AGDee and Susan314: I am also from Michigan, which may have something to do with our perception of GDI: we all see it as a non-negative thing, and we're all from the same area. Interesting.

When I went through, I was informed during Greek 101 [which all new Greeks must go to, mandatory, including NPHC, NPC and service/professional] that GDI, while composed of what may be considered negative words, is simply a designation. Basically, it's a way of 'separating' people like different GLO's do. I might say, "Oh, I saw Tony the Theta Chi today," so that everyone knows exactly who I mean. In the same way, one says, "Oh, I hung out with Sarah -the GDI Sarah - last night."

Re: GDI
 

I've heard people use the term proudly, or with disdain, and I have found it easier to just call them "unaffiliated" and leave it at that. I find it to be a neutral term and have yet to have anyone become upset by using it.

On a personal note I don't like the term Independent (regardless of what the GD is) because I am still an independent person separate of my letters, and am not dependent on them for my identity.

/thread hijack

My cousin is an AST from Eastern Michigan. I'm estimating that it would have been in the mid to late 80s - she's a few years older than me. Not sure if you were at that school in that time frame, but what a coincidence it would be if you happened to know her!

/end hijack

Yes. Thank you. That's what I'm saying. Don't confuse campus culture or etiquette with the values and aims written in your sorority's NATIONAL bylaws, or even your chapter bylaws for that matter. So many people come on here and say "we're not allowed to drink or smoke in letters" and then when they actually look in their chapter or national bylaws, voila, this "ironclad rule" is nowhere to be found. It's something more ambiguous like "present a good image." That varies WIDELY from place to place.

Do whatever you do on your campus, that's cool, but I think to be so severe as to call someone a "bad sister" if she doesn't follow these rules is a bit silly.

So true.

It would have to be late 80's because AST re-colonized at Eastern after I graduated but while I was an advisor and when the Lambda Chi's had to get rid of their Crescents. If I remember correctly, the Crescents wanted to be an NPC and AST was chosen, largely because EMU is their Alpha Chapter.

Being judgemental probably isn't in the bylaws, either.

I don't know if that's to me or to her, but I wasn't the one who said:

I was agreeing w/ you - rampant gossip running through the sorority re: who's been tempted to pose in Playboy isn't really Conduct Becoming A Sorority Girl, either.

I think I'd rather be in the house w/ a couple girls who f* up now and then but generally accept each others' decisions than the house with the stellar rep who maintains it by talking s* about each other and their choices.

I thought so, but you haven't been on in a while so I wanted to make sure your body hadn't been taken over by the Rules girls or something. :p

Oh. Right! Also, girls who smoke AND WALK AT THE SAME TIME are whores.

Better? :)

The one I love is no eating while walking. Obviously, this was thought up by someone whose town does not have a street fair with tons o' food and about 5 park benches.

OR hot dogs. Everybody loves hot dogs.

That reminded me - the Strutters are the SWTSU drill/dance team. They are practically a sorority in and of themselves (my mom and sister were Strutters). At any rate, after a full-colour picture of a Strutter in uniform at a game about to eat a banana (:eek: )made its way into the yearbook, they were forbidden from eating at the games. Yep, good times.

County fairs, parades, and carnivals aren't for the classy folk, you know. They are far above that:rolleyes:. People *gasp* smoke while standing at those things and might drink alcohol out of a bottle. And that, as we all know, is highly contagious and also deadly to those of superior class.