I thought it was just the states, but wasn't 100% certain. I just looked it up and you're right -- no federal laws.

Well, Pi Phi's was adopted in 1912, evidently:

http://www.pibetaphi.org/pibetaphi/aboutus.aspx?id=102

I don't have time to research all of the NPCs, but I would guess that for the earlier orgs the crests were created later (early 20th c.) and for the later orgs the crest was created at the foundation or soon after.

Fiji at W&L put their letters on shirts...

I used the word 'support'. To me, that means agree, at least publicly, that your RM policies are sound. And yes, I saw your last sentence - but it's posts like these that allow collegians to say, "well...OFFICIALLY it's against the rules, but National Staff Member X said they're stupid. I agree!"

That's how you are coming across.

No, not really.

Yes, really.

eta - and an image of "Wink wink nudge nudge, say no more" just hit me! lol

I'm not seeing it. Perhaps it's a difference of culture between our organizations. I'm speaking very generally and haven't mentioned the specific policies of my organization. Regardless, collegians are more than welcome to disagree with national mandates as long as they abide by them. My confidence in the intelligence/judgment of the membership of my organization would suffer if someone honestly came to me and said, "I saw you disagreed with such-and-such policy on Greek Chat so I figured you'd let me get away with such-and-such." I'd still love her, but I'd refer her to the National Standards Committee.

Really? Hmmm. They actually have a list of the seven places that their letters can be displayed. Per the Wiki:

Phi Gamma Delta limits the written dislay of its Greek letters.[32] In accordance with the fraternity's international bylaws, Fiji chapters and members only portray their letters in the following seven locations:[33]

• On a uniform diamond-shaped member badge

• On the Fraternity's official seal

• On the Fraternity's official flag

• On a chapter house marker

• On memorials to deceased brothers

• On a brother's certificate of membership

• On a brother's official college ring

The fraternity's letters are, thus, considered sacred and are never to be displayed on an object that can be easily destroyed. Whereas other fraternities often display their letters on clothing or other items, this tradition prevents Fijis from doing so. In place of the actual Greek letters, "Fiji," "Phi Gam," or the English spelling of "Phi Gamma Delta" are used in their place.

MysticCat, I know about the rules, although I don't think I'd ever seen them copied explicitly before. I don't know why FIJI at W&L did that, but they certainly did. Not on all their tshirts... just some.

The Kappa coat-of-arms was formally approved by a vote in 1912. It was a 7 year process.
http://www.kappakappagamma.org/Conte...eak_06_Jan.doc

Oh, I certainly didn't think you had made it up or misread or anything. And I wasn't assuming you weren't familiar with those rules -- they'd just been mentioned enought times in the thread I thought maybe they should be laid out.

I was just surprised, since all the Fijis and Fiji chapters I've ever run across have been real sticklers about those rules.

My heart sister, as long with all of the other heart sisters, lended all the new members a sweater with stitched letters on it until our big sisters got us our own..... on bid day.

I, being a new member, almost didnt want to accept the letters because i had no ideas what they meant, or if i was going to stick with the sorority.

I wanted to learn what they meant first and then be able to wear them.

My own opinion i guess.


But i know our school has some sort of rule against keeping your letters from your new members. Technically that doesn't mean you have to give it to them right away though.

I just hope that this fall recruitment we just give them a nice sigma kappa shirt instead of full on letters.

Actually, I think that now our NMs might be allowed to wear the crest as well. (I was just explaining why we allowed letters and why a crest might not be allowed - not necessarily that this is our current, official policy) But seeing, as I said, that most crest sweatshirts are really expensive now (and the ones I saw from our official vendor were pretty butt ugly) it's kind of a moot point.

for us we wear print shirts with letters on them and carry bags and wear new member pins. we cant wear stitched letters till initiation. our bigs give us our shirts the nights we're initiated. i know that one of the fraternities on campus their pledges aren't even allowed to touch letters till their initiated.

My chapter has never had a rule against this. (I mean, in our 2 years of existence.) It didn't seem to be a problem when we were a colony either.

pledges wearing letters?
 

i really dont think that pledges or new members should be allowed to wear any form of greek letters of the sorority or fraternity they are wanting to join and become a part of. i think its better if they earn their letters until they become initiated...its also a better feeling knowing that you did what u had to do to earn your letters and you can wear them proud knowing that you earned ur letters and you truly love them