About Traditions
 

Dear Sisters,

Alpha Delta Pi is an international organization and a member of NPC. Every year, every other year, bylaws are ammended, resolutions passed, etc., that help our GLO evolve and grow. We are bound by these rules as each of our chapters is a branch on the tree that is ADPi. When chapters continue to do things that the international organization doesn't endorse, they are not operating "inside the box" and can get away from what is ADPi until there is not a chapter left.

In this spirit of progressiveness, things that were acceptable 5 or 10 years ago are being phased away (terminology like "rush" or "pledge"-- hosting scavenger hunts, etc). To some chapters still exhibiting these local traditions-- no one is trying to take away your fun or your history-- we are working toward the greater good of the group overall and constantly evolve.

Greek Chat is a sharing forum. We are all here to share our experiences and ideas. Sometimes it might come up that your chapter is continuing a tradition, that though while fun and exciting, is not in keeping with current ADPi standards and practices. When I read about these, or others read this, they will educate you and everyone on these boards. It is to help spread the correct information, and not to curb your enthusiasm or your joy at being a member.

Just wanted to put it out there that no one is trying to be the "Killjoy Police." We're just trying to preserve the international group. Each chapter is entitled to maintain its own individual integrity. But we must never forget that we're ADPi first, XYZ chapter second. So I'm personally apologetic if anyone has been offended by my own reminders about what is currently acceptable. I don't consider myself the law on all things sorority. But I do care about your chapters, and I do care about the information that is shared between chapters. And I would hate to see misinformation, no matter how well intended, spread and ultimately get a chapter in trouble or worse. So please know that I'm not out to police every chapter--- I just want to make sure our collegians understand the big picture that is Alpha Delta Pi.

Thanks!

There was a time I would have really argued with the above post. But, times change. People change, and their reactions to certain things change.

If I were to talk about my pledgeship (yes, I was a pledge, not a New Member), quite a bit of what was very acceptable then is considered hazing now. That's one of the reasons I don't say too much about it - because someone might say, "Oh, that sounds like a good idea!" when actually, it was hazing.

I think a lot of people have trouble with the concept of a scavenger hunt. Sure, Girl Scouts hold them, a lot of people hold them - but within the Greek System, somehow they became perverted from something innocent and fun to the stuff of horror stories. There's a phrase in the Bible about not wanting to give even "the appearance of evil" - and I believe with all my heart that's what our EO is trying to do - make sure we don't give the appearance of accepting the evil, even when it has an innocent intent.

At least, that's how I see it.

Another thing that is sometimes hard for me to remember is that things that I did as an Alpha would now be considered 'hazing' but I didn't and don't consider them to be hazing activities. I hope that made sense?

I've heard horror stories about other sororities and the way they treat their new members and I in no way was treated that way. I think it's just that people have different views of what is acceptable and what isn't acceptable. Again, I hope that I'm making sense. I'm quite doped up on drugs right now (I've been sick for a month now). So if I'm not making sense, I'm sorry.

Brianna

Sorry to hear that you're not feeling well, Brianna! We'll see about some virtual chicken soup! :D

And you made sense to me, so... if you're not making sense, that doesn't bode well for me!

Thank you Honey, I need the virtual chicken soup. :)

Brianna

that completely made sense to me!

Well I'm glad I'm making sense, even though I totally felt I wasn't. Must be all the drugs. :)

Brianna

This makes perfect sense! I fall under this category. I do bristle when I reminisce about things that I miss and am then corrected for it. Yes, I know we can't do it now, and I understand why. That doesn't mean that I don't remember it fondly.

T*P pointed me over to this thread the other day based on a chat we were having. adpiucf, you're right on the money. My chapter had a lot of local traditions (we were local for 100+ years) that have been phased out in recent years. While it's sad we can't do them anymore, they just aren't appropriate, and I would hate for us to drag the international organization down. We're one of the oldest sororities in Wisconsin, and I don't think that history is worth throwing away over a few "silly" traditions. Yes, we do have older alums who remember them and enjoyed them - but we can't continue them if we want to continue being a chapter. It's a hard thing to deal with and we've lost some alumnae support because of it, but I can tell that the sisterhood has improved with the recent alumnae and actives because of the new activities that are improving our chapter without doing anything inappropriate for Gamma Phi Betas.