From the OU Daily:
http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.../4124282fdf582
Rushing to sisterhood
Hundreds of women kick start their school year by pledging to sororities.
Chase Hopkins Wilson - Daily Staff Writer
August 18, 2004
After an emotionally draining week, hundreds of women received bids Tuesday and scattered to their sorority houses to join their new families.
Tears, laughter, screams and hugs resulted as the emotional roller-coaster known as formal recruitment rounded the last curve, Bid Day.
The week was stressful for most, and the quest for relief was a troubled and difficult one.
“I think every girl should have to go through it,” said Sarah Kittrell, University College freshman. “It’s like boot camp for girls. [The Rho Gammas] come knocking at your door at six in the morning, [saying] ‘You have to be smiling! Where’s your makeup?’”
Rho Gammas are women who disaffiliate from their sorority to counsel rushees during Recruitment Week.
Kittrell said she was overwhelmed by the experience of rush.
“You get there and they’re singing and clapping in your face,” she said. “It was so bizarre.”
However, going through the process unites the rushees, and forms many friendships, Kittrell said.
“Trauma bonds you,” she said.
During rush, the women attempt to put their best feet forward to get into the sorority they want, said Erin Byrnes, University College freshman.
“The entire week is kind of this show and it’s all a performance-type thing,” Byrnes said. “It’s hard to distinguish who’s being fake and who’s being real.”
Rushees went to 11 different sororities on the first day of rush to acquaint themselves with the houses.
“I think my cheeks are just recovering from having to smile and make small talk,” Kittrell said.
To many of the women, rush was not only a show-and-tell, but also a physical challenge.
“I had to run from house to house and I was sweating so bad,” said Laura Cromwell, University College freshman. “It was like a track meet.”
Ashley Rahill, University College freshman, said she spent a day sprinting up and down Greek Row through the rain.
“On the four-party day it rained and I had to run all day in flip flops,” Rahill said.
Finally, the burden of worry was lifted Tuesday afternoon when rush came to a close.
Kittrell said she knew bids were being delivered as soon as she heard girls screaming in the hallway.
“There was about eight girls on our floor [who received the bids they wanted],” Rahill said. “We all held hands and ran over to the [Pi Beta Phi] house.”
While many women were excited, others were disappointed by their bids, said Byrnes.
“There was a triple legacy across the hall that got cut,” Byrnes said. “She was, like, wailing crying. The whole hall could hear her.”
Despite the emotional turmoil, Kittrell and Byrnes, who both pledged to a house, said they are glad they went through rush.
“You kind of realize a little bit more about who you want to be,” Byrnes said.
Kittrell said that even if she hadn’t pledged, it would have been worth it.
“You seriously learn so much about yourself, about what you want,” Kittrell said. “You kind of discover yourself.”
Even though many recruits put sweat and tears into this week, positive attitudes and anxiety emerged from a series of long, drawn-out days.
Whether carrying on a family legacy or making best friends through sorority sisterhood, many of the recruits are ready to grab the reins of the schooner of life.
“You don’t have to do it, but you do it to see if you like it,’’ said University College freshman Kelly Curran, who also pledged to a sorority. “Now I couldn’t see myself not rushing.”
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I read in the LJ community from an Upsilon sister and she said they got 62 new members... ? 
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