[PhiPsiRuss]

This was not a dumb question. There are a lot of correct answers. Different fraternities will define what there sweethearts are differently. In my fraternity, there are several correct definitions, varying by chapter.

Back in the days of little sister programs, many Phi Psi chapters called their programs, "Sweetheart Programs." That era is, thankfully, gone.

An older definition is some formalized type of girlfriend. Basically, when a Phi Psi pins his girlfriend with the Phi Psi Sweetheart Pin, she is a Phi Psi Sweetheart.

Some chapters may use the more flexible standard of any lady who has our sweetheart song sung to her, while she is in a relationship with a Phi Psi. This is probably the most widely accepted standard, and it implies that she has received a lavalliere, Sweetheart Pin, engagement ring, and/or wedding band from a Phi Psi.

Also, some chapters pick a single lady each year to be that chapter's sweetheart.

Because Phi Kappa Psi forbids our badge to be worn by anyone but a Phi Psi, we do have a dedicated sweetheart pin. In our manual, it is stated that it may be worn by "mothers, sisters, or sweethearts." I'm not aware of any current chapter, where biological mothers or sisters are given sweetheart pins, but I'm sure that these pins are given to house moms.

In addition to our sweetheart pin, which conotes one set of definitions, we have our Sweetheart Song, which implies another:

For she is the sweetheart of Phi Kappa Psi,
The girl of all girls most dear;
Hers is the love that will never, never die,
Thru the fortunes and sorrows that come with the years.
Her eyes speak of promise, most tender and true,
Of happiness soon to be,
For there's coming a day
When each Phi Psi sails away
With his sweetheart in Phi Kappa Psi.

A Phi Psi chapter might have several girlfriends who were pinned with the sweetheart pin, an annually chosen chapter sweetheart, a housemom who was given a sweetheart pin, and several girlfriends who were not pinned, but who had the Sweetheart Song sung to them when they were lavalliered.