Haha! I actually wondered this myself. :p

I don't see how HQ could force someone to get it removed. But those sorts of things are mentioned VERY on in the new member period, so who knows what the consequences would be?

Re: Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Mu Alpha
 

I am a member of SAI and there is no drinking in letters rule. There was a statement sent out about my junior year that said there was no such rule but that a female of SAI should always conduct herself in a manner that sheds a positive look on the fraternity. IE we could have a drink together as friends even at a function but never to the point near intoxication

Haha nah I had on a DG belly button ring too.

Hmm.. We actually do have a rule against it, but it is more leaniant than other GLO's. According to a sister of mine who went to our national con. last year, we are allowed to drink in letters.. but with the stipulation that it is _legal_. So, if you are at least 21, or have a card that says you are.. you can drink in your letters. Otherwise, its a no go! (You shouldn't be drinking underaged anyways! ;) )

Well I must say that I'm going to sorority girl hell.

I've drank with my letters on, usually my lavilier but sometimes a shirt but the shirt, mind you, was under a sweatshirt. I've even been to bars wearing my lavilier, once even while skipping chapter (ok so it was senior skip). I have not burst into flames, and yes, it was always discrete, but there is a point where you worry too much and forget that what is a member of the sorority is you, not your sewn letters. Yes perhaps I'm being a twit, but it was not intentional to wear letters openly, it was a neckalace or a shirt that I covered up. I think you should be aware, but you also should not give yourself an anxiety disorder either.

Alumnae are over 21 and I really think they should be able to judge an appropriate situation.

*For AST if you are wearing letters you are supposed to cover them up or change, ie put your shirt on inside out. Sorority insignia is also part of this. We can't wear anchors, etc because it is also a representation of our sorority.

Way back when I was in school, everyone drank in their letters. Of course in those days everyone wore their badges everywhere (when properly dressed -- which was most of the time). If not, we were generally wearing sweat shirts or jackets with letters.

There was even a "Greek" (favored by fraternities and sororities) bar and the running joke among us radio-tv majors was that they wouldn't let you in unless your "pin" flashed the time and temperature. (radio announcer humor)

Of course that was before binge drinking was invented. We just called it chugging.

Things change.

Sigma Alpha Iota maybe, but not Phi Mu Alpha
 

Actually, Phi Mu Alpha is not a dry fraternity, at least not according to any national policy. Our risk management policy on alcohol provides (abridged):

1. The use of alcohol is prohibited as a recuitment tool or at rush functions, especially since the majority of prospective members are likely to be under age.

2. In the instances that persons of legal drinking age wish to partake of alcoholic beverages at functions which are sponsored wholly or in part by chapters of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, only members of the chapter who are of legal drinking age shall serve alcohol, and those serving alcohol shall be responsible for ensuring that those who drink are of legal age in accordance with prevailing regulations. Members of Phi Mu Alpha who serve minors alcoholic beverages, either wittingly or unwittingly, shall not be indemnified against the penalties which may result.

3. Chapters which choose to incorporate alcohol consumption by persons of legal drinking age in social functions shall be deemed hosts, and shall be responsible for the safety of those in attendance at such functions and are expected to designate drivers.

4. Chapters which provide alcoholic beverages at social functions shall be deemed responsible for the safe conduct of persons who have become intoxicated, and shall be prohibited from allowing such persons from leaving the event unescorted in an intoxicated state.

5. Due to the legal liability incurred by the provision of alcoholic beverages at sponsored events, chapters shall be prohibited from the sponsorship of events where alcoholic beverages are served for the purpose of raising funds, or where attendance is not limited to members of the chapter and a reasonable number of invited guests.

"While the fraternity recognizes the right of persons of legal age to consume alcoholic beverages, it does not condone excessive use of alcohol among its members or in conjunction with chapter sponsored activities. Chapters are expected to encourage responsible attitudes on the consumption of alcohol, and to take every precaution against contributing to an environment conductive to alcohol abuse on the part of its members and/or invited guests."

As far as drinking in letters go, there is no prohibition against it. The Fraternity expects brothers to refrain from acting in any way that discredits the Fraternity, especially if we are wearing letters so that our conduct could be a more obvious reflection on the Fraternity. Thus, responsible (and legal) drinking in letters is not a problem, while drinking to excess would be.

I've always thought the shirt inside out thing is the stupidest rule in the world. What looks worse, a girl in your letters having a Cosmo or a girl in your letters turned inside own having a Cosmo? The second one sure is going to draw more attention.

I just think it's a stupid rule because either way, you can tell which sorority the girl is from, it just looks sloppier so to speak if her letters are turned inside out.

There is such a negative exisiting perception of Greeks being whorish alcoholics that it only makes sense to avoid any sort of GLO-affiliation with your attire when you are acting loud and obnxious, drinking alcohol or looking to get your groove on. It's a PR thing. If we come off looking like polished, classy students with our letters on, that's good PR.

I'm not advocating binge drinking and rowdy behavior just because you aren't wearing letters-- even when you are not wearing your letters, people tend to know "who" you are. But college is a place to make mistakes-- hence all the over-drinking-- make your mistakes wisely. Stay safe.

So basically because some people have their minds made up that Greeks are a bunch of drunken idiots, we need to kiss their butts by making up ridiculous rules?

If someone wants to justify his bad opinion of Greeks because he saw someone drinking a glass of wine in letters, I don't see why I should waste one second of my life giving a rat's ass about it. Of course it's different if someone is acting a fool -- but someone can do that whether or not she's been drinking.

Drinking alcohol alone is not offensive to any reasonable person. If we start to worry about how we look to unreasonable people, I think we have a problem. WHO CARES?

Amen.

Ditto!