If I remember correctly from reading Pledged, and granted that Robbins is not lying, she claims to have attended Yale and was a member of a senior society similar to Skull & Bones (a topic on which she authored another "expose"), although she, of course, cannot reveal which one. She did spend time in several sorority houses throughout the writing process, and whatever they chose to disclose to her is at their expense. She did claim to have sat in on chapter meetings too. I have no idea what kind of lax chapters she was with, but this would never fly with mine!

And not to mention she was about 26 at the time she wrote it, but could pass for 17 if she wanted. It really was an interesting book, and not all bad, but she did a lot of things wrong.

NPHC doesnt have quota / total either... so yeah.

Exactly! That was one of the 1st things she mentioned in the book, that she was not going to focus on NPHC sororities. Her focus was NPC, just the negative though. The "over" exaggerated negatives!

It was almost like she violated the journalist's code of ethics. Journalists aren't allowed to be biased in their reporting.

Show me an unbiased journalist and I'll show you a good actor.

Seriously, I know journalists are supposed to present an unbiased story, but they're still human. I guess my question is (and I haven't read the book, or else the answer might be obvious to me), is she a journalist or a novelist?

I would guess both.

Oh, her!

Robbins wrote an expose of Skull and Bones that was the basis for a documentary on that ran on tv a couple years ago. She even appeared in the documentary. I thought it a bit dishonest of her not to make it clear that she was a member of another Yale secret society in that documentary. She does, I believe, mention this on the book jacket. (didn't read the book, but flipped thru it at a bookstore. believe in the author blurp they put on the dusk jacket wrapped toward the back they mentioned her membership.

She is a member of Scroll and Key, btw.

Oh, she totally violated the journalist's code! I remember one of the comments she made about how girls so attractive, with so much going for them can have interest in something so outdated. So, yes she was very biased!

Writer does not necessarily equal journalist, even if the work is classified as non-fiction. News journalists are held to different standards and are afforded certain protections that "writers" are not.

It's more like historical fiction - some basis in truth, but obviously manipulated and the "blanks" filled in by the author's imagination. She had an axe to grind, and went in with certain preconceived notions. It is what it is - a moneymaker for her, no doubt - but certainly not what I would consider a journalistic masterpiece. It wasn't even a good read in my opinion.

I liked the book too. I thought the parts about the girls were far-fetched, I don't know anyone who has ever slept with a professor, but I think she looked for the biggest extremes to sell books. Some of the experiences were very true....I liked the part about the girls being forced to go to the dance-off at an odd hour, reminds me of relay for life

the fact based parts were very accurate. And she got my sorority's ritual down perfectly. Even our password.

"the fact based parts were very accurate. And she got my sorority's ritual down perfectly. Even our password."


I don't remember exactly what other sorority ritual was described in the book, but I know if mine was in there (if it was or was not I will not say so) I would NEVER admit to it. She may/may not have gotten it right, but why would you want people to know? Your ritual should be special to you and admitting that it's out there is essentially saying "here is my ritual, just take it" even if they did or did not have the meaning behind the ritual. That's my main issue with the book. Sensationalism or not, what was honestly the point of the ritual divulging parts?

Maybe her ritual is completely wrong in the book and she's using reverse psychology. :)

Mine was completely wrong, however I am not using reverse psychology.

I didn't read the book, but I thought I remember an ASA (hell it could have even been you) telling me that the only "ritual" info in that book for ASA was why we call our new members Pearls, which despite it not really being secret info, she got wrong.

Yes, that was it. She must have gotten that from our alumna from our Nevada chapter. :rolleyes: