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-   -   Calling new members "baby" (https://greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=122017)

Jen 09-20-2011 12:35 PM

Calling new members "baby"
 
.

NUKaydee 09-20-2011 12:46 PM

Our campus panhellenic discourages the use of the term.

DeltaBetaBaby 09-20-2011 12:47 PM

We never used it. The official term for a Phi Mu provisional member is "phi", and I think it is short and snappy enough as-is.

Do other groups not have official terms for their new members? Or do they just have things that aren't as cutesy?

Leslie Anne 09-20-2011 12:50 PM

Good for Alpha Phi! I don't think KD has adopted any such rule but I'd be completely on board with that. Not into the "baby" thing at all.

We just use the term "new member" (although I'm personally still in the "pledge" camp).

amIblue? 09-20-2011 12:52 PM

I've seen several terms used to refer to new members that I think are pretty yucky - usually involving "baby" somehow for many NPC orgs.

I miss the days when it was called pledging. It was so much simpler. I, for one, never felt hazed by being called a pledge. I'm fairly confident in asserting that members of my pledge class and close friends in other orgs felt the same way I did. I felt super special and excited about being a pledge.

I definitely think "Baby whatever" is much worse as far as being degrading to new members.

AlphaFrog 09-20-2011 12:58 PM

It personally doesn't bother me, but I think I remember campus and National encouragement against it.

Our new members are Pearl Sisters, or just Pearls.

thetalady 09-20-2011 12:59 PM

I totally agree! I personally dislike the use of the term. As far as I know, Theta does not have any "baby kites". I think the term "baby" may be more prevalent in organizations that have an animal as a mascot...

CougADPi 09-20-2011 01:00 PM

Ours are Alphas. Pretty sure I have never seen them referred to as Baby Alphas or anything like that. I think Alphas is cool enough on it's own.

My cousin, who just joined AGD, is super proud to be a "Baby Squirrel" and uses the term constantly in her facebook posts. :)

flirt5721 09-20-2011 01:03 PM

It's annoying to me. My chapter never used it while I was active. I think they may have gotten it from one of the ELCs when it was going through the revitalization process like two years ago. I have seen so many chapters start calling new members "Baby Xi's". If I remember correctly I believe there is a rule that says we are not supposed to use Xi on its own.

I have emailed Nationals asking what their stance on the issue is but have not received a reply. To me it is so disrespectful to a new member. I would have hated to be classed a baby. My NMOC always made it clear to us that we were not pledges or anything else. She always said you are New Members.

thetaj 09-20-2011 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thetalady (Post 2093006)
I totally agree! I personally dislike the use of the term. As far as I know, Theta does not have any "baby kites". I think the term "baby" may be more prevalent in organizations that have an animal as a mascot...

My chapter does say "Theta babies." I'm trying to get them to call them Thetartots but it's kind of hit or miss :p Someone suggested "kittens" once but that's just creepy.

Always AlphaGam 09-20-2011 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CougADPi (Post 2093008)

My cousin, who just joined AGD, is super proud to be a "Baby Squirrel" and uses the term constantly in our facebook posts. :)

Baby Squirrel doesn't bother me too much. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think I've ever seen/heard of my IHQ taking a stand against it.

What really infuriates me is the need for some chapters to do the handsigns...but that's for the handsigns thread. :mad:

thetaj 09-20-2011 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Always AlphaGam (Post 2093016)
What really infuriates me is the need for some chapters to do the handsigns...but that's for the handsigns thread. :mad:

?

amIblue? 09-20-2011 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Always AlphaGam (Post 2093016)
Baby Squirrel doesn't bother me too much. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think I've ever seen/heard of my IHQ taking a stand against it.

What really infuriates me is the need for some chapters to do the handsigns...but that's for the handsigns thread. :mad:

UGH - don't get me started on the handsigns. :eek:

AlphaFrog 09-20-2011 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thetaj (Post 2093012)
My chapter does say "Theta babies." I'm trying to get them to call them Thetartots but it's kind of hit or miss :p Someone suggested "kittens" once but that's just creepy.

I'm actually quite amused by Thetartots, but wouldn't want to be called that.

I've definitely seen Baby (Lady)Bugs. Now that our mascot official though, they could be DotTots. On second thought...no, Pearls are just fine.

GolfersLady 09-20-2011 01:18 PM

I dislike the use and I know we are encouraged on a national level to eliminate it from chapter vocabulary.

Here's another good blog post on the topic.


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