I would agree that sex is
not what having a sweetheart was about at my campus, either. And if it was.. who would want to be one?
Something else, our fraternities had sweethearts, and so did our sororities. (And no, they didn't use the guys for sex, either
!)
Most (maybe all, I don't remember) chapters had lil' bros/lil' sis' as well.
All of them (sweethearts, lil bro's, and lil sis') were usually (not always) Greeks in another chapter who
supported the chapter they were the sweetheart, etc. to.. that's how they got chosen in the first place. They helped out with stuff, showed up at functions to support us, etc.
If I had to define them, (on my campus, anyways) sweethearts and lil's were just friends of the chapter who did enough to show their love + support that the chapter wanted to recognize them as such.
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SilverTurtle@greekchat.com
Phi Beta Fraternity
Phi chapter