At UCF, jerseys with stitched letters are a popular initiation gift. A new member can buy her own jersey or wear one before she is initiated, but typically, she waits (b/c they're expensive and it's fun to get one as a gift and wear it on campus right after initation!). I think there may be some confusion about stitched letters-- JessXica, there is not a prohibition on them. I know Alpha Xi's and they're allowed to wear letters as new members andn this yes, you are allowed to wear jerseys. Stitched or screen printed: letters are letters and if anyone tells you otherwise, go talk to your adviser so she can clear up any urban legends that may be spreading.

Kappa Alpha Theta also allows only initiated members to wear letters.

In my chapter of AEPhi, lettered items (sweatshirts, hats, etc) were a popular initiation gift. But new members can wear items with "AEPhi" or "Alpha Epsilon Phi" spelled out, and we made sure they had plenty of such items to show their pride in their new sorority. :)

Ok I think what she meant by this, because I know her personally, is that she has not been initiated yet...i didn't take it that she has to do some sort of new member thing to be worthy (i.e. jump through hoops of fire or something lol), but that she hasn't learned the secrets of her chapter through iniation ceremony. Ok thats how i took it:)

Letters and/or the entire words?

Letters.

If the organization prohibits their NMs from wearing letters, they're usually allowed to wear the letters spelled out.

Out of curisoity, how is not wearing Letters, but letters spelled out? Do you mean the name of the GLO?

I am not sure, but if a New Recruit can wear the name spelled out, then why can they not wear just the letters?

I am at a loss on this point.

I do not also understand the idea of stiched letters as opposed to say iron on letters.

Getting ready to leave for a class, after which I will be heading to the house I went to last night, then after that, onto one I've been to during formal rush. I'm so excited and my heart is just pounding. I really like the house I went to last night. I just feel like a kid at Christmas, being able to go around and see what all this is like, and I'm SOOOOOOO hoping I get a bid this time around. I'm all jittery!!! I have no ideea why this greek thing has me all nerves like this! Wish me luck!

Good luck!!!

A lot of GLO's have special meaning invested in their letters to the point of not letting them be shown in Greek letter format, such as Fiji (who have rules that apply to their letters).

I wouldn't let my pledges wear letters because not all of them will stay. Some may de-pledge, and may take those letters that I hold so dear with them, and I would not be so thrilled with a non-greek running around with my org's letters.

You know?

In reference to an earlier quote because my understanding is that it is the same for all three of us (Kappa Alpha Theta, Pi Beta Phi, and Alpha Epsilon Phi):

We dont wear our letters on anything until after initiation. With Theta, atleast, we arent even supposed to technically have anything with our letters on them until that time (but you may see new members buy/given items and put them away until after initiation). We are allowed to wear or have items with "Theta", "Pi Phi", "AEPhi," or "Kappa Alpha Theta", "Pi Beta Phi," "Alpha Epsilon Phi" (as in spelled out) on them prior to initiation.

As to why we do this, it's a privilege for initiated members to know and as OtterXO said, it should not be questioned.

Our chapter allowed "Gamma Sigma Sigma" spelled out for members-in-training. You had to have been initiated to wear "Letters".

To help make the MITs feel part of the sisterhood, we all got long-sleeved white tshirts with "Gamma Sigma Sigma" spelled out in maroon. We all wore them on scheduled days/events. Of course, members also wore letters. I have only one set left from college - my other 2 sweatshirts were literally falling apart from the seams!! As a reactivated alum, I will certainly be getting new letters.

Also, I know that our letters aren't supposed to be worn by anyone else...meaning that any Greek life shirts or panhel shirts should have "Theta" spelled out on them. I'm not sure if this applies to Pi Phi or AEPhi.

Wow, I think that one is violated all the time. My sisters, who are Kappas, have several Kite and Key t-shirts that have the Greek letters for Kappa Alpha Theta on them.

It does apply to AEPhi. Our Panhel recruitment shirts had the names of all 5 NPC sororities spelled out. There is a Theta chapter at my school as well, and when 40% of the NPC sororities don't allow non-members to wear letters, Panhel accommodates them. ;)

Now that we've totally hijacked poor Symbal's recruitment thread... good luck with COB, Symbal. :)

It's not just Theta that has this rule. Many GLOs do.

letters
 

At my first new member meeting our Fraternity Educator told us to hold off on wearing anything with 'letters' until after initiation but anything that said "Zeta" or "Zeta Tau Alpha" was fine.

Now that I think about it though, the panhel shirts we were given to wear for the 1st round had the letters of every chapter on the back, including pi phi and theta which some people have mentioned...interesting

Well I guess then I broke the rules. I have a shirt from my Freshman year at U of A, it was for Derby Days and it had all the sororities listed on the back. Although, on the other had it was Derby Days, so maybe that is why. Don't know. Honestly don't really care. It is one of favorite shirts, it's old and worn out but I love wearing it. :D

Good luck, Symbal! Let us know how it went tonight!

Well, just got back. I went to sorority EFG and sorority XYZ (from formal) tonight. Last night I had an awesome time at EFG and was excited to go back. I had a good time talking to some sisters tonight. I am seriously rooting for them now. It was all I had not to jump up and yell "Pick me!" But I kept my lady-like composure. :D

After that I went to XYZ and found that perhaps my getting cut from them during formal was a blessing in disguise. Sitting one on one with them and just chilling showed me that maybe my home is elsewhere.

I think I like informal a lot better. I'm getting to know who these girls ARE.

