5 Things I learned rushing a sorority

I didn’t plan on joining a sorority at college. Probably because everything I knew about Greek life came from “Legally Blonde” (especially the opening scene) and was heavily stereotyped. Even when I got to Utah State University, I turned down invitations to rush because of my misgivings.

Like many of you, my knowledge of Greek life is limited. And that’s exactly why I decided to rush.

Entering the Panhellenic world, I had to acknowledge that much of what I knew about sororities was erroneous stereotypes. Among my many preconceived notions, I believed Greek life to be the ultimate manifestation of cliquishness.

Searching for rushing tips online, I read that “name-dropping a specific guy could be trouble because there’s always a chance that the girl you are talking to knows him, or dated him, or hates him for something he did to her friend.” It seemed so high school.

I’m hoping my experience will shed some light on what Greek life at USU is actually like. Here are five things I learned rushing a sorority:

1. The women that join sororities know the stereotypes. And they don’t care.

You all know the stereotypes. They were best exemplified in the University of Alabama Alpha Phi 2015 recruitment video — bikini-clad blondes with long, voluminous hair; they like to party and get tan.

Do you think sorority women are oblivious to these stereotypes? Yeah? Well, you’re wrong. They know the stereotypes better than anyone and they don’t care, because they know they aren’t true.

We hear “sorority” and go, “Oh, I totally know what kind of organization you are.” But do we really?

For instance, did you know you have to have a 3.2 GPA to join Kappa Delta? That’s just short of a B+ average. And Alpha Xi Omega — they raise $5000 each year to send a domestic abuse victim to college.

If you let them, people will surprise you. Speaking of surprises…

2. It’s a party.

First off, big S/O to whoever made those Girls Scout cookie balls from Kappa Delta. The food, singing and chit-chatting were exciting at both houses.

I work and study a lot. In the beginning, I saw rush week as just another event to cover or task to accomplish. But once I began to experience it, I found myself enjoying it.

Even if you don’t end up joining a sorority, you will meet a lot of people and have a fun time rushing.

3. There are rules.

So many rules. For instance, on philanthropy night, we were only allowed to stay in each house for exactly an hour. We were lined up single-file, in alphabetical order. We had a set amount of time to talk to one woman, then rotated to spend a certain amount of time with another woman. The Rho Gammas (recruitment guides) weren’t allowed to come into the houses with us, so they waited in the cold. They also cannot disclose which sorority they are in.

It’s kind of part of the fun, though — rules make rushing formal and fair. They take it seriously.

4. They are so nice.

Contrary to what “Legally Blonde” may suggest, sororities attract really well-rounded women. They are some of the most engaging, nice, accomplished women I’ve met as USU. They are passionate about their philanthropy, and I found their insight profound.

Rush week sounded insincere to me — you’re trying to convince someone to like you, it seemed. However, every single woman I spoke with was kind and genuine.

5. It’s a sisterhood, not a clique.

Sororities are more than clubs or cliques, where you’re united by a common interest. These women are united by a bond akin to family — you may start out as friends, but the relationship develops and deepens as you spend time together and share experiences. College is a time where you need support and love, and sororities are an outlet in which to fulfill that need.

In some ways, even after attending the events of rush week, I can’t know what it’s really like to rush. I may have taken the required steps to join a sorority, but my attitude and the attitudes of my fellow rushers were different because I didn’t actually plan on joining.

I didn’t experience a sweaty-palmed handshake with a Rho Gamma. I didn’t stand wobble-kneed in a black dress on Preference Night. I didn’t anticipate the sisterly bond I would have after signing my bid.

Now, I have my own reasons for not joining a sorority (namely, finances and time commitments are tight). But after having a taste of what Greek life is like at USU, I honestly believe that I’m missing out. And you might be, too. Everyone who joins loves it. It’s a fun, dynamic, exciting culture — in a few words, it’s a rush.

—Brenna Kelly is a sophomore majoring in journalism, with minors in political science and multimedia. She mostly writes articles, but occasionally tweets @bckelly8.