Cutting or pledging a group for dumb reasons

[ksig600]

At my school, fall rush is structured, but still more laidback than the non-commuter schools. I had to devise a way to "cut" the fraternities I didn't want after IFC Open House.
I chose my top 3 (out of 5) based on chapter achievements, if I liked their philanthropy (I like doing community service), fraternity age (I wanted to be in a well established fraternity), alumni support, and most importantly where I felt most comfortable.
The most superficial "cut" I made was getting rid of a fraternity because at the time they were a colony, and I wanted to be a part of a more established chapter.
However, when I talked to my girlfriend on Bid Day to tell her who I chose her reply was; "Aren't their colors red & green?"
"Aren't you worried about looking like an elf for the rest of your life?"

In the end, I think I made the right decision

[DRau]

Originally posted by lauradav
I thought those were the old chapter preference dresses from Gamma Beta? The Epxilon Upsilon chapter used to wear similar ones.

They could have at one time been pref. dresses... but we found some albums from the late 80's where they were wearing them on bid day!

They have happily been retired to the downstairs closet!

[AngelPhiSig]

When we were first founded our chapter had cute little dress suits that were blue and worn with a gold top... I guess it was cool to dress alike back then!

[houstonchica]

I went thru rush in the mid 80's when I was a junior transfer student at a mid-sized Texas university. I made it all the way until the last round before Prefs without getting cut. I cut one group because I thought they were too hyper during the first round with their jumping up and down and clapping. And, the girl I was paired up with was really short and looked like an old lady to me. As it turns out, she was an officer.
And I had to cut one more so I cut one that had really pretty and fun girls but I thought their colors were too preppy! I just could not get beyond the stereotype of those colors. Well, the tables turned because I ended up only getting invited to one pref party after such a good week of rushing. It was upsetting. To make it even worse, I did not get a bid. In hindsight, I really screwed up during Rush. I should have gone with my heart and picked a group I already fit into instead of trying to fit into one. Does that make sense? Does anyone have a similar story to tell?

[carnation]

Houstonchica,

What you said ties into a thread I started last year entitled "You'll End Up Where You Were Meant To" or something like that. We had some big discussions about whether you should aim for a chapter you're like already or one that's like you want to be.

[AlphaSigLana]

At first I didn't think I did anything like this, but then I realized that I did. For example when we got our rush books I looked up each house. I crossed ASA off my list right away bc their philanthropy was the Special Olympics. I have always been scared of mentally hanidcapped kids bc when Iwas 8 my cousin(who was mentally handicapped) chased me around trying to kiss me and saying he wanted to marry me-he was 16. So I didn't want that philanthropy. I also don't like the color red which is one of ASA's colors/ Guess which houe I joined-- yep ASA.

[PM_Mama00]

If I would have joined a sorority based on colors, I'd be a Delta Phi Epsilon. I HATED pink... now I'm obsessed with it! But purple is still one of my favorite colors.

[jharb]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
If I would have joined a sorority based on colors, I'd be a Delta Phi Epsilon. I HATED pink... now I'm obsessed with it! But purple is still one of my favorite colors.

I would have been a DG based on colors. I figure that wine and silver blue are close enough to pink and blue so I'm happy.

Jess

[LeslieAGD]

Originally posted by KDatUTC
EVERY sorority is awesome .... none wouldn't have lasted this long if they weren't. And, it's not about the best, but the best FOR YOU! But, this knowledge comes after being on the other side of things...

Good Answer!

[douthit]

Originally posted by KDatUTC
[B]I hope I don't sound shallow..but I cut a house because they snapped after EVERYTHING they said. They kept bragging about everything they had won over the years, so they snapped about 15 times in the 30 mins I was there. Also, SERIOUSLY...I got a splitting headache as soon as I walked into their house. And the funny thing is, I'm a legacy of that sorority..... yeah, my mom was sooo pleased

I hate it when the sororities at my school snap their fingers for whatever reason! The worst was at the Greek Awards banquet during greek week when I was a freshman. Both AOPi and Pi Phi would snap after everything, and it got to be quite a bit since they were winning the majority of the awards for the sororities. Later, at a different awards ceremony, my girlfriend at the time would do the same thing when a sister won something because she knew how much it pissed me off!

[AlphaSigLana]

All the houses at my school snap as awell-- apparently this is quieter than clapping so that is why they do it except DZ. They wave their hands in the air. I though they were doing a chicken dance which didin't make sense, but i learned that their philanthropy dealt with sign language-- I don't know if this is their main one or not and I'm sure it has a better name then sign language philanthropy.

[AchtungBaby80]

We call it Speech and Hearing Impaired.

[CarolinaDG]

I don't know why, but I thought that the whole snapping thing was just a USC thing!!!!

But, yeah, we do it, too. EXCEPT during rush, most sororities clap BECAUSE it's louder. But in meetings and awards banquets, we snap. It's less rude and doesn't cover up the speaker if they're trying to make another point.

[SoCalGirl]

I know when I was a collegiate my chapter could not stand snapping. We didn't care who you were. If you snapped you'd get looked at like you were a three headed monster! It was just toooo "sorority girl" and my chapter was the anti-sorority sorority. I don't know how my chapter looks upon it now since the dynamics have changed a lot. But I still cringe when I hear snapping.

Waving hands on the other hand.... SPARKLES. Also known as spirit fingers. I loved that!

[sweetie adpi]

HAHAHAHAHAHA LOL... ok, this snapping thing - i thought our chapter was like the only one who was like WTF??? the first time we heard the snapping... i'm on panhel and it drives me INSANE when they snap at exec. argh... it's so freaking annoying and girly ... i dunno... it's hilarious though cause the ifc pres and new sae pres/past ifc vp used to come and they would snap too cause the girls told them to!!! my sisters and i would just look at one another like, is it us? i felt so socially unacceptable cause i wasn't snapping too. i have on occasion given in and snapped when a smile and encouraging nod weren't enough at these meetings... argh oh well... my chapter is not known for being "quiet" or "polite" i guess when it comes to that stuff... we will never snap and will always be the ones that everyone asks, aren't they the smallest? how can they make that much noise??? (well hopefully not about the smallest part)

as for the waving hands because of the association with the speech/hearing impaired philanthropy - i love it! (i've taken sign language when i was younger, we had a close friend who was hearing impaired)

any-ways, hope i didn't offend anyone!
(edited cause i can't spell)