Sororities

I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me out with a couple questions I have. I was talking to this girl at work who used to be in a sorority (but she quit because of some of the rules they had). She was telling me that the sisters were really strict about underage drinking. I am not a big drinker and I'm underage) but I would never drink irresponsibly or while I was wearing letters if I was in a sorority. My question is can a sorority punish you (for lack of a better word) for underage drinking? i would appreciate any info you could give me on this. Thanks in advance.

[twinstars]

wow, it really shocks me to hear that they're so serious about underage drinking, or even that they care at all. of course, every sorority's official "line" is that they don't condone or promote underage drinking, HOWEVER.... i don't think there's a single sorority at my college that cares so long as no one's getting arrested and the house stays off social probation. it is fairly common for big sisters to give their littles "gifts of alcohol" during big/little week, if they so choose. and there are unofficial sorority "preparties" before nearly every fraternity mixer. these are just some of the things i have observed among sororities on my campus.

[cash78mere]

hey babbs-

at my school they're pretty strict. one sorority used to give alcohol as an unofficial bid day gift and they got in BIG trouble.

here's the thing--sororities have liability contracts. the chapter and the national organization can (and have been) sued by members or their families due to something that happens due to alcohol abuse. they do not want to get in trouble because a sister decided to act irresponsibly.

a sorority and it's members aren't out to get you. everyone likes to have a little fun, but you must do so responsibly. you represent a larger group of people with your actions.

if you are at an official sorority event and you get sick from alcohol, yes, the sorority will take action. they will probably make you be a "sober sister" at the next event and may not allow you to go to the next function until you fulfill those responsibilities. they don't want to punish you, only to teach you that it is not okay.

and, a school itself can also take action against you. i can't tell you how many friends (greek and non) that i have that got arrested in college due to underage drinking. remember, you are BREAKING the law. if you get caught in the act, or even just by being at a party, you can be arrested and punished by the school, the police, and the sorority (if it happened at a function)

sorry, don't mean to scare you! but college isn't always te free-for-all that many freshman think it is. you are responsible for your actions!

i hope you don't listen to your friend's negative attitude. i'll bet that she either got in major trouble with the sorority or there's another reason for her disaffiliation. (i'm just guessing---i'm not saying it's positively true)

good luck with whatever you do Babbs!

[AXO Alum]

I will say this - as an adviser, the ladies in my chapter KNOW absolutely positively beyond any shadow of a doubt that they will not drink around me if they are underage. They do not discuss it or even mention it around the alums or advisers. It is ABSOLUTELY not okay for any sister to do this. Before you say "so you didn't drink underage" - NO. I have also never in my life done illegal drugs including "just pot" - this is another HUGE NO-NO that doesn't get discussed. If its underage drinking, we follow the 3 strikes policy (unless we actually see it or something happens as a result...i.e., fights, etc.) If it is drugs, yes even "just pot", then you're out and you know it. People can call it strict or stupid or whatever, but I will never stand before a judge and jury explaining why I knew little Susie was underage yet saw her drinking and didn't step in. I certainly wouldn't want to explain why I was the one who bought the booze for little Susie.

There is also no drinking in crest, pinwear, or letters (for any sister). Our national policy also states that alcohol is not allowed in our suite. That means no alcohol even for sisters of age, beer signs, or other paraphanellia. I know its not just us -one organization at school was put on a one year suspension for violation of this law - there was a neon beer sign in one of the girls room.

I look at it this way...I would never give up something as sacred as my pin because I didn't like the fact that I couldn't drink underage. If the sorority meant that little to this girl, then they are lucky that she quit.

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"Alpha Chi Omega - If you only had 2 wishes, what would your second one be?"

[33girl]

I would definitely agree more with what twinstars said – that was the prevailing attitude on my campus. However, one of our chapters has on their website that our org prohibits the use of drugs or alcohol. This might be a chapter rule (we have some hard core Bible belt chapters) but obviously as a national org that’s incorrect – of age members can drink, just not on sorority grounds.

In this case, I’m going to say consider the source. Your friend might have been disciplined because she drank too much and turned it around on the sorority. 3 beers might be considered borderline alcoholism in one org, it might be “lightweight” in another. Look & listen around the campus and you will be able to tell who the big drinkers are and who are the teetotalers.

Finally – a girl getting in trouble for having a beer sign in her room – that’s just asinine. It’s not like everyone on campus is parading through her room and seeing it. Besides, my dad has a Viagra clock, and that doesn’t mean...or, at least I hope it doesn’t...

Well said, AXO Alum!

[agillespie]

The real issue with alcohol is this....when you choose to join a Greek organization, you are joining something larger than yourself. Greek organizations are founded on integrity, honor, loyalty and character. Most, if not all, organizations expect their members to be of a higher caliber, character and standard. The expectations (rules) are there to protect you, protect others and protect the fraternity.

If you want to party and play and be like everyone else, then leave your pin and letters at the door and don't let it hit you on the way out. If you want to aspire to things higher and nobler, to be a part of an organization that has common bonds (not those of leaning over the commode) and one that promotes the best in our collegians, then stay, follow the rules at chapter functions and realize that if you can't have fun without the alcohol (i.e. can't deal with an event dry) then you have other things to worry about.

Well, I'm in a sorority where they say not to wear our greek letters around alcohol consumption. But this is for any age. I think it's just a matter of setting that image out for other young ladies. It doesn't look very respectful to your sorors to be intoxicated while walking around in your letters. Not to say that you're always intoxicated because you drink but that's just the way that most people look at it. Me, personally, I can respect that they don't want her in her letters while drinking but just the fact of her drinking and she's underage is outside of their boundaries. It's not like she's an alcoholic. But, she shouldn't have quit because of that. That is something that she could have talked over with them.