Just Started new sorority!!
 

Hi everyone :)

I'm new here (just joined today). I've started a new sorority at my college campus because the one that exists ... isn't very nice. I'm in Peterborough Ontario, Canada. Anyway, to make things short I've got a name, colours, a coat of arms, and a constitution. What I'm worried about is the rituals. Because I have nothing to follow by I'm TOTALLY lost?!! I don't know what rituals should be done (I know an initiation ceremony should take place) but how does it work? Is it really 'ritualistic' or just like a meeting. What other rituals do I need to come with?? I'm totally lost on this one :( Any hints. tips tricks, websites books etc would be GREATLY appreciated! :)

Regards,
Samantha

Good luck getting any responses here.

With the exception of Delta Upsilon, Ritual is considered private and not disclosed to non-members.

Ritual is something you come up with on your own, not based off anyone else's.

Goats wearing bras or it didn't happen.

you'd be surprised how many rituals are more identical than you think.

Things to be ritualized: entering/opening a meeting, seating arrangement/items at the meeting, installing officers, the way you give bids, the start of pledging, presentation of big sisters, initiation.

That's messed up. http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=93174

There are some other exceptions. Alpha Kappa Lambda also has an open ritual. And many orgs have some open rituals -- that is, while initiation and chapter meeting rituals or the like are secret, other rituals such as pledging or memorial services may not be.

Silmanarmo, you can find Delta Upsilon's ritual book on the web here. You might also find the essay "Secret Thoughts of a Ritual" helpful.

Also, some years ago someone did a master's thesis comparing fraternity rituals and the components that are common to them. There used to be info about that on the web -- if I can find any of that, I'll pass it along.

And, yeah, especially since you've told us where you are, the "not very nice" comment is, well, not very nice.

ETA: The dissertation (not thesis) I was talking about was written by Bobby McGinn in 1979. When I tracked that down and googled it, low and behold one of the first hits on Google was this GC thread, where it, Mari Ann Callais' dissertation, and a great Lambda Chi resource on ritual were discussed. (The link to Callais' dissertation in the first post is not longer good, but the dissertation can now be found here.)

To get into their sorority, you had to let them give you a 'shocker'!! They only do to girls from a certain part of town :( Makes me insulted to think that it's girls like that that give sorority's bad names:(

DELETED BC I CHECKED URBANDICTIONARY lol

I didn't read the whole thread you posted, but do you care to elaborate?

Bad mouthing another organization, regardless of truth or rumor, is not a good way to promote your sorority.

Instead of paying attention to the bad things they do, focus more on building a positive image on your campus.

Thank you sooo much!!! The "Secret Thoughts of a ritual" REALLY helped! :D

I was looking for a sorority to join in the new town I would be studying at. The only sorority available was "Kappa Kappa Shocka" .... the "initiation" was to receive a 'shocker' from one of the current member. There was absolutely no way I was going to do that. So I started a new sorority. Apparently KKS hasn't took in any new member since their 2nd round of pledges.

Please don't get insulted :( I'm not trying to bad mouth anyone ... And it was the recruiting sorority sister who said I had to do it to get in-> not a rumor :(

You're not insulting me.

But go ahead and keep on airing others' dirty laundry and see where that takes you.

You know, the internet isn't as anonymous as you think.

Just sayin'.

This website might also be useful.

http://www.sigepsouth.com/modconcepts.htm

OTW -> Seriously, I wasn't trying to "air other's dirty laundry" I made a small statement in my first post "... not very nice" and another poster asked me to elaborate.

I never said the internet was anonymous... anyone could pop open another window and get your IP address if they really wanted to! lol :p


I just know that I would never stand for something like that in a sorority. It's just my opinion, if you don't agree then that's fine ... but the very last thing I'd want is you to dislike me or my sorority over a thread post ... a little juvenile I think lol :p