Tweedledum and Tweedledee from the 1979 Alice in Chi-O Land skit at Iota Delta/San Jose State U.
For the next issue, tell us about your Chi Omega hero, including her name and chapter.
Reply in 75 words or less to TheEleusis@ChiOmega.com. Include your first, maiden, and married names, chapter, and initiation year. Deadline: July 15.
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Side by Side
“What was your most memorable or zaniest party theme or recruitment skit?”
“What was your most memorable or zaniest party theme
or recruitment skit?” is the Side By Side topic we’re exploring
in this issue of The Eleusis.
With one exception, all who replied focused on recruitment
themes, clearly demonstrating the fun, friendships,
and fond memories of the process.
(Initiation years are listed with our respondents’ chapters
and schools.)"
Kathy Sizemore Pribble, 1973 Phi Epsilon/Ball State U
We performed The Johnny Carson Show. It started with
the usual monologue; had guests such as Edith Ann from
Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In; The Spinners sang Then
Came You; and featured mystical mind reading by Carnak
the Magnificent.
Claire Prather Mendenhall,
1975, Zeta Beta/U of Arizona
We did a Sesame Street theme, complete with Big Bird and
a Sister singing It’s Not That Easy Being Green. Not a dry
eye in the house!
Laura Johnson, 1978
Iota Delta/San Jose State U
Alice in Chi-O Land was such an imaginative, artistic, and
cute rush party. Rushees were ushered down the rabbit
hole to the Pit (our basement rec room), walked through
the Tuggly Woods, passed through the Red Queen’s
Room, and ended up at the Mad Hatter’s Party in our
dining room, where we had easy and fun conversation.
The house was wildly decorated and so colorful. We had
a great rush that year and our party was the talk of our
entire Greek community.
Gwyn Lewis Dyke, Beta Theta/U of So. Alabama
We did Hootnanny in 1977. It was a takeoff of Hee Haw,
with Daisy Mae trying to decide which sorority to join. It
was so much fun.
Mary Pat Jones, 1975
Upsilon Gamma/U of So. Dakota
I am reminded of our Sister Susan Robotka Frankenfeld,
Omega Chapter, who wrote many skits for Upsilon
Gamma. She organized the “Robotka Players,” a group
of Sisters who took part in her productions. A frequent
theme was a late-night search for a radio station, where
Sisters portrayed different radio station hosts and the
resulting garbled messages that came from constantly
turning the dial. It was silly, fun, and memorable!
Lyn Harris, 1980
Psi Gamma/Mercer U
I was Wink Martindale in a game show skit called Tic-Tac
Chi-O! Believe it or not, we pledged quota!
Elizabeth Murphee Pearson, 1982
Tau Kappa/U of Montevallo
My all-time favorite was the Chi Omega Choo Choo. When
my daughters were little, instead of singing traditional
nursery rhymes, I sang them Chi Omega Girls to the tune
of The Beach Boys’ California Girls, and If They Could See
Me Now.
Cindy Martinez, 1986
Pi Gamma/U of New Mexico
We did Camp Chi O on our first day of parties. It was
great! We dressed in khakis and red Camp Chi O shirts,
and, from the side of our house, a real school bus would
emerge and drive by with a few members in it yelling and
cheering. Then, from our chapter house’s massive steps,
we sang our Camp Chi O song to the rushees before
escorting them inside.
Kristin Lennert Murra, 1988
Rho Beta/Drake U
With Sisters dressed as ship captains and singing on the
front lawn, the Chi Omega Cruise Line invited rushees
aboard. Our theme song? The Love Boat, with custom
lyrics: “Chi Os, loyal and true; come aboard, we’re expecting
you! And friends, life’s sweetest reward, are all
here, and we’ll always care!”
Leslie Akers, 1995
Gamma Theta/Eastern
Kentucky U
My favorite skit during recruitment was a rap to Prince’s
Alphabet Street: “One day I went walking to the library, I
had a big test, don’t you see. I went up to the stacks and sat
myself down, and when I looked up, there were guys all
around. . . . Chi Omega, Chi, Chi, Chi Omega, Chi Omega,
Chi, Chi, Chi Omega!” Great skit . . . great memories!!!!
