I don't necessarily disagree. As I said, I myself don't wear letters frequently anymore (I've been out of school a while). My point is that I reserve the right to wear letters if I choose to do so. They aren't any less my letters just because I graduated from school. For me, it isn't a matter of trying to prove anything to anyone. I dress appropriately for my current age/status/whatever, whether on the job or off; I definitely dress much differently than I did as an undergrad in college.

If I choose to wear 'nalia, it's no different than anyone wearing stuff with college names and logos (whether as a graduate or as a fan, but I suppose some people may not consider that "mature dress").

Like I said (in a nutshell) in my earlier post, one's opinion on the "wearing letters" issue depends on your viewpoint in general about fraternity/sorority life and its relevance after college. ;)

Wearing letters
 

Wearing letters is cool Freshman and Sophmore years, after that, no-one really does, unless it is a beat up sorority hayride shirt

If you notice, there are very few non-NPC/NIC members speaking on this topic for a very good reason.....:cool:

At my school, I see letters everywhere, usually block letters, but a lot of tote bags for the NPC sororities. As someone mentioned before, it may partly be because of the high ratio of cultural GLOs we have on campus. I would definitely say that the majority of letter wearers I see belong to cultural GLOs, but they're certainly not the only ones. I see a lot of proud ZTAs, for one. ;)

People wear their letters quite frequently on the University of Minnesota campus. I'm graduated and I still wear my letters.

Our house, however, has made the rule that we aren't allowed to consume alcohol or be drunk while wearing our letters outside of our chapter house.

At my chapter we got this really great bag on bid day and I carry that with me all the time and as letter t-shirts I wear those on letter day. Then there other times when I just have on a function t-shirt So probaly about twice a week I wear letters

As to the comments about alum wearing letters... I went alum in 2000 and I still wear letters, but the way I wear them ahs changed. I am a teacher so I carry my tote bags a lot now. I would carry a tote bage anyway for all my "teacher stuff" and these just happen to be the ones I have. I wear my jewelry with letters on it now (necklace and a bracelet some) but mostly because a)I like them and b)they were all gifts from family members (both Greek family and real family). I don't wear shirts with letters much anymore because of several reasons. The biggest is I am not a t shirt person really, I tend to wear sweaters and kakhis now more then jeans. Also all my college letters are pretty icky anymore so I wear them to sleep in. I so want to buy some nice new letters on a sweatshirt, but this is because when we do alum things I want something nice to wear.

When/where did I say anything about npc/ifc wearing the letters all the time?? I said 'I"...KRISCO...IN ARK...was curious as the lack of meeeeeee seeing any npc/ifc members wearing ANYTHING after college. I just don't see it..Trust me sweetheart, I am a DELTA SIGMA THETA I know what active is about!

Thanks for the answer, not in your 'culture' got it...that's what I was looking for.

Just go take a look at our national site www.deltasigmatheta.org : You can be an esteemed member of the business community AND an active, productive member of your organization.

Again, it was never just a college thing for me and countless others that I know that are members of BGLO's (good lawyers included) but that's just my opinion...

That's not just an opinion, Soror. That's BGLO culture and expectation. Even if some BGLOers aren't living the lifetime commitment for whatever reasons.

I absolutely love going to professional and social events and seeing the young and old BGLO members wearing pins or finding other ways to identify themselves as members. Some of these people are so well respected for professional and service ventures that being in a BGLO is simply icing on the cake.

I am a sister of the co-ed fraternity Upsilon Delta Epsilon, onthe SUNY Delhi Campus. On our campus, you almost always see most of the greeks with their letters on. even the off campus fraternities and sororities wear their letters proudly almost everyday.

to get your jersey at my school, you go through a lot. needless to say, greeks wear their letter about once a week on average.

Let me guess. You make your pledges EARN their letters, right? :rolleyes:

Good one.

Absolutely. There's no pride in wearing letters if you didn't bust ass to get them.

Bust ass = haze the shit outta your pledges?

Even better. :rolleyes:

Not nessecarily. It's just that none of the greeks at my school simply GIVE you a jersey because you show interest and are a fun person. You have to have heart, drive, and intelligence to get in a sorority/frat there.

