Quote:
Originally Posted by Drolefille
Actually I meant to type "your" but same difference.
I have seen guys get harassed when they lavalier their girlfriend particularly when their chapter has a ceremony for it. That's only continued the idea that it's a big deal to give a woman your letters.
I see it as a continuation of "getting pinned" (a la Bye Bye Birdie) and a sign you're going steady. But as my boyfriend is not in a fraternity I have no first hand experience, only watching what happened on campus.
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To be clear, it is - and should be - a big deal to give your letters.
I think every guy I knew that pinned a girl got harassed -
allegedly - by his chapter. At Kentucky, after a pinning (and even sometimes when an engagement was announced), the guy would be "treed" (The verb being "treeing".) The brother - who we shall call Hugo - would be tied to a tree after which his chapter brothers would pour various food stuff over him. Usually stuff like honey, flour and even corn flakes. His now pinned girl - who we shall call Kim - would come to the tree and give him a kiss - "A real kiss! Like you mean it!" - before the brothers would untie him. If she was in a sorority, often her sisters - gathered by best friend Ursula - would be there too. Once Hugo was untied, the chapter would most likely serenade Kim. All in all, it was good collegiate fun.
As such, the point I wanted to make is that while it is a big deal, there isn't anything "official" that says if Hugo pins Kim, he is putting her before his fraternity.