Lorie Rowland, 1997
Rho Delta/U of Texas
–El Paso
My favorite recruitment song was our version of The New
Kids On the Block’s The Right Stuff, with Chi O lyrics.
Kerry Tucker Dorman, 1999
Phi Theta/East Central U
Chi Omega Choo Choo was the best skit ever. It showed the
fun side of Chi Omega and the diversity of the chapter!
Julie Katz Karp, 1999
Theta Alpha/Cornell U
We gave Chi Omega lyrics to Natalie Merchant’s These Are
the Days and sang over a video slide show of our favorite
Sisterhood photos.
Kathleen Hillen, 2007
Omicron Lambda/
Birmingham-Southern College
We did Chi O Cabana for our first round of recruitment
and performed a song and dance to Copacabana. It was
a cute dance with fun lyrics. I was in the front row and
I am not a dancer! I think I messed up every party—just
ask my advisors!
Niki DeMartinis and Kirstie Ruppert,
2009, Gamma Beta/UCLA
Last year we had part of our skit be an episode of the
TV show Friends—Chi Omega style, of course. This
fall, we will be doing an Old Hollywood theme for our
Entertainment Day.
Kelly Ticknor, 2009
Tau Alpha/Ohio U
Last year for Skit night, we dressed as cheerleaders and
danced and sang to Chi O’s Just Want To Have Fun and
made the Chi and Omega signs using pom poms. We had
popcorn strung around the house and a red carpet led
potential new members to our chapter room, where we
performed. The seniors have their own dance and song
as well! It was so energetic and a really special tradition!
Cassidy Cloninger, 2009
Rho Zeta/East Carolina U
Our chapter’s zaniest recruitment party theme was for
Bid Day in fall 2009. It was Jimmy Buffett themed,
complete with parrot-head music, decorations, T-shirts
and name tags. It was fun and a great way to end
recruitment and welcome our newest members!
Maria Civitate, 2009
Rho Alpha/U of Missouri–Columbia
This year marks the centennial for our school’s proudest
tradition, homecoming, which will be the theme for our
Sisterhood day. We want to highlight our Sisterhood and
let our Tiger pride shine.
Elise Haupt, 2009
Sigma Epsilon/Vanderbilt U
For our last number, we perform a mash-up of three
popular songs: Teach Me How to Hootie, Ridin’ Solo, and
Dynamite. Fusing these songs to create something unique
for Chi Omega makes it the most popular recruitment
skit. Members especially like the segment in which
dancers appear wearing red sparkly leggings, Chi Omega
tank tops, and red and yellow tutus.
Bridget Stark, 2010
Chi Beta/Purdue U
For Preference round we cover our living room walls
with black sheets; small, black tables for two fill the
floor space. Purple lanterns with electronic lights and
chandeliers provide soft, low light, while a stage at the
back of the room is illuminated with white Christmas
lights. Everyone loves the atmosphere!
Sarah Thomas, 2010
Eta/U of Michigan
Our craziest recruitment skit is Chi O On Tour. We dress
in rock-star attire with lots of jewelry, crimped hair, and
colorful makeup, and stand on chairs singing Chi O lyrics
to classic rock songs while performing a choreographed
dance. With 50 girls performing, it’s quite a show.
Performers wear a black Chi O On Tour tank top with
silver writing in an edgy font. It’s lots of fun for everyone,including potential new members.
Jayme Decker, 2010
Alpha Lambda/Valparaiso U
Last year, we created a Las Vegas theme, complete with a
lighted Welcome to Las Vegas sign. Our skit focused on
the wonders of recruitment, meeting Chi Omegas, and
choosing what sororities to Preference. It was a hit and a
blast to dress up in Las Vegas attire.
Alissa Golden, 2010
Omicron/U of Illinois
For Open House, our theme is Always Chi Omega, just like
Always Coca Cola®! Coke® is served in glass bottles, and the
house is decorated with retro Coca Cola ads and vinyl records with pictures of our members on them, which gives
the house a ’50s feel. Potential new members always remember
this party and it’s one of Omicron’s favorites, too!
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