I do think that fraternity bonds last a lifetime. My close pledge brothers will be my friends for life..........I don't need to wear an SAE lettered article of clothing to show that. I will always donate money and be a contributor to my fraternity just as any normal alum would when they graduate. I just simply believe that when you are done with college and working....it is a little silly to wear greek letters......and I also think it makes you look less mature. You are an adult now, time to dress like one. Same goes for license plates, stickers, key chains, etc. Like I said before, the only think I will probobly have out that people can see would be my certificate of initiation in a nice frame.......hanging next to my undergrad and law school graduation certificates.

Then you better throw out any sweatshirts/t-shirts/caps/etc. with college logos, or better yet, don't wear anything that could be remotely considered "immature". That probably goes for shorts/sandals/t-shirts,etc., even in a casual setting...

...Oh, and no cheering or waving flags for your alma maters at sports events. Wouldn't want anyone to think you were "less mature", since you're supposed to leave that all behind when you graduate... ;)

I say again, it's a matter of opinion, and of differences in the "Greek" culture of various campuses/orgs. For a great number of us, it is OK (and customary) to wear letters (at appropriate times) after graduation. We don't NEED to wear letters (again, we don't wear them all the time), but we reserve the right to wear them IF and WHEN we choose. And we don't get perceived negatively for it...

Exactly. For some people, it would be weird and inappropriate to wear sorority/fraternity, or even college gear, after graduation. For others, it would be a foreign concept not to do so. This is based in the cultural issues. Live and let live ... this is a pointless argument; no one's going to change anyone else's mind, and it's not really very important to do so. Save it for the big stuff ;)

Well, you should learn to dress appropriately long before you leave college, so the t-shirt thing and sweartshirts are taken care of. I'll wear a sorority function or SAE party t-shirt every once in a while......very rarely though, maybe to class or if . Shorts aren't immature........thats stupid. Sweartshirts are about as cool as fanny packs.

There is a huge difference between supporting your alma mater and flashing around your fraternity's letters. I really shouldn't have to explain that one.

I wear my Alpha Gamma Delta letters, in various ways, almost every day. I have 1 small alma mater sticker on my car. They just changed mascots so I haven't gotten a new shirt to wear to the new games; they are talking about building a stadium. Maybe I'll wear an UWG hat and AGD letters.

i will wear letters until the day i die because:

A) I'm an initiated member of my fraternity and want to represent "the meaning, spirit, and reality of Phi Mu"

and

B) DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THIS STUFF COSTS! I have $80 jerseys and $50 shirts!

C) My big sister made me most of my shirts and i love her to death...DUH!

D) There is no feeling in the (greek) world like slipping on/wearing a representation of your chapter and/or org for me.

Humor me --- explain this "huge" difference. ;)

There may be a huge difference to you (e.g., your motivation for doing so), but we're talking about the perception of other people (since the issue seems to concern whether or not one looks "less mature" and what someone "sees on your wall").

I don't see any difference between the two (but then, I don't have a problem with either in any case). If you're dressed like a college student might dress (which would be the case with either situation), then who's to say that someone might not perceive you as being "less mature"? In the old days, the "stereotype" of a college student was of a person wearing "college logo" gear (the university sweater, the logo flag, etc.).

You maintain that there's a big difference between the two, and I see no problem with wearing letters after graduation.

It's a matter of opinion --- no more, no less.

Reading your post, I am hearing that you deem wearing college sweatshirts as inappropriate after college as well (since that issue should be taken care of "long before leaving college"). If so, then it is pointless for me to further argue the point, although many people (including successful working attorneys) would likely disagree with you. If I am interpreting your post incorrectly, then you have my apology in advance.

Oh really? Consider this: There used to be a time when shorts were considered appropriate only for children. You got your "long pants" when you became an adult.

Again, it's about perception, and differences in perception.

But --- DSTRen13 is right, the argument (in general) is pointless, and one should "pick their battles", so I will let it go --- I've said my piece. ;)

Actually, I'm not sure why there's a "huge" difference. I see and pretty much agree with your take on clothes (although I also agree with those who have said that it's a matter of opinion and of differences in the cultures of various campuses and orgs). You and I have similar opinions here, although I think the "huge" difference is nothing more than what is common/traditional in our cultures.

I don't, however, see a "huge" difference at all with some other things -- decals, plates or plate frames on cars, for example. Why is a having an SAE alum decal or license plate frame on your car hugely different from having a Texas-Exes decal on your car?

