Event T-shirts with Letters on Pledges?
 

I'm interested in various GLO's policies on Letters on Pledges. As far as I can tell, most pledging GLOs would severely discourage a pledge from wearing a sweatshirt with the greek letters across as the only thing on it.

At the other end of the scale, some GLOs have the greek letters for the GLO on the pledge pin, so that is obviously OK.

The sort of middle ground that I'm wondering is the following...

1)Your Fraternity or Sorority has participated in a Service Project with other GLOs (and other campus orgs) to raise money for the Pediatric Aids foundation. Your pledges were encouraged to participate and did so willingly. On the day of the event, the group running the event passes out T-shirts. On that T-shirt is the name of *all* of the groups that are participating with the GLO's names including yours *in greek letters* (note each is about an inch high). Can your pledges put the t-shirts on while they do the event (like everyone is supposed to) or would they have to save the t-shirts until after initiation?

2) The chapters of your fraternity or sorority have a state-wide get together (pledges included). Part what they get is an event T-shirt that has the fraternity or sorority in Greek Letters as part of the theme printed on the shirt "ZHD Florida get-together 2006" or something similar (instead of ZHD, the greek letters), again, do the pledges have to wait?




Randy

My understanding of Omega Phi Alpha policy is that no, they would not be allowed to wear either shirt until after initiation. They can have things with the letters on them (i.e., their pledge books), but they cannot wear them.

We no longer have pledges, instead we have Alpha members. Being members, they may wear letters. Once initiated, an Alpha becomes a Delta member, and only initiated members may wear or own items bearing the Crest.

Alpha Gamma Delta allows her new members (the NPC doesn't call em pledges anymore) to wear letters prior to Initiation. They are not allowed to wear the Badge or the Crest.

There will always be the debate of whether the new members should be allowed vs. not allowed to wear letters before Initiation. I can see the good points on both sides, so I don't want to get into that debate. No sense beating a dead horse.

My issue is with the chapters who overlook their HQ's policy, and make and enforce their own rules.

If your HQ says NMs are allowed to wear letters, then wear them. If not, then don't let the NMs wear them. Simple.

Delta Zeta is the same way. In addition to having their own letter shirts made (if they so choose), new members are permitted to wear any social/fundraiser/philanthropy/etc. t-shirts that have DZ letters on them.

ZTA New Members may wear letters, but not the crest or other insignia.

[hijack]

How are you Randy? Long time no see!

[/hijack]

I agree. This was a hard concept for the chapter I advise... But they get it now. ;)

OK, still hanging out over at the Alpha Phi Omega board.

Didn't realize the NPC had gotten rid of the term Pledge like the NPHC. When was this?

Kappa Alpha Theta does not allow her new members to wear any letters even if they are small, and mixed in with other things. They are only allowed to wear garments with Theta spelled out in english. They are also not allowed to wear our crest or other insignia.

Re: Event T-shirts with Letters on Pledges?
 

If a man accepts a bid from Sigma Chi Fraternity, from that point on he is considered a Sigma Chi pledge and may wear shirts, etc., with the words "Sigma Chi" or "Sigs" but not the Greek letters Sigma Chi. This is a national regulation.

No letters, however, the Norman Shield is depleted on the pledge pin. As such, pledges may wear apparel with the Norman Shield on it as well.

Ideally, the group running the event would contact all the groups participating to inquire how they would like to be represented on the tee-shirt. If that wasn't the case, and letters were used, then my guess is that while the letters shouldn't be worn by the pledges (see above), they might be allowed to wear the event shirt at/for that particular event. It would depend on the campus culture and the specific chapter. And frankly, IHQ has more important business to deal with than a specific event tee-shirt. As such, I doubt there would be any hoopla over allowing it from IHQ.

Since Sigma Chi Fraternity's policy is that pledges do not wear letters, if there was a state-wide get together that included pledges, then I would venture to guess that the event tee-shirt would have the name *Sigma Chi* spelled out so that all may wear it.

As is the case with several other organizations I've read about here, when I pledged I could wear the letters, but not the crest because until initiation you don't understand the symbolism.

I'm pretty sure it remains that way.

I don't understand this reasoning, because before initiation, you don't know what the letters mean -- so why is it okay to wear letters you don't know the meaning of but not the crest whose symbolism you don't yet understand?

(Not to say that I care about pledges or new members or whatever we're calling them today wearing letters -- just to point out that I don't get it.)

Beat's me, but them's the rules.

That is a really great question. I'm going to have to ask someone this weekend at our District Leadership Workshop! (I'm not saying that our reasoning behind "only initiated wear the crest" has to do with understanding the symbolism, I don't know the 'why' just that it is our rules. Since the letters' meaning aren't known to non-initiated women, why is that ok? - that has me puzzled :confused: )

Right -- and if it's "hazing" or whatever you'd call it to NOT allow new members/pledges to wear letters (I've heard this before), isn't it also "hazing" to not allow them to wear the crest?

I mean, I know the rule exists and I think many organizations say letters=okay and crest=/= okay -- but that makes no sense.