Hence, I am PRO Senior Live-Out Policy.
The only bad thing is that I wish that I got to know some of the younger members since I was never at the house. And the same as a younger member. Needless to say, I am still in contact with the Senior sister who was my Bid Week Pal.

I have friend who had her live-in requirement removed due to medical reasons. I don't know what they were.

I could see where women would NOT want to live in a house.
All sisters, all the time. It is an adjustment. We didn't let boys upstairs. I don't know what the rules are now.
I am assuming that the un-housed chapters have less expensive dues because of not having a house. Hence, possibly more appealing to those who are strapped for finances but want the sorority experience.

Do the two un-housed chapters have some sort of dorm arrangement like what we see at other campuses? Or women choose to take up an apartment building? Just curious is all.

I know of a colony that had daily lunch on the grass. Some brought sack lunches. Others grabbed a tray from the Union and brought it out. That was their "daily lunch/meal plan" It also showcased their sisterhood like no other. While other girls were walking to and from their houses, they were united at one on the grass for all of the campus to see.

Another colony at the same campus did not do this and it hurt them.

Keep in mind, there are campuses across the country where both fraternities and sororities are un-housed. They survive and thrive. Novel concept. sic.

And a big Congratulations to you and ASA. One my high school friends is an ASA. She is so sweet. I love her.

[glittergal1985]

I'm sure everyone means well, but it might be best if we stopped using words such as "alternative" to refer to the unhoused groups. They are simply without physical living quarters, and in my opinion we should let the PNMs decide how they feel about them. Its very possible that I'm oversensitive to the situation because my own group is involved, but I want it to be known that we are a traditional sorority. I'm sure that every housed group on the IU campus has many unhoused chapters throughout the country, and that doesn't make the unhoused chapter of ABC any less ABC than their housed counterparts. Additionally, this past recruitment appears to have been an overwhelming success for all 21 groups on campus. Its just my opinion, (and I know its not intentional) but it might be better if we go back to not discussing reputations and instead simply wish success for everyone on this snowflake campus, especially as it looks like more groups may soon be joining.

Don't want to ruffle any feathers, just my two cents.