Ancient History Recruitment Thread

[monmouthian]

I graduated high school in 1987 and went to college right away. I'm bored, so I thought I'd share my rush story. I started college at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, home of Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma. When I visited the campus as a prospective, they made sure that we knew that Monmouth is "the birthplace of the women's fraternity movement" (which may be stretching a little bit) and that Monmouth was one of the first coed colleges in the US. I was really impressed with the history and traditions and really wanted to be a Greek, even though none of my friends from high school were planning on going through rush.

In 1987, Monmouth was on a trimester system (3 terms per year, 3 classes per term). We didn't start until after Labor Day. It was torture to watch my friends go off to University of Illinois and Western and Tulane and still be at home. Some of my friends left a whole month before I did. I was so ready to go when the time came.

I drove myself to college, so I packed my car the night before, and said good-bye to my mom on the porch. We both started crying so I had to leave really quickly. I pulled my car into the first gas station and leaned my head on the steering wheel and bawled like a baby. Some buy passing by asked me if I was okay. I wiped my eyes, said "yes," and got my gas.

After a four hour drive, I got to school. I called my mom from the pay phone in the student center to tell her that I had arrived. She started crying again and then I started crying again, so I hung up quickly and went to my dorm. The Freshman Orientation leaders were on hand to help us move in. I was assigned a suite with a sophomore student, so I had my own room. (Monmouth had a lot of one person rooms in 1987. The school had dorm capacity for around 1800 students and only had around 700.)

I had chosen McMichael Hall to live in because it had big rooms with sinks in the room. It also had wide halls and a big central staircase. It was the closest dorm to the cafeteria and to the academic buildings. During freshman orientation, I learned from other students that McMike was the "Kappa Delta dorm." None of the sororities at MC are housed, but each of them tended to congregate in one dorm or the other. Women could live in any dorm they chose, and did, but all of the dorms open to freshmen had a reputation for being dominated by a single group. McMike was "the KD dorm." Grier -- a very pretty older dorm that had great wallpaper, and a beautiful lounge, but smaller rooms and narrow halls -- was the "Kappa dorm." Liedman -- the newest women's dorm -- was "the Pi Phi dorm."

The next day, I met my freshman seminar teacher and our freshman orientation leader. Both of our orientation leaders were Pi Phis. There were 12 students in our orientation group, and they showed us around campus, and talked to us about campus life. They took us to a inter-squad football game. They took us to the President's backyard BBQ. I liked both of them very much. All my crying was quickly forgotten. I was thrilled to have the freedom that comes with being a college freshman. One of the guys in my group and I stayed out until 3 am talking almost every night. (Not a future boyfriend. He was gay.)

There were 4 girls in my orientation group and I made very good friends with another girl from St. Louis. I got along with the other girls two, though. One was a beautiful volleyball player. The other was a very pretty blonde who had been "the Pork Queen of my whole county." We were all signed up for Rush, which would be the very first week of school.

We heard a ton of gossip about the sororities during orientation week. Kappa Kappa Gammas were all supposed to be rich and pretty and blonde and fake. Pi Phis were all supposed to fun loving, party girls. KD's were the smart ones.

Edit: Looking back on this, now, I can tell you these stereotypes are the dumbest things ever. Every single one of those groups had women in them who met the stereotypes. They all had smart girls, jocks, rich girls, blonde girls, fake girls, party girls, whatever. By the time I graduated I had good friends in every sorority. Looking back, I can tell you that I am absolutely sure that I would have been happy wherever I ended up.

Without knowing anything about them at all, I really wanted to be a Kappa or Pi Phi because of the history and the tradition. I can't believe I knew so little about what the hell I was doing. I was one of the girls who wanted letters and didn't know what it was all about. I was such a stupid freshman.

Next up: Rush parties, punch, and decisions, oh, my!

[monmouthian]

Rush started the same week that classes started. In no particular order, I will call the sororities by my favorite ice cream:

Rocky Road
Butter Pecan
French Vanilla.

The first night was an informational night. All of the rushees met at the student center. We met our rush counselors and rush group. They gave a presentation about what to wear and what the schedule would be. Then they walked us over to Marshall Hall to see the sororities' chapter rooms. Because the sororities are unhoused at Monmouth, each of them has a chapter room in Marshall Hall, which is a converted Victorian house on campus. All of the chapter rooms are very similar. They are decorated in the sororities' colors and have chairs and awards and composites and a desk for the president to sit at.

The president and vice-president of each sorority met us at the door and introduced themselves. They were all nice. The president of French Vanilla told us a funny story about being serenaded by ATO pledges during a chapter meeting.

It was all very mellow and fun.

Next up: informal parties

[monmouthian]

The next night was a party night.

