[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by psusue

Now I don't know if it's wise for me to say this, but I know that Tri Sigma has recently been spending time developing it's AI program. I believe we are doing so to strengthen our alumnae base for our expanding collegiate chapters.

However (and this is a big however), the caveat of this is that it is still reserved for those that have a connection to Tri Sigma or for those outstanding women that truly are Sigmas, though without the letters. It is not only a social club. Alumnae initiation in a social organization will have social aspects, to be sure, but the main focus from what I can tell is to help the organization on a national, regional, and local level.

I don't know, I'm really torn about this. On one hand I know that if she is talking about organizations with more formalized and more often used AI programs, we would be who she is talking about. But on the other hand, from what I've read I would never describe alumna initiation as she did and am a little offended that she did so. Despite our increasing use of it, it is not to be seen as a cheaper, less time consuming way to go Greek. It is still an honor and not a guarantee by any means.

I just feel like she boiled it down to making it seem like a group of friends, which it is, but it's so much more than that. It is the bonds of sisterhood which are present within us before we had letters to quantify it. It is the high moral standard which we adhere to, even when times are hard. And it is the desire to give back to something greater than oneself, to try to make a real difference in this world. This is a hot button topic for a reason, and it should not be treated more lightly than it ought to be.

Some addtional infp re: AI and Sigma.

Just because we talk about it on our website and have contact info for interested women READILY available, does NOT make it easy.

The alumna initiate must be sponsored by an alumna chapter and all apps go through our Exec Council to be approved/denied. The alumnae chapter must have known you for a set amount of time, too.

In order for that to happen, you need to be able to show the chapter and the EC what YOU can do for Sigma, not what Sigma can do for you.

If all you can tell the alumnae chapter is "I've always wanted to be Greek! It's like MY DREAAAAAM." You aren't going to get very far with us. I'd imagine that you aren't going to get very far with any other NPC either.

Also look at the SHEER numbers of AIs we have. We list them in our Triangle issues. We publish twice a year. Do you know how many AI were in both issues combined? Like 10. They ALL were women who have something to offer Tri Sigma. They're not just after her letters.

We share the info more openly than others, but I would never want someone to mistake "readily available info" for an easy backdoor way into Tri Sigma.