Letter question
 

Just wondering what most schools' policies on girls wearing guys letters, such as on a rush shirt. Was looking into ordering them and wanted to get it right. Let me know if you know anything on the subject. Thanks

Matt Perry
Sigep

NPC passed a new unanimous agreement that strongly discourages Panhellenic women from wearing letters of men's fraternities, nor should they be helping men recruit their members. This is due to Title IX issues and our rights to remain single sex organizations.

As far as to how well that is followed probably varies from campus to campus, but it is strictly followed on mine and the sorority women on my campus have embraced it!!

I suggest checking that out with your Greek Life Advisor before you spend money on t-shirts that may not be worn.

thank you

Interesting. I'm curious as to how this would apply to T-shirts printed for mixers, or how it would apply to an NPC member who's been lavaliered/pinned by her boyfriend and therefore has the right (as far as the boyfriend's fraternity is concerned) to wear his letters.

I did not know NPC made this. Thank you for posting!! :)

It addresses those, but does say that the "big letter" shirts should not be worn during fraternity recruitment.

That will end up varying from organization to organization too. Theta for example, does not recognize sweethearts (goes back to our founding) and I know while there are some men's fraternities that do recognize sweethearts, there are quite a few that do not.

While I cant comment on traditions and cultures elsewhere, this is a change that is most welcome with the Panhellenic women at Eastern Kentucky because with this agreement, they have the backing of NPC and national/international offices. It is forcing a positive change from an over-programming standpoint because women no longer "feel obligated" to take the time to recruit for men and 3-4 day long philanthropy events will be a thing of the past with the elimination of pageants for sweethearts and the like. Thus it forces the men to recruit their own new members like they should have been doing all along and plan more creative philanthropy events that are not solely dependent on sorority women for success, thus eliminating the lazy excuse," Well we can't make money without pageants."

For my campus Panhellenic and my ladies that I advise, it's a positive and welcomed change. That said, this year will obviously be the first year that this policy will go in to effect so I'm also curious to see how it plays out.

I never really understood why the women were helping the men recruit and it seems like it would just attract men to certain fraternities for all the wrong reasons. Do they want men who like THEM and their fraternities or do they want men who like the parties and women that are attracted to their fraternity? It also seems like it would feed tier rankings.

That has been the case on my campus for years. This is another reason why I personally embrace this agreement. Hopefully it will lead to more quality men in the Greek system and help the weaker fraternity chapters on my campus anyway get stronger. I'm also hoping it makes positive changes for our IFC that needs all the help it can get right now.