^ What KR said.

I went through formal rush, pledged a local sorority, was a pledge - not a new member, wore a pledge ring (the founders of the local thought outside the box and decided that they would use a ring rather than a pin) ... and here I am. I still wear my pledge ring occasionally, even though Sigma Iota Phi has been absorbed by Alpha Epsilon Phi ... I'm glad that I had the opportunity to be a member of both sororities, and I'm happy to be able to count myself among the 12 women ever to be SigIPhi sisters.

And of course now with pledge gone all the "baby bugs" or whatever talk has come about, which is IMO about 1000 times as demeaning as being called a pledge. If ever an initiative backfired, it's this one.

The fact is, regardless of whatever else it means, "new members" is dry and clinical and boring. I mean, I didn't join a sorority for members. I joined a sorority for sisters.

Besides, I liked the idea that I was pledging - making a vow of sorts - my sorority. I wasn't new member-ing it, or even Alpha-ing it.

Mainstream media still uses the word pledge, so the newer terminology hasn't exactly changed many minds.

Yes, but unfortunately the only time the mainstream media mentions greeks it's always something like "Pledge Caught Sodomizing Sheep"!

So many great responses, so many chances to stay classy!

Kappa Delta announced the change at the 1993 convention in Dallas at the same time they announced the shortened New Member period.

DaffyKD

For Alpha Phi Omega, the default is pledge but some chapters use "new member", mostly due to the school being unhappy with the term.