from the author of Pledged
 

Hi GCers,

(Sorry this is such a long post!)

Usually it’s not advisable for an author to post on message boards, but I wanted to do so in this case because the opinions of members of this board matter to me. (Last year, after a member of this board told me about Greekchat, I requested permission from a moderator to post a query asking if I could observe any of your sororities’ community service events, but I was turned down.)

First, I want to let you know that Pledged is not an attack on sororities, and I am not anti-GLO. The book description that was posted is outdated and should be replaced in the near future (book descriptions aren’t written by authors). Essentially, Pledged involves the following: The narrative threads of the book are the stories of four sisters throughout an academic year – four terrific women whom I hope and intend readers, both Greek and non-Greek, to relate to and root for. I don’t think it spoils anything to reveal to you that by the end of the year, none of the girls deactivated, unlike in the first MTV show. One reason I wrote this book was because my friends in sororities told me that the MTV show was neither accurate nor fair. They told me that the media tends to bash sororities without giving them a fair chance or a truthful, thorough portrayal. So I went into this hoping to come out with a truthful and balanced book, which I (and my sorority friends who have read it) think it is, as much as it could be; the sorority to which three of the main girls belong has successfully cracked down on hazing, for example. Hazing, by the way, is mostly limited to one section of one chapter – it’s not dwelled on – and I specifically state in Pledged things like, for instance, I didn’t want to get into an extended discussion of alcohol abuse because I think that’s a college phenomenon, not a GLO-specific activity, though the media often treats it as such.

The other thread in this book is a journalistic one. I know, from the sentiments expressed on this board, especially, that one cannot base an image of sororities on a few renegade sisters, which I state explicitly in the Introduction. So in addition to following these four sisters, I interviewed hundreds – close to a thousand – sorority sisters. I visited sisters and attended sorority events at schools across the country to get as complete a sense as possible of what sorority life is like. The list of negative aspects in that description didn’t all happen in one of the sororities I followed. In fact, I chose the four girls I most focus on because their sororities were, as the description suggests, “typical.” By typical I don’t mean stereotypical: these were goodhearted, smart, kind girls in a sorority that was fairly middle-of-the-road – a nice, well-liked group not known on campus for any extreme stereotype, that didn’t haze much, cared about spirit activities, had a mix of personalities, etc. This choice was meant to show non-GLO readers that most sorority girls aren’t so different from GDIs.

I do understand why, given the odd subject of my last book, GLO members would view Pledged skeptically before having read it. But I should point out both that Secrets of the Tomb is more of a tame, researched history than a sensationalized expose – and that, unlike the sources in that book, the sources in Pledged are very dear to me.

I can’t control what the print media chooses to extrapolate from the book (and yes I do see the irony in a member of the media who has written on this subject talking about how the media is sensationalizing the work!), but I do tell every interviewer that there are positives to sorority life and that the four main characters in this book are amazing sorority women.

You are totally welcome to email me about the book. I welcome a dialogue, especially from GCers who can tell me what they think of the portrayal of sorority life and the suggestions and ideas in the Conclusion. You can reach me anytime at pledged@hotmail.com. I’m currently working on my next book (“Conquering Your Quarterlife Crisis,” a sequel to my first book that’s intended to help 20 and 30somethings work through various issues), so it might take me until May to get back to you, but I read every email I receive, and I welcome your opinions and comments especially.

Thanks for reading this post, if you’ve gotten this far, and I look forward to a dialogue in May…

Take care,
Alexandra Robbins

I'm sure the flood of emails (i've seen this email address listed many other places) is just giving the author more fodder to use for a sequel.

If you going to email, GCers, choose your comments wisely.

And remember that most GLO's (ours I know for sure) require ALL media comment to go through headquarters.

Re: from the author of Pledged
 

You can, however, choose what you say in an interview with People Magazine. In a few of your comments (namely regarding "sister parties", whatever those are) the words "some" and "a few" were conspicuously absent.

If this article isn't what you meant to say, it would serve you well to ask People for a retraction.

I ain't often right
but I've never been wrong
It seldom turns out the way
it does in the song
Once in a while
you get shown the light
in the strangest of places
if you look at it right

Yes...everyone needs to be careful about that. Myself, I don't really have anything to say except that I did read the inside jacket of "Pledged," and it didn't sound so nice and balanced. I remember the words "extreme promiscuity" as well as some other lovely descriptions.

It's probably best not to say anything to her.
Instead refer this post to someone at your HQ and if the feel it is necessary to respond they will.

I don't believe you.

if it really is you (which I kinda doubt) I'm reading your *cough* journalistic masterpiece right now and I have to say I feel it is very anti-sorority...calling sororities "unviversity recognized cliques" and the like... and although "you" do mention that you can't base fact on a "few renegade sisters" in the book you also attempt to say that these observations are commonplace by stating the other interviews you did besides the ladies that you followed throughout the year as evidence that these observations must be prevlant throughout the greek system. All I have to say to "you" is a somewhat cliche quote but I think it fits "from the outside looking in you never understand it, from the inside looking out you can never explain it". You will never completely "get" greek life unless you truly live it.

all this post wants is PR. it's not her... probably just some random publicist trying to give a bad book good press. And the more and more we discuss it, the more successful the book will be because people will get curious, buy the book and then come on here and criticize it. But as you buy it, the more money the author makes.
Everytime something controversal comes around (remember sorority life???), someone joins and posts that they are an INSIDER and know all. how is this any different.

