Wearing your letters?
 

I was just wondering.....

When I was at the University of Marland, EVERYONE in the greek system wore their letters. Their glo was represented on just about everything! Shirts, hats, bookbags, buttons, etc.

Now I live very close to UCLA. I've been on campus several times. I know they have a large greek system, but I've never seen anyone wearing their letters. Not once!

Is anyone here from UCLA? Can you explain why people don't wear their letters?

I was also wondering what the differences are from campus to campus.

Is letter-wearing popular on your campus?

P.S. Please don't have me beheaded if this topic has already been discussed. I looked but didn't really find anything. Thanks! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

At Northern Illinois, all the Greeks wear their letters with pride =) from lavalieres, sweaters w/ block letters, rush shirts, baby tees, hats, etc. The BGLO members even have their letters and crests imprinted on these awesome tote bags (although i haven't seen them wear lavalieres--any reason for this?). I wear mine around town and even to public places when I go home---and I have experienced fellow PSEs coming up to me in the mall and introducing themselves! i guess wearing letters is just different from campus to campus, although I cannot imagine why they don't do it in UCLA. My ex who is a Sammy in another school said they also wear letters proudly and in fact there's a certain day in the week (i believe it's wednesday) where they're all required to wear Sammy attire....the only time we don't wear letters is during events where alcohol is involved--i'm sure some other GLO's have similar rules to abidy by given by nationals.

Wearing letters was pretty common at my campus, too. (I attended Capital University in Columbus, OH). In fact, most, if not all, of the GLOs had a specific day during the week that all of their members wore letters. Sometimes you would be surprised at how many people were in XYZ. We had a really small greek population, so it was just one way to show people whoe we were.

We also had a few students who pledged local BGLO chapters (we didn't have any BGLO chapters specifically on our campus) and they always had something with letters. From keychains, to bookbags, to umbrellas...

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SilverTurtle@greekchat.com

Phi Beta Fraternity: National Professional Association for the Creative & Performing Arts

I am from Long Beach and people dont wear there letters all the time either. I am in The Phi Kappa Tau fraternity Inc. and we try and wear something that represents our fraternity ALL the time. I think it all depends on the people and how they are represented on different campuses...also I was wondering what does GLO stand for also KD??? just wondering.

Fraternally,
Ricky

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The Power of one
The Force of Many
HOO RAH!!

I think it is so funny how different schools do such different traditions.
One of our CDCs(Consultants) was from University of Illinois and they don't wear block letter. She would always poke fun at us and we would laugh about her accent...she was great!

Ricky, GLO stands for Greek Lettered Organization. You'll be coming across many acronyms on GC!



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"I don't know the secret to success, but one sure way to failure is to try and please everyone."--Bill Cosby


Visit Alpha Gamma Delta-Delta Sigma chapter and help some sisters out!

What do you all mean when you refer to "block letters"? Is that greek letters that are sewn onto a piece of clothing as opposed to being ironed on?

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@~Tracy~@

By the light of the lamp, by the light of the lamp, by the bright shiny light, by the light of the lamp...if you are a DeeZee, you're the best that you can be, by the bright shiny light of the lamp!

My understanding of block letters is a shirt or sweatshirts with just your letters on it, big on the front either sewn on or whatever, I'm not sure that makes a difference. But it is not a shirt from a party, event, etc.

At Miami, I don't see many greeks wearing their letters like that. Specifically for DU, our pledge jerseys are like that, so maybe we kinda associate wearing letters with pledging. So you either wear your pledge jersey or you would have to get another one made. I always thought we should get shirts made as a chapter that have just our letters on them, and I believe someone did that before the summer, so hopefully when we get back in the fall we can wear them. Regardless, we do wear other shirts a lot that are from events we do.

Brian

When I was at USC in the early 90's we wore our letters often--be it sweatshirts or party t-shirts and almost all the sororities had backpacks with their letters on them.

But I've been on campus lately and noticed no one in letters at all.

Also, around L.A. in general when I was in college you'd see letters, but not anymore--nowhere do I ever see anyone in party t's or sweatshirts--not even the gym.

Amy

On my campus, no one in any group wears block letters except for some of the professional orgs.

I've seen members of BGLO's and MCGLO's in crossing jackets every once in a while, but that's about it.

Guys in IFC frats never wear letters.

The NPC sororities wear party shirts and that's about it. And some groups wear party shirts far more often than others. Although I heard that this year it was mostly due to the fact that 2 sororities had t shirt chairs who got shirts in colors a lot of people really didn't like.

Window stickers on cars are HUGE down here however. Huge as in popularity, not in size http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Am I right in assuming that party shirts are the ones that are made up for certain events, etc bid day or whatnot?

yep!

I think that more people wore block letter's in the 80's than they do now. Think about they had more greek movies, so greek life was more in pop culture. However when I was at spring break, in panama city alot of people wore their letters. Personally you should want to wear your letters you earned them.

