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The new members now go through all the same rituals, and wear the same letters, but I know when wore my letters across campus, I was proud. When I received my pin I cried during our ritual (and I don’t cry). I don’t think the new members now have this same feeling of pride, because what they have has been given, rather than earned. Handing out letters to new members in theory it seems like a great idea, but in my opinion if you do not have to live with out then you never learn to truly appreciate what you have.
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I have to respectfully disagree here. In my chapter we were allowed to wear the name of the sorority spelled out until initiation, and technically were allowed to wear letters. I chose not to wear anything until after I was initiated, and I agree that i felt very overwhelmed and proud to wear my badge as a sister. I didn't earn the right to wear a sweatshirt, I earned the right to wear my badge--I could've worn a sweatshirt any day of the week, but it wouldn't have the same meaning as my badge ever.
Now having said that, letters while they represent the organization, are there on a much more casual basis. Someone can wear the letters, it's not until they go through the ritual of initiation that they become a sister and are allowed to wear the badge, which to me means so much more. Anyone off the street can and often does order letters -- however a sister is only someone with the badge.