I saw a guy at the gym last week with a DG shirt on...I definitely had to do a double-take on that one.

Correct me if I'm wrong -- in the post-college world, I've always understood that NPHC sororities have a much more prominent role than NPC sororities have traditionally had. It seems that there is a TON of prestige (I'm not sure if that's the exact word I want, but I'm too lazy to pick up the thesaurus that is about five inches away) that comes from being a member of an NPHC organization, whether someone is in college or has graduated. As a result, I think adults have more incentive to, in one way or another, try to associate themselves with organizations of which they are not members. As far as I know, that sort of thing is VERY rare with NPC organizations, and I think it helps explain why we often have differing opinions on the issue of non-members wearing letters.

The "lifetime membership" component, what we are taught about our symbols, organizational protocol, and the control we generally maintain over our symbols and many of our members are explanations.

So, what explains when NPC members have different opinions? Is that about the specific sorority cultures or maybe differences in personalities?

I wish I was kidding. This girl had previously told us that the letters are sacred (which is understandable...to a point) and that we shouldn't disrepect the letters if we were ever to join. But just seeing how she treated her nephew really shocked me. I understand that letters are something to be proud of, but to go to that extreme is a little ridiculous.

It really is.

I know this probably wasn't directed at me, but I just want to make sure everyone knows that I don't think it's petty to care about someone else wearing your letters, and I hope that my statements haven't implied that.

ETA: I will, however, admit it's a bit freaky that someone gets that bent out of shape over a baby touching their letters. I've seen people get mad over other people touching their paddle, but not their shirt. It's a shirt -- it's going to get touched, especially in crowds! If your letters mean that much to you, why put them on an article of clothing in the first place?

I don't agree with your first statement, aside from perhaps the part about the control maintained over symbols, because I don't feel that I know enough about how NPC organizations maintain control over symbols to comment on it.

I think that in my post, I attributed the differering opinions to what you call "specific sorority cultures."

Well, it isn't about agreeing or disagreeing. You were asking about possible explanations so my contention is that what you highlighted is a partial explanation. There are overall structural differences and differences in tradition that are possible explanations.

I am very protective of my letters. I don't let anyone that is not a member wear anything that has AXiD on it. The only exceptions are our Parents Weekend, Homecoming, or other shirts that we allow other people to wear. As for guys wearing our letters, only if we give them the shirt as a chapter for philanthropy or other stuff, not because they are some ones boyfriend

I was more commenting on people's tones, not criticizing.

It's interesting that there's such a difference of opinion on this topic; I for one assumed that most Greeks felt the same way I did about the issue. Obviously, I've been proven wrong in this thread.

You have Great Taste!!!!:cool:

Normaly, if I saw someone with My Letters on, I would ask what Chapter they were from. If they just say I just wear it, I would stomp their ass into a mud hole!:D ;)

I just figure they do not know any better and let it go.

Now, when everyone quites pissing and moaning maybe we can move on?:confused:


Letters are not sacred, the meaning behind them is.


The Meaning of Life Membership is basically in the eye of the beholder isnt it? They will be if They Want to Be. But the thought and Idealism is still there for all of us and Our Organizations.:cool:

Lead the horse to water but may not be able to make them drink.

Both, I think.

I don't consider a party shirt with 2 or more groups on it or a Greek week shirt to be "someone else wearing my letters." That's an expression of Greek unity, IMO. I also don't understand the compulsion to make new shirts every time you scratch your butt, but that's neither here nor there. :)

If someone was freezing to death and the only thing I had was a letter sweatshirt - hell yeah. Whatever. You can always turn it inside out.

When it crosses the line is when someone REPEATEDLY wears letters who is not a member and does it with the intent of making others think they are associated with that group. There was a guy who got a hold of one of our sweatshirts and wore it all the time. People thought he was a sweetheart or a little brother - he was most definitely not - and while he was a good guy, we really didn't want anyone to think he represented our sorority in any way. We asked him to stop wearing it, and he did.

I think even the people who have been pretty laissez-faire about nonmembers wearing their letters would agree with that point.

I don't understand the "touching" prohibition either, but I'm not going to tell someone else their feelings are wrong and mine are right. Different things are different. The usage of colors - i.e., an AKA would never wear a letter sweatshirt in anything but pink & green, but an ASA would have no prob with a black sweatshirt w/ leopard print lettters - is another difference I've seen people mention on here. As long as no one's telling me I have to wear red & white only, I don't care what they do.

why thank you :D

:rolleyes:

But it's gone both ways. I get the feeling that some posters in that thread were trying to say I was irresponsible or a bad Greek just because I don't really care all that much who's wearing my letters. I think it's simply a difference of opinion -- the way people feel is going to vary from type of organization (BGLO/LGLO/MGLO being, on the whole, more protective) to school environment to chapter to the individual. I don't really care how other people treat their letters -- I only worry about mine.

To me, lettered tee shirts are:
1) an article of clothing first and foremost
2) something that shows my ties to my sorority
3) a reminder of my sorority's values and ritual

in that order. It doesn't bother me that other people might have that order reversed -- although, as stated in the other thread, it does bother me that anyone thinks they have a right to take lettered clothes or objects away from someone who deactivated (without compensation!) simply because of points 2 & 3. To me, that's stealing, which is probably not in accordance with most of our rituals. However, I have no problem with people who just don't want non-members wearing their letters -- I just don't really care that much myself.