Becoming a Fraternity Sweetheart
 

I'm a freshman and a few of my sisters have been named Pi Kappa Alpha's Garnet Gir, Beta Theta Pi roses, etc.

My question is (and it's probably a stupid one): how do you get that title? Are there certain things the fraternity looks for and if so, what are they?

Thanks!

TSteven posted helpful Sweetheart of Sigma Chi information here.

I imagine most fraternities select their sweethearts in a similar fashion.

Lots of sweetheart-related posts recently...hmmm....

This is by no means a definitive list and may include many other attributes depending on the specific fraternity, chapter and campus.

Campus activity, activity within the chapter, general achievements, community service, academic performance, character, personality and public speaking abilities. Most candidates are encouraged to have a firm understanding of the values and ideals the Fraternity.

FYI: Many of the Sigma Chi chapter sweethearts I've had the pleasure of meeting are (biological/step) daughters, sisters and even cousins of Sigma Chis. All being upstanding, well accomplished, and intelligent ladies.

I was wondering about this too. Must be selection time for a lot of chapters.

With few exceptions, they are dating someone in the fraternity. On a lot of campuses, they are in a sorority with which the fraternity has good relations or would like to have good relations.

I was unaware that there still were "Sweet Heart" programs.
SAE dropped "Little Sisters" years ago, in part due to RM issues.

My friends in three different fraternities have told me that sweethearts are chosen based on how close the girl is with the guys in the chapter (but they NEVER choose a sweetheart who is dating one of the guys), looks, and how well they do in their interview. Also, the gifts they bring up during their interview plays a big part.

It seems wild to me that in some fraternities, this is something that's 'campaigned' for.

I was chosen to be a Sweetheart because I wasn't the girl getting drunk and making a fool of herself at the parties, showing as much skin as I could possibly show, wasn't making out in some corner, etc. I presented myself in a respectable way and I looked out for the guys who were at the time just my friends.

But, I'm sure that's not how it is in all other fraternities. Haha.

sorry to yell, but for the ookabillionth time...
 

SWEETHEARTS AND LITTLE SISTERS ARE TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT THINGS. SWEETHEARTS ARE TO LITTLE SISTERS AS APPLES ARE TO SOCKS.

A sweetheart is one person chosen by the fraternity in an honorary capacity. There is no such thing as a sweetheart "program." It's like being a homecoming queen or something similar.

Little sisters go through a pledge program and function as an auxiliary group to the fraternity.

Meh. "Love is in the air..."

--is holding back a gag at how sappy that was

News to me-thank you for the information.

"Little Sisters" type programs were all that I ever heard of in any way, shape or form. First, second or third hand.

But I still have to wonder about RM/liability risks and issues. But that thread would be better off in the RM section.

IIRC, we started our Little Sister program about now and announced during our Spring Formal.

No Sigma Chi Sweetheart (chapter or International) is now - nor ever has been - a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Thus there are no Risk Management or liability issues per say.

There could be issues just like there could be issues for a House Mother living in the chapter house. Or an employee at IHQ. But again, to be clear, Sweethearts are not members of the Fraternity at all. Nor or they considered "sisters". Little or otherwise.

To the very best of my knowledege, there has been only one (1) woman member of SAE.

"Little Sisters" were not members as such.

The RM issue came up years ago and I just do not recall what the reasons were.

I don't recall the specifics (Title IX maybe?), but my understanding is that the "risk" has to do with federal law regarding keeping social GLOs single sex. A fraternity with an auxiliary group ("little sisters") that is recognized by the fraternity could open the door to the fraternity loosing that single sex status.

That risk (loss of single sex status) does not exist with having a chapter sweetheart.