Quote:
Originally posted by dznat187
If the semantics don't matter then how is being PC watering down the Greek experience? I am PC because I hope to work in student affairs where referring to a residence hall as a dorm is quickly reprimanded (more than I ever was letting 'pledge' slip). Like I said previously, the words don't matter all that much, but I am going to try to follow whatever the governing bodies and my nationals go with because they govern me as a sorority member. I do feel that more time should be spent focusing on what the chapters do instead of how things are said.
Just my opinion.
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What I'm referring to is more than just semantics. I'm talking about the fact that, over the past 10-12 years, Greek organizations have become overly PC... not just in the terminology that they use but, also, in what their members are permitted to do. Chapters are no longer able to do activities that were fun and bonding for their pledges and active sisters because national governing bodies of those chapters are now saying that they are "hazing" activities. As someone else said earlier in this thread, it seems as if the whole Greek community is being PC'd to death because of the bad acts of a few.
For example, when we had our Big/Lil Sis revealing, I found out who my Big Sis was by dressing up in a costume that she made for me, complete with a little hat that she had decorated. I followed a trail of her clues all over the park that we'd rented for our pledge retreat until I finally found my way into a big cabin where all the older sisters were waiting. I found my big sister by looking for someone dressed like my opposite, but with the same hat -- in this case, I was Pepper and she was Salt. It was so much fun! Now, scavenger hunts are considered "hazing" because pledges participate in the hunt but not the sisters. In the PC world, if the whole chapter isn't doing it, then it must be "hazing." Ridiculous.
Also during my pledge period, we were each given a paper turtle. We decorated the front of our turtles however we liked, and on the backs we had to collect signatures from all of the older sisters by visiting them and answering a DZ-related history question. This served two purposes: 1) it gave us the opportunity to spend individual time with the active sisters and get to know them better and 2) it helped us prepare for our pledge test that had to be passed in order to be initiated. I still have that turtle in my pledge scrapbook, and it brings back great memories every time I see it. However, our chapter isn't allowed to do this activity anymore because it's considered "hazing." Again, ridiculous.
These are just a couple of examples, but I could give many more. I love my sorority, and I'm an active alumna. I have the utmost respect for the sisters who govern our organization. However, that doesn't mean that I always agree with everything that National does.