Double Legacy?
 

This is just something I've had bouncing around my head for a while. I'm interested in hearing what you guys think.

My grandmother attended a very small four year university for a year (or two) before transferring to a much larger out of state university. The former institution may have been so she could get her associates degree- I think that was the situation, but I do not know for sure. At the former school, she joined a local sorority that affiliated with Alpha Sigma Tau many years after her time at that school. At the latter school, she joined Pi Beta Phi.

It doesn't matter for my personal legacy status- neither of those groups are on my campus, and I obviously joined another NPC. But, if I had gone to a school with either or both of those chapters, would I be considered a double legacy?

It's really a pointless question, but I've always wondered...

The only way you would be a double legacy would be if she had joined AST as an alumna initiate.

i think it is a good question.

it is my understanding that the women who were members of sororities that merged with another NPC sorority did not automatically become members of the receiving sorority unless they went thru the initiation ceremony of the latter. they were given the option of joining, but it was up to the member. this invitation was extended to both alumnae as well as collegiate members.

I don't think you would call it a "double legacy" if you were a legacy to both, though. Double legacy means you are a legacy to one fraternity through two members, ie. you mother and sister, or two sisters, etc. I don't think you or any of your family members are AST legacies. The NPC unanimous agreements predate your grandmother and would not allow her to pledge Pi Phi after being initiated into AST. Also, if she was a Pi Phi when the local merged with AST, she would not have been eligible to join.

First, sorry for the wrong terminology. I couldn't think of a better way to phrase it.

I am aware of the Unanimous Agreements- she was never initiated into AST. In fact, she wasn't even sure what NPC that local affiliated with- I found out it was AST through my own research. She's the only family member, besides my aunt and cousin on the other side, who's Greek, and would be my only potential legacy. I was just asking out of a curiosity.

Thanks for the answers! I was kind of thinking the same thing, but I never really knew until now. Thanks!

AST didn't join NPC until 1951, so if Grandma was in college before then, she could have (theoretically) pledged AST at her first school and then pledged Pi Phi at her second without breaking any rules. But since the group wasn't AST until long after she left (and long after AST joined NPC) it's a moot point.

You're right about double legacy being mom & grandma in the same sorority, not this kind of situation. There should be a name for it - let's make one up. Multi-legacy?

You're so right, 33girl. I forgot about their late entry into the NPC. Although 51 may be early enough to cover her grandmother :D

Well, she just missed AST's entry by a few years, if the local had affiliated earlier. :)

It's an interesting case, Smiles_Awhile! You don't need to be sorry for asking or your use of terminology. Not everyone understands how this works, and actual real life stories make it easier to explain.

So if a double legacy is two family members from the same sorority... is there no term like s stated for a legacy from two different chapters. i.e. my mom joined one sorority and my grandmother is from another. I would be interested in knowing how that would also work if both sororities were at the school that my sister would go to. How does recruitment work in this case?

You are just a legacy to two groups. There is no special name because it holds no special status for any group for you to be a legacy to their group AND another NPC. A double or triple legacy, however, is a very special status because it indicates a long family history with one organization.