I have read and own this one too. I have found it extremely helpful to me as a recruitment advisor. About two weekends ago, one of the authors of that book did a recruitment workshop at EKU. Phenomenal. If your campus panhellenic's can swing it or several groups going in together to pay for it, have them come to your campus.

Since we're on the topic: http://www.abebooks.com/

That was my primary resource for any GLO history books which may or may not be in my collection.

The text in question describes pronounciation of Greek Letters by various groups and indicates that the reason that the Phi and the Xi in Alpha Phi and Alpha Xi Delta are pronounced so as to rhyme with "bee" is that they follow vowels. This is not a correct understanding of Greek Pronounciation.

This is of course complicated by the fact that the fact that the names of the greek letters are different now than they were 2000 years ago. For example, the second letter of the greek alphabet is now pronounced as closer to an english v than a english b and the pronounciation of the name of the letter is has a shortish i like in fit (but a little bit of long e) rather than a long a like bay.

For Phi and Xi, the pronounciations where they rhyme with bee are what is in modern greek, the pronounciations where they rhyme with fly are what is in ancient greek. However for Xi, the modern greek is closer to ksee in pronounciation than zee.

The Wikipedia page for Alpha Phi says
"However, the pronunciation of Phi as "Fee" rather than "Fi" actually results from the fact that the organization adopted the Greek rather than anglicized, mainly American, pronunciation of the letter because it sounded more feminine." There isn't anything I can find on Alpha Phi's National page, but a lot of Alpha Phi chapter websites have the "after a vowel" explanation.

I can't find anything either on wikipedia or on the Alpha Xi Delta national website on why it rhymes with bee.

The text from the original pledge manual the GCer found gets it wrong, the one from Kappa Sigma is similar but basically says that not all GLOs pronounce them the same and these two are exceptions...

I'm not sure if that counts as a historical inaccuracy though.

For further information, just search greekchat for topics on greek pronounciation.

I'm not saying that anyone is pronouncing their own greek letters wrong, it's such a mess of Current Greek, British pronounciation of Ancient Greek and American pronounciation that just about everyone is right. :)

I know about the pronunciation of Greek letters and that's along the lines of perceived historical inaccuracies if people feel those who wrote that component of the pledge manual (or the founders) did so based on misinformation. That doesn't mean they are correct in their assumption (perhaps they knew a pronunciation was technically wrong but sounded better or had some other significance) and why outsiders care is another topic.

So, back to my original question: Other than historical inaccuracies (that MysticCat and naraht are typing about), how could outsiders correct a pledge manual?

So I went through my fraternity's pledge manual looking for things that were neither history nor "internal facts" and actually found something incorrect that fits the question!

There is a map of Canada in Alpha Phi Omega's pledge manual, and the borders between the Canadian Territories are both incorrect and includes borders that haven't existed in over 10 years. (APO reissues its pledge manuals after every national convention (every two years))

I don't know how our National Office would react if that were pointed out by a non-member, I'm on the National History committee, so they've learned to expect weird phone calls from me. :)

I doubt they could, but I don't think anyone has suggested they should try to, either. ;)

I wouldn't necessarily expect to see anything along those lines. (Nor would I trust the Wiki on this if there's nothing about it at the Alpha Phi website.)

Okay, so corrections would be on a historical or factual (which could be deemed historical) basis, assuming that you would have something to prove how the borders are incorrect. :)

That's fair enough. I agree about the non-members part and that's one reason why I find reading the pledge manuals of other organizations to be strange.

That's why I was asking a general question. I don't know what you all were or were not suggesting.

I would also add that the earlier editions are outstanding. If you can find one on eBay, Amazon or abe books, they bring a pretty penny, but are worth it.

Thanks for this website! :D

You're welcome, homie.

Has anyone read Inside Greek U.? Thoughts?

Another oldie...
 

The Sorority Handbook by Ida Shaw Martin, published in 1909.