Every Wednesday has been unofficially designated as wear your letters and represent, so most Greeks have letters on on wednesday, also at philanthropy events you'll see almost everyone in letters. People wear letters around campus, or at the least party shirts or whatever. As far as off campus I don't just hang around in my letters for 2 reasons. 1, I have more respect for them then to wear them to clean my house or do the laundry or whatever. 2, When I am off campus among the general population I don't care for people commenting on my personal behavior and chalking it up to "those greeks". If I say a swear word in public its not because I'm Greek...its because I felt like using an expletitive to express my emotion. I hate when people are wearing their letters and are doing something stupid/acting like a moron...its like, I know you're not in my sorority but you're still representing Greek Life on my campus. so go home or shut the hell up but just stop being stupid.

hey Leslie Anne,
I love talking to other KD's. I know here at ECU we always wear letters, block and party shirts, necklaces, etc. I personally enjoy wearing my letters around town. My old roommate went to chapel hill, he always made fun of me for wearing block letters, because according to him they didn't wear the block ones. I don't understand way any one would not wear them I personally am very proud of them and would wear them everyday if I could

On my campus, you'll see people wearing their letters all the time. In most GLO's here, however, block letters are not worn until after initiation.

At Rutgers University, everyone is falling apart and the everyday students dislikes greeks, so you'll hardly see anyone wearing letters on campus. It's kind of sad that no one has any pride for their letters, but then again there is no greek unity so nobody would even notice each other if they did wear 'em...

Everyone on our campus wears letters proudly. Our sorority has a letter wearing schedule, where certain sisters wear letters each day of the week. It's great to keep your name out there.

As a local soriety on a campus of all national chapters, we need to wear our letters to keep our name out there. When I got into my soriety I wanted the letters so badly. I would never dream of not wearing my letters as much as possible. It used to be a joke with my pledge class that when we got in we wanted to staple the letters to our chests...gross sounding yes, but we all know whats its like to be a pledge http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

My sister (biological) went to UCLA and was in a sorority. It's true, they don't wear their letters all that much, except for special events, I think (bid day, big sis/lil sis, etc.). I've noticed that a lot of people on campus wear UCLA stuff, though. I also haven't noticed any bumper stickers, etc. which have their letters on it. Rather, there are a lot of UCLA license plates, bumper stickers, "beat 'SC" (USC and UCLA are fierce rivals) stickers, etc. But I think Greek Life is pretty important (actually, that isn't the right word...but can't think of the exact word) at UCLA.

At Penn State sometimes people wear letters, but it's not really a big thing. When one of our advisors comes to see us she always remarks how different things are here and where she went to school where people ALWAYS wore full frontals.

At WKU everyone wears letters, whether it is block shirts which are popular (we can get them made at the local greek store) and usually they say something on the back like "Sarah's Big Sis" or "Katie's lil" or "Jackie's Dot" etc (Dot and Mom are AGD only I think!). There is also a lot of "Tonya's ALS" as in Adopted little sister or "Jackie's ABS" adopted Big Sis. Things like that. The guys don't do this, but they do wear their block shirts. It shows what org you are in and that you are proud of it. We have letter days on Mondays for my chapter and we wear badge attire on Thursday, but each chapter picks a day!


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If your going to go greek, why not be a goddess?

At Auburn, I always see people in letters. It's so much fun sittin in class and checking out the latest t-shirts and seeing how many poeple you know that are in XYZ.

ilovemyglo, what do you mean by Dot? I am an Alpha Gam and know what you meant when you said Mom.

She means sister-daughter. I'm an Alpha Gam.

ees125, dot = daughter

Actually it is kind of funny. Our LC told us we were one of a few chapters that has both Sister-Mothier, Sister-Daugheters AND Big sisters and Little Sisters. We get our sis-mom's at our pledge ceremonies and our big sisters the week after initiation. I know at the Gamma Xi chapter they do Sis-Mom
and Sis-Dots after initiation and you get a pearl pal at pledgeship. Kinda different at every chapter I guess!!!


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"...and love her for her womanhood."

I went to UCLA and I wore something with my letters on it practically every single day. I observed that the ethnic greek organizations tend to wear their letters more than the other greeks on campus. My roommate from freshman year joined a Panhellenic sorority, and she told me that they don't wear their letters very often because UCLA has a very vocal anti-greek population and they would rather avoid the dirty looks, etc. The greek system is quite popular, but there are many students who are firmly against it. At UCLA, you either love the greeks or you really hate them.

Now I live very close to UCLA. I've been on campus several times. I know they have a large greek system, but I've never seen anyone wearing their letters. Not once!

Thanks for your responses everyone! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

I guess it really just depends on the traditions and politics of each individual campus. It's been interesting to hear where people wear their letters and where they don't.

Thanks also to "newbie" and "LatinaAlumna" for explaining the situation at UCLA. It really had me perplexed!

