Lavaliering or dropping is giving your letters to girlfriend. What usually happens is that when a sorority woman and fraternity man have been dating for a while, the man will give his lavalier, a gold or silver charm that is his letters, to his girlfriend. She would usually wear the lavalier on a necklace instead of her own letters. Pinning is the next step, although no one at my school does that anymore, we have pearling instead -- that means that before engagement you get some piece of pearl jewelry from your boyfriend, and is just a sign of commitment or love. THe next step is engagement.
In my sorority we make a big fuss when any of these things happens to a girl, but it is all very sweet. We would NEVER engage in any sort of harmful behavior. That whole beating idea is PSYCHOTIC. I haven't heard of that kind of behavior since junior high, and most normal people avoided it anyway.
It is great that you are planning to rush, and whichever sorority you join will have its own traditions concerning lavliering or pearling. Chapters differ as do schools. I just hope that most chapters are not buying into that gang mentality thing anymore. It is what gives the Greek community a bad name.
Good luck with rush! Greek life is wonderful and inspiring!
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