So, she lied about her age. She came clean about it. I can forgive that. The worst thing is that she can't come up with her own shit. Taking a little bit out of other established sororities' colors, mottos, etc to create a different sorority is bull.

I know that there are US colleges that require students to have finished a semester by having rush in the spring, but are there schools with NPC sororities that require the rushees to have reached sophomore status or have completed a year? (Those can be different since I know students who due to AP tests started as Sophomore status)

It seems like a fair idea for a totally new sorority. The rationalization that these girls will already be established at school and not having to focus on two totally new experiences makes sense.

As for "stealing" another sorority's colors/mascot, don't many of us share colors and mascots/symbols? I'm sorry, but that doesn't necessarily equate to "stealing".

I think I was focusing on the "honorable, beautiful, and highest" part, simply because it is a fairly unique trio of words that comes from my org. But yeah, you're right, that there are only so many colors in the world, that obviously there will be some overlap.

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.
Heck, look at all the similarities between Theta and Fiji. Pretty sure the Fiji's don't hate us for it.
She's 15. She wants to be a sorority girl. I would just encourage her to consider revising some symbols so she isn't getting too similar to the US counterparts. They're new, so not a big deal to change. :)

That's the thing, and so many of our organizations have other strong similarities. For all I know, she did take elements straight from established sororities, but it's not necessarily so.

I think at Dartmouth you can't rush till you're a sophomore and I want to say one of the other schools in eastern PA (Lehigh or Lafayette) is also like that but don't quote me.

She's 15. She'll be on to something new next week.

You can believe this all you want but some of us see it for the LIE that it truly is.

Missing the point. The difference is that our founders/members didn't peruse through various websites looking specifically at others' information before coming up with their own. You know exactly what is meant by "STEAL" and you know that's what happens with many of these new orgs. Why be creative and spend an extensive amount of time coming up with stuff, when you can visit websites with all the info you need?

If the internet had existed when our organizations were founded, who knows what our organizations would be like? Most of our organizations borrowed heavily from masonic rituals, was that stealing?

Bucknell?

Yup.

:rolleyes:. When it comes to mascots and colors, there are so many parts of our organizations that are far more meaningful. And it's not ritual being "stolen". I do not believe it is stealing.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Some organizations have masonic influences, not because they were scrounging around for ideas, but for other reasons.

Generally speaking, NPHC founders had information about the other NPHC organizations. They didn't need the Internet for that basic info. And they didn't confuse paying respect to an organization with stealing from an organization.

What the heck are you rolling your eyes about?

Speak for yourself and how you feel about the publicized symbols for your organization.

Maybe it's the former journalism student in me, but I had to take a whole class on libel, slander and plagiarism. No, it's not the end of the world, and I'm sure that locals that start with the intention of being absorbed by a national borrow heavily. But it is stealing intellectual property, even if the statute of limitations has passed. When the number of similarities starts to get too much to be coincidence (Alpha Xi's colors AND mascot? 3 of KD's principles?) then it has stepped over the line. The question becomes does anyone care? I guess I don't. If this sorority ever becomes anything substantial, it will get absorbed be a British or American organization with more structure. Or it becomes a thorn in the side of Alpha Xi and KD and a big ugly across the pond law suit ensues. But we all know that more likely, it just fades into the sunset like your secret club that met in the fort in your back yard.

I'd like to see them come up with some more individualized themes and symbols. Maybe read a book on symbology (am I making up words again?) or read the thread about crests and coats of arms. Maybe this group will come up with something that hadn't occurred to them before. And dare I say it, learn something in the process. I just googled "friendship symbols" and got some interesting options, some of which I don't think are already being used. Does anybody use the frog? Or an orange rose? Just saying, this little call out on our behalf might spur these girls to a smidge more creativity. I still wish them the best of luck. And maybe get a history professor involved.