That 70s Rush!

[IlovemyAKA]

This is awesome!

[lovespink88]

Pleeease continue!!!!

[srmom]

Did I miss the houses you got invited back to? Did all the ones you listed invite you back?

I may just be tired and unable to read!!

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally Posted by srmom

Did all the ones you listed invite you back?

I may just be tired and unable to read!!

She only got cut from one the first time and had to cut the list down herself and hasn't heard on the second cuts. So yes, she was invited back to all but one.

[srmom]

Thanks for clearing that up. So the triple legacy roommate was cut after open houses. Yikes!!

[MerryGPhiB]

Originally Posted by gogreekmom

I sure am enjoying your rush story -- I attended college in the 70's also. I am looking forward to reading your next post.

I went through " rush" in Fall of '75, I never thought I'd be in a sorority and knew little so this is right up my alley!!!

Keep it going!

[That_70s_Rush!]

Frills? You want your frills? Through the house tours round, everyone dressed very matchy matchy and the decorations were beautiful. But theme parties were where the sororities really amped it up .... as you will see!

Set Three: Theme Day
This is the first day of seriously hard cuts, although I’m finding it hard to believe the cuts could be any harder than the heartbreak my suite mates had experienced yesterday. Before we are given our party lists, we are warned that there may be some major disappointments and not everyone will see a maximum of five sororities on our invite schedules. Judging from the reactions around me, there are a lot of unhappy girls heading off to their parties. I am fine with mine but am surprised that I am invited back to Fez again particularly after they’d unfairly cut my suite mates. My list reads:

Kelso
Jackie
Donna
Fez
Eric

I am delighted that I got most of my top choices from yesterday, but a little apprehensive about continuing on with Fez.

Fez – The theme here is “Fez Night Live” and the house is set up like a TV studio. Outside there is a marquee and also one of those searchlights like they use at movie premiers. We walk up a red carpet to be greeted by sisters dressed up like Saturday Night Live characters. I am picked up by a girl I haven’t met before and we have a chance to talk a bit before the skit. She’s super funny, which is a good thing since it’s hard to keep a straight face when you are talking to a girl dressed up as a killer bee! We end up having a lot in common. The skit is hilarious and based on the Saturday Night Live Coneheads. In spite of its high comedic value, it really communicates what it’s like to be part of their sisterhood.

After the skit, another sister joins our conversation. Then IT happened. (yes, there was this thing ….. just kidding!) The question I had been dreading was finally asked.

“What does your father do?” asked my new rusher.

I’ve had to deal with this one my entire life. I know from experience that many people are uncomfortable with his profession, but I had never been in a situation where I felt like I was going to be judged by what he does for a living. You see, my dad has been very successful in the business world. Our family was very lucky to live a comfortable lifestyle because of this success and I am extremely grateful for that. But, my father owned what was at the time one of the largest privately owned chains of funeral homes in the country. Yes, my dad sees dead people. Lots of them.

“My dad owns some funeral homes,” I said.

My rusher’s eyes grew huge. I wished I could melt into the floor.

“Oh my God!” she exclaimed. “He owns (My last Name) Mortuary in (her home town)?”

“Yes, he does,” I croaked.

“They were so nice to my family when my grandmother died last year, please tell him how much we appreciated it,” she replied.

Bullet dodged. We went on to discuss much more light hearted things. Whew!

But another bullet is headed my way. Only I don’t realize it. The next girl who comes over to talk to me is one I spoke to yesterday. I felt we had a great connection and in the course of our conversation I mentioned that there may have been some mistake with their invite list yesterday. They dropped my wonderful suite mates and wasn’t there a way they could reconsider them? Yes, I said it. I told you I was naïve! She was so nice about it, given the spot I’d put her in. I had no clue what a faux pas I had committed. It wasn’t until I was back at the dorm with Lisa and Tina and told them what I’d done that I learned what an egregious error I had made. They both thanked me for my concern while telling me there was no chance in hell I would be asked back to next round. I figured it was just as well since they weren’t going to be in that sorority anyway.

Donna – Good God. There is a real hot air balloon parked on the lawn of the Donna house! I’ve never seen one up close and am fascinated! Their theme is “Around the World with Donna.” Every room is decorated in a different country’s theme and the sets are spectacular. In each “country,” you get a little themed snack as you talk to the sisters who are dressed up in local attire. Then you end up traveling to the main living room for the skit. After the skit, which was funny because they sort of poked fun at themselves while bringing home the theme that with Donna you’ll have sisters everywhere, I had a long conversation with another Prissy Prep girl. She was someone who was a year ahead of me and we’d been in several clubs and activities together, so I knew her pretty well. I also knew she wasn’t from one of the big prominent families like several of the other girls I knew here. Because of this, I unloaded what I felt was my greatest reservation about this group, how I knew how extremely wealthy most of the girls I knew there were. She was so nice and completely understood my concerns and even told me it was something that had concerned her during rush. Her biggest worry was that they might have a lot of “rich bitches” when that ended up being the furthest thing from the truth. She pointed out a few of the sisters in the room and told me what their dads did for a living. One was a minister. One was a college professor. One was even a carpenter (who had done all of the sets!) She explained that it was a lot like Prissy Prep because although there were some insanely wealthy people there, there were also many girls with far more humble backgrounds and everyone was loved and accepted for who they are, not what you had. (Remember, this was the kinder and less materialistic 1970s. We didn’t even have designer jeans then! Let’s all sing Kumbaya now. Ha!) I totally understood this since I had experienced how people would automatically assume you were some socialite’s kid when they found out you went to Prissy. It was a very different story when you were on the inside. I left feeling very relieved and even more comfortable. I could really see myself fitting in here but I still worried that was only because it was full of so many girls I already knew and still wondered whether that was a good thing or not.