I know an SAE alum in his early 40s who has a small (2x4 or so) decal of the SAE flag on the window of his SUV. I know a Sigma Chi alum (late 40s) who has a small decal of the Sigma Chi coat-of-arms on the window of his SUV, opposite the decal of the Clemson Tiger paw print. I know a KKG alumna who has a license plate frame that says "ALUMNA -- KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA." A decal for her undergrad school is nearby.

I'll readily admit that decals or plates of alma maters are much more common -- around here they're almost a requirement. But it's not so unusual to see something Greek on an alum's car that I would see any huge difference.

Hm, I only have a license plate on my car.

LXA 1.

When I find the proper letters, I will add those in the window.:D

While I do not wear t-shirts, I wear polo or sweat shirts or a cap on the weekend.

Amazing how many nice fellow Greeks I have found and had a few froths with!:) Isn't that the point?

Finding fellow LXA Brothers is always even better!!!!!

I agree with pretty much all you've said in this thread. I would like to add one minute thing to your list though. It's okay to have your greek letters on a class ring. Otherwise, unless you're serving in some sort of official capacity where you need to be recognized as a member of your organization, if you're in the professional world, dress professionally.

I still wear party shirts to the gym, but that's about it.

I agree with you here 1919, because I know full well I am not immature, stupid, or any other adjective he has used in reference to those who choose to wear greek regalia post-college. So we can just converse to those a bit more open-minded or at least willing to listen. Have you noticed people who assume they are so 'together' and "I am such and such now, bla, blah, blah" talk too much, never listen or positively observe other vantage points...it is sad to think you reign within such a simplistic box.

Anyhoo, it's more than 'wearing' greek letters. Its about showing pride, and exhibiting oneself within a group. In the AA community the 9 are pretty much known EVERYWHERE. No matter where you go, it's the same! AA community leaders are many times members of these organizations, thus an appreciation for what our orgs stand for is obviously not parallel to 'some' npc/ifc org members. When I have on a piece of paraphernalia, I reminisce about my sisterhood, my pledge sisters, etc. It keeps me grounded and in thought of where my Organization came from and where it is going. What big point that "mac'" forgot to mention, which is obviously not a part of their brotherhood is how those so-called stupid license plates and silly sweatshirts can help you out when you are up against the wall. Case in point, I let two friends drive my car about a year after I pledged and it broke down on them in a remote area. They were scared and without a cell phone. They just waited as car after car passed by them. Then a big rageddy truck passed, hit the brakes and bagged up. They said they were like "oooohhhhh shhhh%$!" But then a dainty lil lady got out and yelled "Hey Saaaa-raaah!!!!, Ya'll alright? What's going on with ya car??" They said they looked at each other and whispered "SAA-RAH, who does she think we are?" I later informed then that that wonderful soror who helped them and took them to the nearest autozone, was a little bit country, but she helped them because she assumed they were her sisters in DELTA!!!

Scenarios like this and countless others have led me to KNOW there is not a DAMN thing wrong with wearing nalia. I was never that neo that was dripping in it, nor do I now, but I have and always will PROUDLY wear my sorority's esteemed letters. Period. So if that's stupid or immature, somebody get me a diaper!

And I'm done...

I actually never called anyone stupid or immature. Thanks though. I said, in my opinion, that wearing or flashing your letters all over the place when you are out of college is stupid and makes you look immature. Obviously there is a difference between what BGLOs think about it as opposed to how most predominately white fraternity men that I know of in the South think about it.
As far as appreciating what my fraternity stands for.......who the hell are you to say anything about that. I don't need to wear a bunch of fraternity apparel and deck out my car in everything SAE to show appreciation for what my fraternity stands for or that I am proud to be on.

Sorry, but putting a sticker on my car in hopes that it could help me in a bind isn't something that we think about concerning brotherhood.....that is absolutely ridiculous. Frankly, I feel safer knowing that my Tahoe has On Star incase I get in trouble rather than relying on a passerby to notice an SAE sticker and hopefully stop.

I would appreciate it if you wouldn't comment on how we exhibit brotherhood and apprediation for our chapter/fraternity (I'm a fourth generation SAE and an officer in my chapter....my loyalty and commitment to the fraternity speaks for itself). I can assure you it is much deeper than making sure I wear something to let everyone know that i'm an SAE.