COB is amazing like that...there are tons of girls who may be overlooked in the craziness of formal recruitment for whatever reason that are able to absolutely shine in COR. :) I'm glad to hear you're having a great time.

Ugh.

Got the call AGAIN. From my favored sorority, again.

I'm done until spring. Quite frankly, this forum is breaking my heart, so see you guys next rush.

i'm sorry to hear things didn't work out. get involved in other activities and have a great semester!

Sweetie I know how ya feel and what you're going through...I got the dreaded phone call twice so please know you are not the only one...For the first couple of days, reading the sympathy and comfort posts made me sob and I truly did think about never coming back to this website again...well that lasted about a day or less...but do know this, THINGS WILL GET BETTER!! I know its hard taking advice from someone on the other side saying its not the end of the world, but take it from me its not. I have wanted to join a sorority (and I didn't have any real favorites) since I was 16 and to not be able to accomplish that dream was awful. It seemed everything else along the way had gone pretty smoothly, why not this? And you will think what's wrong with me so that I didn't get in? Well you can ask these questions until you are blue in the face and it's not going to make any difference. Pretty much sum it up and say screw 'em...it's THEIR LOSS not YOURS. For me, I just figured that me joining a sorority this year just wasn't meant to be and maybe next year will be my year..who knows! But I do know this---your life will not end and take it day by day. Re-evaluate your feelings on why you want to join and focus on your grades...good grades never hurt a pnm!! PM if YOU NEED ANYTHING!!!!

((((((((((((((((((((((((Symbal)))))))))))))))))))) ))))))))))

((((((((((((((((((((((((Symbal)))))))))))))))))))) ))))))))))

Please know the posters on this thread really want you to be happy and will support you. When you are up to it please come back and let us know how you are doing.

Awww I love you too!! So when are you gonna take me to Pounders?? lol haha but nooo I'm serious!!:) Muah

At my school, a jersey is a a THICK HEAVY (often sweat producing in the miami heat) cotton shirt.

Your official chapter jersey (which is usually bought by a big brother or big sister and everyone owns one) usually goes something like this (depending on your chapter): Nickname (or not) "scroll"/initiation number (or not) chapter designation goes on the left shoulder (or not) and pledge class on the right (or not). These factors very greatly by chapter, especially with sororities. But many allow you to put whatever you want on your "family" or other random jerseys. And I mean almost anything. My most expensive jersey is a red and grey Tau Kappa Epsilon styled jersey bought for me by my "Big brother" who is a TKE it was at least 80$ because he put a very long (and they charge by the letter!) nickname for me on the back. My official chapter jersey was ordered by the big sisters in bulk from online and cost about $20 or so each. But our local greek store/sport store is called D & N and is very expensive, so when you want one locally made it get's pricey (hence the 80$ jersey). The prices of the letters vary depending on the size of the letter. (Ex. the two/three big letters on the front cost more per letter than the smaller ones on the back/sleeves would) You CAN get symbols, and I've heard of campuses with them on jerseys, but we are just not symbol people down here and we go with the basics. I've only seen one or two symboled jerseys and even a few on t-shirts. Iron on shirts are much cheaper, but they can get ruined if the wearer doesn't turn it inside out and iron it once in a while. You can also just buy the stitched letters (which will also iron on, but poorly) or the actual plastic/vinyl style iron on letters). If you don't know what I'm talking about, I guess you don't have it at your school...options rule!

Jeresy
 

http://somethinggreek.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=876

Mine looks something like that, with the letters down one side (double letters, like http://somethinggreek.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=91), and then my pledge name & number on back (they charger per letter for that!), and then I have my NM Class & Semester on one sleeve and then my chpater on theo ther....for a total of about $70. They get expensive, but it's one of my favorite pieces of SDT clothing that I have.

Symbal had a bad day and is obviously heartbroken if she can't even bear to be in here. Out of respect to her, and I hate to be Debbie Downer here, but don't you think it's a good idea to move the conversation about jerseys and clothes to ANOTHER thread?

Symbal, I'm sorry that things didn't work out the way you had hoped. Best of luck with the rest of the semester and know that you're always welcome on GC. :)

Symbal, I'm sorry to hear things didn't work out for you. If you decide to do spring rush, good luck! Keep a positive outlook!

Hey- I'm sorry to hear things didn't work out. I went through Formal rush twice and informal rush once and got rejected from all of them I stuck with it and decided to do COB one last time as a junior and finally found the right house. things work out somehow in life.

Yes, but the first time you put one on, you feel very special. They're typically an initiation gift b/c of the hefty price tag and tradition. But a new member can buy herself one or receive one at any old time (unless of course she is a new member of a sorority that does not allow its new members to wear Greek letters until initiation). I know parents and boyfriends who have bought jerseys for my sisters. And some of us bought our own, esp. if the first one was getting a little too worn-looking.

I have four jerseys from my UCF days! They languish in a closet. I think the only time I would ever wear one would be if I were invited to help out at a UCF-ADPi Bid Day.

ETA: reading ahead and regrets for the letter shirt hijack.

haha my friend in zta at ucf as a crazy obsession for pounders lol...sorry..random i know

haha its ok...well I've never been but we were talking about going one night and it got cancelled...long story short I would love to go out and me and JessXica and I don't don't get to hang out often because we are both very busy and haven't had time to catch up...

Symbal, i meant to and forgot to put it in my message but...


<<<<<<HUGS>>>>>>

(((((Symbal)))))

Sorry that rush and COB haven't worked out. Hang in there, and stick around GC. Try again later, maybe? And good luck this year!