IU's most eligible alumna

On Wednesday nights, the living room inside Alpha Chi Omega is the most crowded spot in the house. \nSome of the girls have tests the next day. Others have plans to go out for the evening. But when 9 p.m. rolls around, no one is too busy to watch and cheer as Trista Rhen, an IU alumna and their sorority sister in legacy, shines as the desired star of ABC's reality series "The Bachelorette."\n"We drop everything for Trista," said junior Kelly Mercer. "We wouldn't miss her for anything."\nTrista Rhen graduated from IU in 1996, where she majored in exercise science and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. Rhen's composite pictures still hang inside the halls of the sorority house where one can catch an earlier glimpse of Rhen before she became a "blonde" reality TV star -- a '90s Hoosier with long bangs and brown, curly hair.\nRhen's first role in reality TV came last year in the reality series, "The Bachelor," where one man had the heavy task of wining and dining 25 women before selecting one to be his wife. On the last episode, after only two women were left, Rhen was left out in the cold as the last person eliminated. But this season, ABC reversed the gender roles with "The Bachelorette," and now Rhen's the one breaking hearts.\nWith only two bachelors left, this past Wednesday's episode gave the men who Rhen previously eliminated a chance to tell their sides of the story. The episode's theme was "Men Tell All," and the girls of Alpha Chi Omega listened with open ears.\nAs the show begins, any side conversations are quickly hushed, but once Rhen hits the screen for the first time, the silence is broken with proud cheers.\n"We love to watch (Trista) pick which guys she's going to hold onto each week," said junior Julie Harrison. "It's a lot of fun to watch a girl who was in our house on TV each week."\nThe time between commercials provides valuable breaks for the girls to chat about their thoughts on the show. During Wednesday's episode, Bob, who was eliminated after the third episode, was the center of attention. His laid-back personality and sense of humor has made him a house favorite.\n"(Bob's) personality is unbelievable," said junior Jamie Bender. "His ex-wife just has to be kicking herself when she sees what a great guy she let go."\nBut with Bob out of the picture, and only two guys left, Rhen's big decision is less than one week away, and the girls left Wednesday's episode guessing with anticipation as to who would get the last rose -- Ryan or Charlie.\n"We're all definitely pulling for Ryan," said junior Mollie Nussbaum. "He's good looking, sensitive and just seems like a great guy. He and Trista would be perfect together."\nWhile Ryan is unquestionably the house favorite, sophomore Jordan Thompson thinks Rhen will choose Charlie.\n"Ryan's cuter and seems more sensitive, but Charlie has the total package," Thompson said. "He's better off financially than Ryan, and I think Trista wants someone who she knows can support a family." \nNussbaum was quick to add that Ryan's home in Colorado may hurt his chances as well.\n"He lives in Colorado, and she doesn't like the winter," Nussbaum said. "Trista's pretty high maintenance, and I don't think she'll want to live where it's so cold." \nRegardless of whoever gets the final rose next Wednesday, the living room inside Alpha Chi Omega will be packed to the walls with Rhen's sorority sisters, all eager and nervous to see who will be the last man standing.\n"I'm so nervous," Harrison said after seeing clips from the final episode. "I wish I knew who she picked right now"