Tri Delta also considers not giving new members letters as hazing.
This issue was the source of MUCH controversy last semester, as we were a local who did not give new members letters (heck, they were even called pledges
) Our nationals came in, and next thing we know, everyone has letters.
I agree that you don't know the true meaning, and it is something to look foward to on intiation. We even had most of our new members say they wish they could have waited.
I'm not sure what this semester is going to bring. Personally, I would like them to be able to wear the *name* DELTA DELTA DELTA, but not the *letters* or the crest. I didn't get to wear my local letters until after initation, and there was just something that made it more special to recive them after initaion.
I made the case when speaking with our field consultant that if new members can wear the letters, what makes them special? What distinguishes us from anyone on the street? Is the next step going to be anyone who even has an interest in the organization get to wear letters? Is it going to include non Greeks, men, or sisters of other GLOs? My point is, if we want to distinguish ourselves from other people, we need to keep something sacred...and I believe that must be our secrets, which goes hand in hand with letters.
and I am now stepping off my soapbox.
edited because I can't spell...and there are probably more mistakes