Family letters?
 

So this situation is a bit peculiar.
My father went to the same college I go to now, and he was in a fraternity there, and I'm in a sorority now. Greek life is important to us both, and something cool to bond over.
However, my dad was a Phi Sigma Epsilon, which became Phi Sigma Phi the year after he left. It changed again a few years later to Alpha Sigma Phi, but the Sig boys (many of whom I'm good friends with) still live in the same house and have old composites and stuff.
So my question is, can I wear my dad's letters if he gives them to me? On lavalier or shirt? The fraternity disbanded, so I'm really not sure of the protocol here.

I think that stuff like that is different for every organization, or even for every chapter. I will say that lavaliers at least are usually reserved for girlfriends/fiancées/wives, not daughters. So that might be kind of weird.

As for t-shirts, that really will depend on campus/the national org. On my campus, if you're wearing fraternity letters, they're either your significant other's or they're on a borrowed shirt from a late night "adventure." If this is the case on your campus, I probably wouldn't do it, even if it would technically be allowed. It could just get really awkward really quickly.

For what it's worth, my dad's a Phi Delta Theta and I would feel extremely weird wearing his letters/other insignia (if I would even be able to). I would feel just as strange doing that as I would wearing my mom's Chi O stuff...they're just not my letters.

If it's a normal thing on your campus and you're going to do it, I'd definitely opt for a shirt over a lavalier.

I love that this Greek connection is something that has brought you and your dad closer. If I'm understanding you correctly, the letters your dad has (Phi Sigma Epsilon) haven't been active on your campus for at least 20 years. Plus, the group that Phi Sigma Epsilon morphed into eventually disbanded, so you can't consult with them about protocol.

In this case, you really just need to think about how wearing your dad's letters make you feel. My guess is that it makes you feel closer to him. If that's the case and you don't mind random people assuming those letters (either on a shirt or a lavalier) represent a romantic relationship, I think you should wear them with pride and enjoy your connection with your dad.

I think the biggest catch, for me, is that the organization no longer exists for you to "ask their permission". In this situation, I absolutely agree with this:

I asked the local chapter of my father's fraternity for 'permission' to wear their letters, and they wholeheartedly approved - as long as you wear them with pride, not necessarily because you 'know their secrets' or something, but because you know how important it was/is to your father, and how important your sorority is to you, then I would say it's perfectly fine.

Cool story bro.

Wear your own letters, though.

Make your dad a joint paddle to seal your bond if you must do something.

The joint paddle thing was discussed in another thread some time in the last year. This is something that is done within the NPHC. However, it is NOT done between NPC and NIC organizations.

The fraternity is closed. I would see nothing wrong with wearing a lavalier with the father's letters on it, but not alone on a necklace. A dangle on a bracelet or a watch, or even on a necklace with a few other charms would be more in keeping with your intention.

This is my opinion, FWIW.

Sure it is. It's just something Greeks on GC would prefer not to see.

Anyway, the point is make him something.... our just buy him a father's day card. It's really not that important to wear somebody else's letters.

Amen.

I did it for my dad, who is a Phi Kappa Tau. I fit "Phi", "Kappa", and "Tau" together with "Alpha", "Sigma" and "Alpha" like a scrabble game. It's really cute, and it hangs in their bonus room. He's also got a shirt with ASA block letters and underneath it says "Phi Kappa Tau Dad" (that I had made for him) and another one with block letters that just says "Dad" (that one came from our chapter's archives).

The paddle is a private thing that not many people see, and the shirts clearly display (to anyone who would even care) his relation to ASA (as a dad of a member).

One of my sisters was in a similar situation - her dad was a PSE at our school. The difference is, our PSE went local even before PSE and PSK merged. I still don't think the Phi Sigmas would have been keen on her wearing his letters around, though.

I think a lavalier (if he has one laying around) would be a nice idea, but letters on a shirt would probably just cause everyone to look at you like "WTF?"