Quote:
Originally Posted by SWTXBelle
The proper form for NPC sororities would be "is". However, many women, Greek and non-Greek alike, so closely associate membership with being an active in college that they slip and say "was". At my alumnae panhellenic, some women say "I was a ZXY" - but we try to subtly correct them. 
To further complicate things, it would be correct to say "She was a XYZ at the University of Hotness" because you would be referring to a specific period of time in the past - so I WAS a Gamma Phi Beta at Texas State University in the 80s. I AM a Gamma Phi who is now active with the Houston Alumnae Group and Katy Panhellenic. Katy Panhellenic has many members who WERE members at many different colleges and universities. |
Yep.
And I think some of us are hesitant to use present tense when speaking to non-greeks for fear it looks like we're trying to hang on to our college days a little too much.
If a higher percentage of NPCers were more active in alumnae groups or if we had active grad chapters of alumnae initiates, I think "is" would more consistently be used.