Okay, Okay, carnation's retro rush thread (ie, how not to do recruitment)

[Ocalagirl]

MORE MORE MORE!! Pretty Please with sugar, whip cream, and a cherry on top

[SWTXBelle]

She's teasing us. . .

[carnation]

No, it's just that it takes a long time to remember all the details!

Let's see...we went to the cafeteria to get our invitations which were late because, of course, the computer broke down. The next day would have 9 parties so everyone hoped for at least 9 invitations. I opened my envelope-good, got that one back, got that one, and that--I had 10, I was happy! The 4 that cut me were good but they were ultra-feminine, deep South types so I wasn't too upset although when I got back to the dorm, it turned out that all the upperclassmen there had been cut by the same 4 and some of them were really upset.(run-on, I know, but you get it) It began to occur to us that even if you had good grades and activities, some sororities weren't at all pro-upperclassmen.

So I went to 9-party day (all 9 in one day) and had a great time. Several had begun to stand out! We went to the cafeteria again the next day for our (late, you know why) invitations. Let's see...good, good, oh crud that one must have cut me, good, !!! what are you doing in here-I cut you yesterday, and so on. I had been cut by 3 (2 of those hurt). That night I would find out that those 3 had also cut the rest of the upperclassmen.

We had to cut down to 5 and I had 6. I was already somewhat tired of putting on the Southern charm and smiling and chatting. Even though I was the same age as most of the other rushees (18), I was a junior and was ready to be a sorority member. Enough of this rush business. I had an idea...

[Ocalagirl]

Originally Posted by carnation

Enough of this rush business. I had an idea...

This line just cracked me up!! Great story btw I really have enjoyed following it.

[carnation]

I've always been a very focused person so I thought, "I love 2 of these, can't stand one, and am lukewarm about the rest. Why don't I just drop all of them except the 2 so I can focus on them, be at my best, and be rested when I get to them?" And that's what I did. Chose my 2 classic Texan houses and bid the rest goodbye.

PNMS, DO NOT DO THIS! THIS WAS MANY YEARS AGO AND COULD END UP LOSING YOU A BID FROM A GREAT HOUSE!

[InseparableDI]

tell us more!

[carnation]

Since my recruitment was in the early days of rush counselors, I received no advice not to cut all those groups. I don't even recall seeing our counselor much after the first 2 days!

Five-party day passed just fine. I was rested and ready for both parties! I got back my 3 invitations the next day--yes, XYZ had once again invited me back. I chose the same 2 again because I didn't intend to go back to XYZ on 3-party day either. See, I was taking huge risks. I didn't know that back in the day, the big cuts came near the end. There were no release regulations back then; some sororities would keep girls they had no intention of pledging until theme or pref parties just to make their groups look popular. If a girl was released from several groups near the end of recruitment, she had no way to pick up groups she'd released earlier. There was no 'regret with interest' option either. You released them and they were gone. Except for XYZ.

The theme parties were wonderful! One group had an Asian theme, the other had Alice in Wonderland. I hoped to be asked back to both for prefs.

[AlwaysSAI]

YaY!

[epchick]

Originally Posted by carnation

Even though I was the same age as most of the other rushees (18), I was a junior

You were 18 and a junior in college? Wow, kudos to you carnation!!

[carnation]

And I was asked back! (Yes, to XYZ as well.)

I don't remember one pref party, it's been too long. I remember walking into the other one, though, and being surrounded by the smell of carnations. The members were dressed in white with arrows on silver-blue ribbons around their necks. We sat at tables and conversed quietly while the cake was being served...every rushee pulled a wine-red ribbon from the cake and her name was on a tiny card attached to it! (I still don't know how they did it.)

Then they began the ceremony. Each of us rose one by one to take a wine carnation from the garden that surrounded the chapter president. We were seated in a horseshoe with a member standing behind each of us. At one point, each member placed her arrow necklace around her rushee's neck.

I felt like I was home--if the members only thought so too. I had seen too many people hurt on Bid Day (remember Debbie and Cathy?) to feel like it was a sure thing.

And we went to the Social Center and ranked our preferences. For the upperclassmen who were living in our dorm, it would be a long night. Most had had bad rush experiences before--all had friends who had had them--and we couldn't sleep. The rush counselor told us that she would call at a certain time if someone wasn't getting a bid.

[carnation]

The phone rang.

[violetpretty]

WHAT?!?!?

[LOVEinZTA]

NOOOOOOOOOO!

hehe, I know we sat up all night calling each other in the dorm just to freak people out! Mean, mean, mean!

[violetpretty]

Well, we know she preferenced where she ends up. Also, she didn't say who called her.

[AlwaysSAI]

I bet it was her mom.....