Xi-sign vs. "fuzzies"
 

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The only chapters I've ever heard of having hand signs are UCF and Auburn.

Also, regarding us being called "fuzzies" -- most chapters that used to do that don't do that anymore. I've also heard that FH doesn't really want us calling ourselves that.

Personally, hearing people refer to us as "fuzzies" is my nails on a chalkboard. Ugh. It gives me the willies.

ETA: I wouldn't even say we're called "fuzzies" in the North -- the only state I've heard most of the chapters still do that is Ohio. So, it's not the entire North. :)

Hand Signs
 

Xi chapter at University of Kentucky used the hand signs when I was there but we learned them from other chapters during the recolonization process. So they are other chapters out there using them.

Our Georgia chapters use them too.

In the midwest we're not the fuzzies and we don't use hand signs. I HATE the fuzzies thing... sounds stupid to me really. Just my personal thought on it. :)

We're known as AZDs on my campus. We do the hand sign. "Fuzzies"....is just a word that is so wrong on so many levels....I think if someone ever called me that I'd have to backhand them.;)

We used the hand sign at UTK as well. Does anyone ever think badly of using AZD? If we are actually using the Greek-English alphabet to establish lettering, it should be AXD, "Z" isn't the right letter.

Can I ask what's WRONG about the word Fuzzy and being called such? It's a cute word TO ME. Just asking...

check your PMs....

Sorry to crash your thread, but when I was @ UF in the 80s & AXiD was there, they referred to themselves as "Fuzzies" & even used Fozzie Bear from The Muppets as an unofficial mascot.

I know when I first heard it (our A Xi Ds didn't use it) it made me think they needed to shave their legs, LOL. But the chapters that still use it seem to like it. It's all in what you're used to. We have an ASA chapter (one of our oldest chapters) that goes by the nickname "Apples." Their campus is fine with it, but I think if we had ever said "come on over to the Apple house" at our school they would have laughed us out of town.

We were taught as new members that fuzzies was a nickname for Alpha Xi. We used it occasionally amongst ourselves, but no one else on campus ever called us that. We were AXiD to everyone else. We were taught to never write out AZD (because our second letter is not zeta), but if we wanted to write a shortened version to use AXiD. As far as hand signs, I had never heard of them until I came to GC.

My chapter used hands signs for a while but not the same as the one posted.

Auburn didn't have a hand sign until fall 2003 (my junior year). I think someone in my chapter learned it at Convention that summer. As for nicknames and what is or is not appropriate, I think it all depends on the campus. If your chapter has been known as the Fuzzies forever and everybody knows you as that, I don't think it needs to be changed. Also, before Betxi Bear was the mascot, it was Al Fuzzy.

ETA: I dod a google search for "al fuzzy" and this popped up. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0820607/ Check out the sometimes credited as section and year of birth!

I also came from a chapter where we were fuzzies. Never seemed strange or silly to use.

We didn't have hand signs. In this day and age, those can get you shot in the wrong places.

Why worry about who uses what? Let each do what they want!