Same here. I wear fraternity jewelry that is understated but has special meaning to me.

I have a pinky ring as well as a few necklaces and braceletes with letters and/or crest/and or crown.

The most special pieces, though.. were given to me as gifts. One is a gorgeous silver charm bracelet that was hand made by the same person who gave it to me. I wear it nearly every day.

It has a silver strawberry, pink ribbon for our philanthropy, silver crown, and a few other charms she included that are also very special to me (judo charm, ship's wheel, my university's mascot, etc).

I also have a lovely five-pointed crown pin someone else gave me.

A group of my non-fraternity friends chipped in to buy me a gorgeous 14k gold and diamond pendent with letters and crest for my birthday.

I do have a few shirts and sweatshirts, but wear them mostly to alumnae pic-nics and scrapbooking events.

Fraternity? Aren't you a girl?

.......and aren't you that 200 something year old AI hag that stalks people via public records and the internet?

Some Sororities have Fraternity in their name.

Get with it if you can.

:)

As far as wearing letters, I guess it is each to their own isn't it?:D

LOL! In his pompous attempt to launch an attack, macallan25 just shot himself in the foot. Gotta love it.

Brother, while I agree with your thoughts and beliefs, I think of a larger situation.
Ever day, I see people wearing Collage hats, shirts, sweats et al. And most of them are well out of school.
Then you have those who are paying, thru the nose in many cases, to be walking advertisements. Nike, GAP, A&F, any Team et al.
So, I really to not see a major problem if someone cares to wear something personally close and personal to them.
Or have a sticker or two on their car.
But that is just my OVHO/POV.
Should add that I have met both Brothers and fellow Greeks either because I was wearing a shirt or they were.

Bro, I really don't care what people choose to wear....it is none of my business. I was just stating my personal opinion.

I have never heard of a sorority having "fraternity" in their name.

.....hopefully you won't e-stalk me.

i'm a member of Phi Mu which was founded in 1852 prior to the word Sorority which was invented for Gamma Phi Beta. So many of the sororities on my campus regardless of date of founding are fraternities as well like: Phi Sigma Sigma, Alpha Xi Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi, as well as Phi Mu are nationally and formally known as FRATERNITIES (being modeled originally after men's organizations) while others ex: Sigma Sigma Sigma and Delta Phi Epsilon are formally titled as sororities. It is a matter of preference: example Alpha Delta Pi was originally a fraternity as well (they were founded in 1851) but formally changed to sorority (if I'm not mistaken). It is simply matter of choice and tradition. I hope I was clear, if not, someone try to clean up my point!

If you really look at the official names, a good number of the women's groups are technically fraternities. It may seem weird, but it's true.

It seems that there are more opportunities for Divine Nine members to stay active with their groups after graduation. Sure, it's possible for NPC/IFC members to do so, but it's less common. The fact that an active member would feel the most comfortable wearing letters makes sense to me, so I think that explains a lot of the difference in attitude.

I don't wear letters in my day to day life unless there's a reason for me to do so. If I were an advisor or if I were going to an event, I'd wear them. I'm certainly proud of Alpha Gamma Delta, but I don't want to seem like I'm trying too hard to hang on to who I was in college, and I'm afraid this is how wearing letters a lot would come off to many people I know. If you are doing something for your group in the present, it makes sense to wear letters a lot, but if you activity for the group is mainly in the past, then your letter wearing probably is too or it's a lot more subtle. (outside of GreekChat, of course).

Mind your manners and hold your insults, and I won't. :D
In the meanwhile, here are some examples of other female fraternities (taken from their national websites):

"Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women"
http://www.pibetaphi.org/

"Kappa Alpha Theta was founded in 1870 as the first Greek-letter fraternity for women...."
http://www.kappaalphatheta.org/

Welcome to Kappa Kappa Gamma Founded in 1870, Kappa is one of the oldest women's fraternities.."
http://www.kappakappagamma.org/

"Phi Mu Fraternity is pleased to announce the new members of its 2006-2008 National Council and NPC Delegation. Elections were held at the... "
http://www.phimu.org/

Alpha Phi International Fraternity Established in 1872
http://www.alphaphi.org/