That's why you have to go to the bookstore and read it there :D

But you're right. Most people will be curious as to what she has to say and will probably buy the book. I too am curious, but not enough to buy her book.

Get it from the library like I did... :D

Don't buy the book, it's not worth it.

You can't follow "four sisters" and interview "hundreds - close to a thousand" sisters and still be able to get a good grasp of the dynamics behind greek life. Or we could go into the ways in which greek life differs in the many regions of this country.

Furthermore, you attended sorority events that I'm more than sure were "public events' in the sense that they weren't initiation/secret ritual events.

Lastly, out of those "close to a thousand" that you interviewed, how many were members of NPHC orgs or multi-cultural orgs? Lation orgs? Service orgs? You get the poing...


Oh yea, if you aren't truly greek, no matter how many people you interview you'll still never be able to fully understand it...

blahity blah blah.....


Don't buy it anyone, don't support people like this...

One post and zippity do da! Up, Up and away!:(

Bite my butt sweety, you are like all of the rest! BS runs down hill and we arent buying it!:mad:

The gaul of some people is well ignorant! Well, She asked if she could yep right!:rolleyes:

Sorry, I a have a boil on my butt and is hard to sit on!:o

Tom, that last line contained way more detail than we ever needed to know.

Yep the wonders never cease..........

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That just made my night! :D

I understand most of you guys are pissed about the book "Pledged", but think about this....The sisters that Robbins followed in her book gave her permission to follow them and know their secrets. Robbins simply wrote what she saw. If you want to be mad at someone be mad at the girls who let the media person into their lives, not Robbins.

co sign

But the four women she "shadowed" didn't know she was a media person, didn't know she was going to use this to write a "tell-all" book. They just thought she was a normal person, from what I gathered. The author even admits in the prologue that had she made her intentions clear to these girls they would most likely not have been as open and as candid as they were.

After glancing through it today at B&N, I just have to :rolleyes: at it. It's nothing new--she brings up the same old stuff that's been dredged up before. It's really a dialogue of what any college student could experience during her time in school. It's overly sensationalized because it deals with the sororities. Most of her examples are things she garnered from old articles and other media. She just spins it to fit her book.

Oh, that's underhanded.

The girls most definitely did know who Robbins was. She says "I can't divulge how the four girls I chose, who knew they would be the main characters in a book I was writing about sororities, introduced me to sisters, who did not know;" Therefore the main characters in the book DID know that she was an author, and are the ones you should be mad at. Read the book before you make judgements.

I read enough of the book to know it's not worth my time. There is a large difference between telling someone you're an author and telling someone you're going to write an expose on sorority life. We do not know how she approached those girls. We don't know what she told them she was writing about. And in any organization you're going to be able to find someone who has enough bad feelings for the org that they are willing to take part in something such as this if the author did made her intentions known. Those attitudes are reflected in the author's writing, and cannot be seen as a typical view of that chapter or organization. And I repeat, sensationalism.

I agree that perhaps Robbins did find girls who had enough negative feelings toward their chapter that they came out in interviews. I just don't think that all the blame can be put on Robbins when so many interviews were conducted where sisters divulged information.

Oh I don't think she should get all the blame, either. The girls should have practiced a little more discrection (hey, have they been hanging out on GC lately??) but I also question the guise in which Ms. Robbins introduced her intentions.

I also find it quite dishonorable that she would reveal some of the information that she did, especially in relation to ritual. As a member of a secret org herself (Scroll and Keys) I would hope she would have slightly more tact than that, even with the thinly disguised veil of research. But maybe that's just me.

Just to put this book in perspective...look at the endnotes (which I did over lunch). A great deal of the comments on the "behavior rules" are from a book on Rush that is almost 20 years old and authored by a former rush captain (i.e. when she wrote it she was out of school, so most of what she says is probably from 1982 or so) from U of Texas, which definitely isn't a "typical" school. I've read that book and it was like reading a fantasy novel...it certainly didn't pertain to my sorority life, even in the 1980's.

Not to mention the Ibid after Ibid from our good friends Melody Twilley and another person whose name I can't mention who has little to no credibility.

Oh, and ISUKappa, don't worry about the ritual stuff. She got mine completely wrong, I'm sure she missed the mark with the rest as well. Sorry no cookie!

She probably got her information of the website that tells us that Pi Beta Phi means "pierced by fire"

lol LadyPiPhi .. now there's some real investigative reporting!!!!

interesting how robbins has dissappeared. :)

You were able to read all the endnotes over lunch--did you take a two-hour one? ;) I looked through them last night, too. Gah. At least she's attributing. She is the Queen of Taken Out Of Context.

And I'm sure that most, if not all, of her ritual info is wrong, especially considering one of her resources was that website. But just the fact that she put in the info (correct or not) shows her complete lack of respect and journalistic integrity.