I went to George Mason and I always wore my letters as an undergrad. I usually wore them to class and sometimes when we went out to eat on a week night. I didnt wear them to bars. I did wear my hat sometimes though and you did see other guys from other Fraternities that did that too. I'd say the sororities at Mason represented the most as far as wearing Letters. The guys tended to wear them less and often times it was the newer brothers that tended to wear them. Unless we had a specific day where we would all wear them. We have a pretty big greek school. Last time I checked it was 16 Fraternties and 6 Sororites.

Kevin

Wearing YOUR GREEK LETTERS? That is very interesting!!!
This may seem a problem as we as secret organizations, we do not want to let others know that we do exsist.
I at times and many of them , tekk my chapter, LET people know who you are! This is a form of advertising.
If you are not proud to be who you are then don't belong!
I get very tired of the only time I see my letters or Badge is when We have a formal function when Aluns come back.
I do not work for Budweisef, Gap, Old Navy or any other clothing company
If you are not into being in your Greek Org. do not be there. If you are wear your colors proudly! This is also called adverising!
I still talk up My Fraternity, and would like to wear something beside T-Shirts with my colors on them. I would be proud to wear in My Shop and promote My Fraternity.

My suggestion to my young Brothers were to wear polo or golf shirts with the name on it to let others know who YOU are !We are having Alums go down to Freshman Orientation, and I have nothing to wear, and We do not wear our Badges on casual clothing! But if necessary, to promote My Fraternity, I will to show how Proud I am to be a member of My Fraternity!


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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

I almost hate to bring this up, but I sort of think the shortening of pledge periods and the anti-hazing movement has something to do with the decline of letter-wearing. The older girls at my school told me that there had been a big decline in letter wearing since they were freshmen, and that that was around the same time that our university greek office mandated shorter new member periods, and that national organizations implemented new anti-hazing stuff.

I'm not saying that hazing increases pride or that it is good, not at all. In fact, most groups at my campus didn't haze a bit before the new rules were in place. But now, a lot of groups can't even give tests about the history of the organization, or have any new member activities whatsoever due to the anti-hazing rules. A lot of the "education" has been taken out of the new member education because of it. And for this reason, I think the idea of "earning one's letters" is gone. Because a lot of groups couldn't truly teach about the history of their GLO and the importance of taking pride in it, no one thinks of the letters as a big deal and that's kind of sad.

kappagirl00,

I think you were right the first time.

Do not ignore the obvious.

huh?

I just want to say that you can have just as much pride in you're org. if you dont wear letters as someone who does. The pride should be what you get from it, not how you wear it http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif But at Michigan, some wear it, some dont. Depends on what you feel like wearing. Bu its funny b/c this same issue caused like a 3o min debate at one of our chapter meetings. We were doing COB anf thought maybe there should be one day when everyone wore letters. All hell broke loose. Some didnt want to b/c they felt they were being forced, others said they didnt have enough lettered stuff (which is true, some girls only had the one shirt we were given and its kind of hideous), etc.

i am proud to say that i wear my letters quite frequently...even if it is only to the gym. when we are initiated we recieve double stiched letters (i guess these are the so-called block letters) from our big. and let me tell you, that is a big deal here. we also wear sorority jackets. us phisigs are always out to "advertise" as one of y'all put it. basically i am not only proud to be greek but proud to be a phi sigma sigma!

I am a strong believer that if you love your organization then show it. Grant it that there are weather conditions that prevent some line of clothing to be worn on a regular basis but I for one find a way to represent everyday whether its just my lavaliere, or a hat. But Harverd Red and Old gold is what you'll find me in. I love being a Phi Tau. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

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The Power of one
The Force of Many
HOO RAH!!

No problem Leslie Anne, I wish I could have helped more! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

LatinaAlumna, thanks for explaining the situation at UCLA further http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif!

Also, people might be expressing their love for their GLO without others knowing it. My adopted big gave me a necklace that I wear all the time, but it's just a little heart charm -- nothing to do with KKG in the eyes of others, but to me it represents my love for my sorority.

Hi!!! I'm guessing block letters are what we call chest letters (because they are big and go across your chest... unless they are hand made and they got placed wrong... then they become stomach letters and you dont wear them lol...)
At Clarion, we wear our letters all the time... I seem to have a LARGE collection... I have bags, babydoll tees, formal shirts, recruitment shirts, words, PJ's exercise shrits (the good ol'e RUSH PHI SIGMA SIGMA ones!) Shorts, Boxers, tanktops, sweatshirts People always ask me if I have underwear that say Phi Sig.... lol (my one sister was actually going to make me a pair as a gag!)

I always wear letters, even if its to Mud Football, or something messy yet fun... it shows that we have fun, and it is advertising!

Oh one of the best things, on our campus we all have jackets... its the big thing... they are like baseball jackets, or HS letter jackets...(but nylon!) and theyre great! Most sororities have white ones, but Zetas have light blue and we have BRIGHT YELLOW! It may not be the most attractive color, but hey... a girl will remember when someone in a yellow coat holds the door for her!

My million cents, sorry its so long!
Ali