Eric – I have a pretty good time here and since I know that it’s become Lisa’s new favorite, I really want to give them another chance. They have a circus theme here, and while it’s really cute and elaborate, I can’t quite figure out why it’s their theme. It just sort of feels like they are trying to one up other houses by putting together something elaborate without thinking about it having a message behind it. Plus their skit really ends up emphasizing what I have been considering their biggest weakness: that they are so academically oriented that they end up mostly hanging out with each other. I do want to have close bonds with my future sisters, but I also want social outlets as well and I don’t think I will get so much of that here. I don’t want to go out and party every night but I also don’t want to spend every Friday and Saturday night in the library with my sisters! The girls I talk to are very nice and I really could see myself being friends with them, but I now realize for sure this house isn’t for me.

Jackie – Their set up is amazing, both on the exterior and interior, but if I told you what they did, it would completely give this group away. Let’s just say the party décor was magnificent and the theme was flawlessly executed.

I have a lot of crazy thoughts racing through my mind as I walk through the door. Liz is the girl I always wanted to be. Are her sisters all the same way? Will I be a better person by being a member of her sorority? Am I pretty enough and fun enough? Do I want to join Liz or do I want to join her sisterhood? Will I have to dye my hair blonde? Will it make me instantly cool? I am really excited when a Prissy Prep girl picks me up and later introduces me to her “little” (whatever that is – ha!) who is also a Prissy Prep grad. We had awesome conversations and could barely stop talking so the skit could begin. The skit was hilarious and really showed they don’t take their campus reputation as beauty queens too seriously. It really highlighted the other aspects of their sisterhood and the bond they share. I leave here feeling a lot less anxious and know I could be happy here, even without any beauty queen titles. I just have so much FUN here!

Kelso – This is my last stop for the day and I am starting to feel a little tired. But I perk right up when I am paired with another Prissy Prep girl who I know really well. I had no idea she was a member of this group since I hadn’t seen her previously. We have a great conversation catching up on mutual friends. It was so clear how much she loved her sorority, I remember smiling so hard my cheeks hurt! The props and décor here were also very elaborate, but again, if I told you the theme, you’d totally know who the Kelsos are. The skit was really cute and emphasized how down to earth they are and I am really starting to be able to see myself here, in spite of the sleeping porch! After the skit I get to talk to the sister who had given me my house tour earlier in the week. She was just as fun as she’d been that day, and told me she was happy I had come back again. She also told me she hoped she’d see me tomorrow night. I am so feeling it right now. I can even picture myself snoozing on a sleeping porch!

This time we were told to list our top three and rank our bottom two. It was a pretty easy decision for me:

Jackie
Kelso
Donna

1. Fez
2. Eric

[honeychile]

I am completely loving this! I Y thrills!!

[lovespink88]

I can't wait for the next update!!!

[ellebud]

I love this thread! And since we are of the same vintage I really relate. However, want to talk about embaressing occupations? My best friend from high school rushed at ...........She was asked what her father did for a living (she didn't mention her previous 4 fathers)..she said, "He's a producer." (Back east that could mean...producer of lettuce, grapes....but no here it was movies.) When asked what movies he had produced she told them two of the titles....pornos. Yep...imagine that conversation stopper.

[gee_ess]

Memories, like the corners of my mind...misty, watercolored memories...of the way we were....

L O V E THIS!

[CougarGrad]

This thread is so much fun for me to read. I had cousins in high school in the 70's who I looked up to, and seeing you talk about the fashion and the 70's attitude is really bringing some memories back. Come back and post more, quick!

[EEKappa]

This is such a fun read!

I'm still trying to remember what water buffalo sandals are, though, so I googled them. Is this what you wore with the Levi's?



I was in elementary school and jr. high in the 70's, so didn't have a keen fashion sense at the time.

[BBelleADPi]

I went through rush in the fall of 1971. Peasant blouses, check. Baby oil mixed with iodine. Check. But I must admit wrapping albums w/ tin foil to reflect the sun is a new one-but had we known about it, I guarantee you, we would have done it. No tanning creams, no spray tans, no tanning salons-girl, we'd cut class to have a good tan for going out at night. Hot pants were the biggie for all of us going thru rush then. And you're right about no designer jeans, etc, giving you that "elite" style. I think it was more Villager skirts, dresses, and blouses. Oh, and jewelry.

The sororities did all dress alike, every night, from what I can remember. I know we all wore the same blue and white checked peasant dress for ice water teas night, and all wore the same black one-piece pantsuit w/ wide legs for pref. Big sets, food, etc. Oh, and for pref, all the sororities had them in alums' big houses in our college town. Other parties were at the houses.

Carry on, I'm loving this!

[CougarGrad]

Originally Posted by BBelleADPi

I went through rush in the fall of 1971. Peasant blouses, check. Baby oil mixed with iodine. Check. But I must admit wrapping albums w/ tin foil to reflect the sun is a new one-but had we known about it, I guarantee you, we would have done it. No tanning creams, no spray tans, no tanning salons-girl, we'd cut class to have a good tan for going out at night. Hot pants were the biggie for all of us going thru rush then. And you're right about no designer jeans, etc, giving you that "elite" style. I think it was more Villager skirts, dresses, and blouses. Oh, and jewelry.

{mini-70's-fashion-and-beauty tangent}

How about squeezing fresh lemons into your hair before you laid out in the sun? My mother and cousins did that in the 70's... anyone else?

{/mini-70's-fashion-and-beauty tangent}


I'm gonna be pooped after trick-or-treating with the kids tonight, but I will find the energy to come back here and see if That_70s has added anything more...