Transcription: Let the party begin
Sororities celebrate the first weekend of rush
by Amanda Moore
Songs and cheers welcomed an anxious group of females to their first taste of the greek community. This past weekend, about 1,700 women participated in 19 party, allowing them to visit each of the 19 sororities on campus in the first phase of women’s rush.
Members of sororities and the Panhellenic Association said a lot of preparation went into making sure the weekend went off without a hitch.
Sophomore Jennie Gibb, a Phi Mu, said she used this time to rediscover what was great about her house.
“The best part about getting ready for rush is that I got to spend a lot of time with the girls in the house,” she said. “It’s also a time when you think about all of the reasons that you like your chapter and what makes it so great that other girls would want to become a member.”
Rushees’ concerns changed throughout the weekend as they began to feel more comfortable with the rush process. Sophomore Amanda Kralisz said she expected a lot of chaos.
“It’s kind of intimidating,” she said. “You see so many girls checking everyone out.”
Decorations and songs were scaled back this year in order to provide an environment more conducive to meeting new people.
Panhellenic Association graduate student advisor Angela Lauer said she wanted to see chapters talking to the rushees more.
“We’re trying to utilize the time that they do have in each house,” she said. “It’s really important that the girls get to know each other.”
Gibb said she enjoyed being on the other end of rush this year.
“I liked seeing the rushees because it makes me realize bow I’ve grown up and matured a lot since I was a freshman.” she said. “I tried hard to make the girls feel at ease and to let them know that rush is not the most important thing in their lives and that things have a way of turning out the way they are supposed to.”
During 19 party, the rushees are encouraged to keep a journal so they can keep in mind what they liked about each chapter. After this weekend, each rushee fills out Scantron sheets and lists the houses in order of their preference. Then during a mutual selection process, their choices will be lowered to twelve. The girls must return to campus a week early from winter break to engage in the next round – 12 party.