Are you serious. She really did use that website?? :eek: :eek: :eek:

I was only joking!

She may want to look into a reporting job with the Enquirer.

I didn't check all the footnotes, she may have--it wouldn't surprise me--but I was referring to the other one that focuses on just one group.

Ok.
But either way, websites aren't really a reliable source of information. She should know better.

DA ME, you mean not everything on the Internet is not True? The Inquirer is a pack of BS wrapped in a brown paper sach with a pretty ribbon tied is not for real!:(

This is what many of us have said before, the only thing that sells about Greeks is the worst part, not all of the good that is done.

Who will buy a book on LXA, SX, KS, GPB, SK, Tri Delt, AGD ETC, about the hours spent collecting food, playing with children, cleaning highways or any other thing that is done for betterment?

Well it doesnt take much to reason that out does it!:rolleyes:

Who cares that LXA North American Food Drive is the largest of anyone ever, or the SX Derby Day is one of the most recognized Campus Charity Events?

Good dont sell, so in watching the Sprint Ads. the two Greek Organizations look like idiots! Check out the Letters, DA!

I cringe everytime I seem them!:o


Oh, if ayone buys the book, how about passing it around so we can scan it and not make the Author anymore, $$$$$$$, our own lending library?:)

Ya know, I SERIOUSLY do not get what it is with people's obsessions with making Greeks sound bad! I mean, if they had ANY idea what it's really like, and went beyond all those damn stereotypes, they would finally get it. I'm a theatre major at my school, and have to constantly listen to people bash me and my choice to be in a sorority. I'm so sick and tired of "non- conformists" saying that I'm a sellout or whatever. My sorority made me a better person, and got me to stop doing very self- destructive things (ah, the "willpower of a dancer"). They have NO idea how much it means to me!! I swear, it's just rampant immaturity! As for this sketch- as- hell reporter, she obviously knows nothing about true journalism. She says that she researched... she may havem but she then twisted it. She then tried to butter the Greeks up about it, being all "I have respect for those girls I interviewed".... if you respect us, show it! I just don't understand it. Can anyone explain this to me?!?!

Ah, seeing your number of posts a newbie so to speak at least on Greek Chat! Yes, it is a sad thing, and I think all Greeks will admit it helped all of us become much better people!:)

We understand that, but those who have never been through it have no clue!:(

Those who have never been through a Ritual whether it be mine or anyone elses really dont have a clue!:mad:

:Just a throw in, a young Man Who is now a Brother Of LXA, emailed me telling me about how I told Him how he would feel form going through our Ritual emailed me back saying how right I was and was so glad to have been a part of it!:

We all know what it is like to go through the workings and teachings and our Rituals and what it means to us. Those that havent, dont have and never will have a clue!

Tom, while all that may be true, the originator of this thread/author of this book belonged to a local group and therefore, was likely privy to some sort of ritual. Why doesn't she reveal her own ritual in this book? Or does she? I never read it... better things to read, ya know?

Some folks will do anything to make money. The author saw a potent source of income and simply tapped it. All of this indignation merely validates what she did. Of course, what she did was unfair to the individuals she used in her book. It did all work out for her though. I cannot think why she would post here and expect anything but outrage though.

She used that website??? :mad:

Don't make assumptions that people haven't read the book.

It appears to sound like a majoirty of people in this thread have read at least part of the book.

Anyway, unless anyone that has made a comment in this thread was actually along for the ride nobody is to tell anyone any different. If they girls knew or didn't know, if people read or didn't read the book or if people are passing judgement or not.

SO I bought this book in the hopes that she would portray an accurate picutre of greek life-I have been sadly mistaken. I have several problems with the book:

1) She did not use real names-how are we to know that the stories of these 4 girls are really true to begin with, and more importantly, how do we know that she did not twist their words and use them against these women. I doubt she was completely forthcoming when she approached these women-none of them seem overtly angry with their chapter-angry enough to make them want to do something so potentially harmful

2) Only one college and two sororities were observed. While there are some similarities to my alma mater, Robbins' State U chapters are NOTHING like my own and I am guessing nothing like your own. I know that my organization alone has close to 200 active chapters across the country, and there are 26 NPC orgs, and even more NIC orgs-we are talking about hundreds of thousands of people here. How can you make such an overaching arguement when your sample size is SO abysmally low? No credible journalist would print this.

3) I love how Robbins even manages to make greek philanthropy events look bad. She criticises us for having large charity events (i know a big one at my school was KD's Wiffleball tournament)
instead of investing in the community in other ways. Robbins does not understand the time, effort, and resources it takes to plan and successfully execute such events. I wonder when the last time was when Robbins last even though about contributing to a charity, much less the rest of the population at large. Yes, I personally donate money to RAINN from every paycheck. Does that make me a bad person because I contribute money and not time? Time is not something many of us have a lot of, and I contribute in the only way I can.

Sadly, I do not think the greek system will ever be portrayed in a positive light in the media. It is up to us then, to continue to further and promote our organizations and to show people how rewarding greek life can be from the inside.

Shame on you, Miss Robbins, shame indeed