We met our RCs and rush group in front of the student center. The rush counselors then walked us to the parties. Because the sororities are unhoused, the parties are held in different locations around campus.

My group's first party was with Butter Pecan. I was picked up by a woman that I had met previously, when I was a prospective student. She was really upbeat and a good conversationalist. We talked about campus activities, including how many members of Butter Pecan were on the volleyball team. She was bumped by another sister who was also a really good talker. We talked about Scots Day, an all campus picnic in the spring. They did a skit themed around "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."

My second party was with French Vanilla. It was in the same building. I don't remember who picked me up, but the second woman who talked to me talked about her twin. She and her twin sister had decided to go to different colleges. They were absolutely miserable apart, so her twin transferred for sophomore year and joined French Vanilla. She was really nice and it was an interesting story, but I didn't add much to it. I don't think I made much impression here. They did a presentation/skit about sisterhood and sang some pretty songs. It was nice, but not as relaxed and fun as the party with Butter Pecan.

My third party was Rocky Road. It was held in a dorm lounge, which was much prettier and more relaxed and friendly than the lounges at the student center. The woman who picked me up was nice, but seemed to be having problems making conversation. She was really relieved when I told her my home town because one of the sisters was from my home town. She spent the rest of the time talking about how great this sister was and all the campus leadership positions she had. She was bumped by a woman dressed like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. She was really nice, but a little too overtly Christian for me. I've never been that nice or good in my life. She soon left me to participate in a skit based on the "Wizard of Oz." It was bad. Really, really bad. I think I made an okay impression here, but I felt really awkward.

Next up: semi-formal parties

[monmouthian]

The next night was semi-formal. Every rushee went to three parties. We would rank the sororities at the end of the night and we could be invited back to preference for the last night of parties.

My first party was with Butter Pecan on the patio at the library. It was still light out and not too hot, so we had this beautiful golden light on the patio for the party. i was picked up by a woman who talked to me briefly and then introduced me to A. A. was a senior and the immediate past president of Butter Pecan. She was awesome. The more we talked the more I crushed on her. I wanted to be her. I don't even know what we talked about, but by the end of it, I pretty much worshipped the ground she walked on. We had punch and snacks and then the party was over. I talked to A. the whole time.

My second party was with Rocky Road in a lounge in the student center. It was the same place that French Vanilla had used yesterday. I was quickly introduced to the member who was from my home town. And I didn't like her. When I saw her, I remembered her from my high school. She had been sort of a pothead in high school. I really didn't think she was someone that I wanted to hang around with. (After I had been at school, I learned that she really had turned it around. She quit smoking pot, had a 4.0, was a student leader and was dating a guy who was ROTC. She was a totally different person.)

My third party was with French Vanilla. They held their party at the home of an alumna close to campus. They lit the backyard up with white Christmas lights and had a small kids' swimming pool draped in black cloth and filled with floating candles. It was really pretty. I met two or three new people, but really didn't connect. Conversations were pleasant and flowed okay, but I just didn't seem to have anything in common with them. I don't think I made much of an impression.

When we had to list our preferences that night, I listed Butter Pecan, French Vanilla and Rocky Road.

Next up: pref parties

[AOII Angel]

Loving your story. I think I know which one Rocky Road is just by the Wizard of Oz skit, but I'm guessing on the other two. Keep entertaining me cuz football is keeping me very bored.

[monmouthian]

At lunch the next day, we could pick up our invitations in the student center. I was invited back to Butter Pecan and Rocky Road. I was not surprised that French Vanilla dropped me. I though they were nice and pretty and cool, but I did not connect with them.

My first party was with Butter Pecan. They held it at an alum's house in town. It was a big, beautiful Victorian. A. picked me up and we talked for the whole party. I had an even bigger case of hero worship by the end of the night. She was freakin' awesome. The coolest person I had ever met in my life. Their pref ceremony was pretty. I didn't cry. I just kept smiling because I was so happy to be there. They gave us a flower (the sorority's flower) at the end. All of the sororities gave the rushees a flower during the pref ceremony. It was cool to get, but really awkward to deal with because we had to take it to the second party with us. The sorority at your second party could tell who else preffed you because you were carrying around this flower.

My second party was with Rocky Road at the Monmouth Country Club. I was picked up by a woman that I had never met before. She was nice and had a good story about what Rocky Road meant to her, but I felt sort of like I was on a blind date. The woman from my home town briefly stopped to say "hello." I felt left over because I hadn't connected well enough with anyone previously to have that person be my "date" for the party. The pref ceremony was really beautiful and they gave us another flower.

After that we walked back to campus. We were going to the student center to sign our bid cards. I remember walking through the dark, sleepy streets of Monmouth talking with other rushees about what we were going to do. We had been warned against suiciding, but there were rumors about people who were planning on doing it. I sat in the student center for a few minutes and thought about suiciding for Butter Pecan, but decided against it. I wrote down "Butter Pecan," "Rocky Road," (because at least they invited me) and then "French Vanilla." Then I went home and went to bed. I was really tired.

Next: bid day

[monmouthian]

The next day was bid day. The way bid day worked at Monmouth in 1987 was that every rushee had to wait in her dorm room (all women lived on campus) and wait for a knock between 4 and 5. Your rush counselor or a sorority member would come by to deliver a bid or tell you "no bid." The rushees were supposed to wait in their white dresses. Once you had your bid, you were to go immediately to Wallace Hall (an academic building) where you would join your pledge class before running out to meet your sorority.

At 3:30, I was showered, dressed and ready to go. I read a book and waited for a knock. At around 4:15, someone knocked. I opened the door to see a woman in a white dress. She handed me an envelope. I opened it and it said


BUTTER PECAN

aka

PI BETA PHI!

I was so happy. I yelled and hugged the Pi Phi who brought the bid, and then half ran/half walked up the hill to Wallace Hall to meet my new pledge class.

Once we got to Wallace, they directed us to different classrooms. We could see the sorority women standing outside on the lawn waiting for us. The Pi Phis and KDs were all wearing white dresses. Kappas were all wearing black dresses. After all the pledges were sorted out, they sent us all running out of the front doors of Wallace Hall to meet our new sororities. There was lots of hugging and crying.

After the hugging and crying stopped, we had a Panhellenic candle lighting on the lawn of Wallace Hall. Everyone was given a candle and we stood in a big circle. Each sorority sang one of their songs and we passed the flames from person to person.

Afterwards, we were taken to Holt House for bid day festivities. Two out of three girls from my freshman orientation group (the volleyball player and the Pork Queen) were also in my pledge class.

It really was an awesome pledge class. One of my pledge sisters ended up sharing my major and is one of my favorite people to this day. I know I would have been happy in any of the sororities, but I'm really happy to have ended up where I did.

[PetitChou]

Great story!! And I love the Panhellenic candle lighting...what a beautiful idea! Do you know if they still do that today?

[carnation]

Yea! A Pi Phi story!

I loved the Panhellenic ceremony too.

[monmouthian]

Originally Posted by PetitChou

Great story!! And I love the Panhellenic candle lighting...what a beautiful idea! Do you know if they still do that today?

I don't know. I've been on the other side of the country for a long time.

I hope so, though. It's a beautiful tradition. Wallace Hall is an old building with big Greek columns on the front of it and it has a huge lawn with huge oak trees. The women make a very pretty picture in front of that building with their candles and white or black dresses.

[AOII Angel]

I was right! Glad you had a good story. They have interesting traditions at Monmouth.

[psusue]

What a beautiful story! I can't imagine being in at a sorority's Alpha chapter, in that sorority. What wonderful history that would be all around you. I also like the way they did bid distribution and then did the running part. And the Panhellenic ceremony sounds so sweet. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[victoriana]

Originally Posted by psusue

What a beautiful story! I can't imagine being in at a sorority's Alpha chapter, in that sorority. What wonderful history that would be all around you. I also like the way they did bid distribution and then did the running part. And the Panhellenic ceremony sounds so sweet. Thank you for sharing this with us.

I loved this story!! Being a part of an Alpha chapter (which I am) is definitely an amazing and humbling experience. There's so much history at our fingertips. It's a lot to live up to, but also really special because I can walk down the street every day and see my founding house.

[monmouthian]

Originally Posted by psusue

What a beautiful story! I can't imagine being in at a sorority's Alpha chapter, in that sorority. What wonderful history that would be all around you. I also like the way they did bid distribution and then did the running part. And the Panhellenic ceremony sounds so sweet. Thank you for sharing this with us.

It's a pretty amazing experience. We had our pledge ceremony at Holt House. They had us wait upstairs in a spare bedroom before the ceremony. I was idly playing with some things that were sitting on a dresser, including an arrow on a long Victorian hair pin. I mentioned that it was cool and the sister that was waiting with us, said "That's one of the earliest pins. They wore them in their hair." Initiations are also held at Holt House.

As part of our Freshman Seminar course, all freshman had to attend Convocation and College Hour every week in the auditorium that used to be the college chapel, where the Founders marched in with their arrows in their hair. (Or keys if they were Kappa founders.)

One of the Founders is buried at the Monmouth cemetery, about 3 blocks from campus.

[Tulip86]

Loved your story, there's so much history there!