Big Brothers/Big Sisters?

PANTHERTEKE · #1 07-11-2008, 04:23 PM

Alright, I got bored and haven't been around much but got curious about this topic when I saw the "Greeks in your family" thread...

How many campuses still have the tradition of Big Brothers for the sorority girls and Big Sisters for the fraternity guys?

At my campus, if you have a [platonic] close relationship with a Greek of the opposite sex, you can ask them to be your Big Brother/Sister. Usually the person has to be older than you in Greek life terms and it's mostly done for PR/politics.

The tradition is that you give your Big/Little Sister (in my case) a shirt with their letters on it in your GLO's colors. Some girls give their Big Bro a paddle, but that's usually common with only one sorority. I know in another school, you get them a shirt with their letters on it and your organization's name spelled out on top of their letters, but that's looked down upon here.

You can also get them other things (shot glasses, pens, gifts, etc.) with their letters but the shirt is the main thing.

I was just wondering how common this is in other campuses and what are some of the traditions if it exists where you're at.

#2 07-11-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANTHERTEKE

Alright, I got bored and haven't been around much but got curious about this topic when I saw the "Greeks in your family" thread...

How many campuses still have the tradition of Big Brothers for the sorority girls and Big Sisters for the fraternity guys?

At my campus, if you have a [platonic] close relationship with a Greek of the opposite sex, you can ask them to be your Big Brother/Sister. Usually the person has to be older than you in Greek life terms and it's mostly done for PR/politics.

The tradition is that you give your Big/Little Sister (in my case) a shirt with their letters on it in your GLO's colors. Some girls give their Big Bro a paddle, but that's usually common with only one sorority. I know in UCF, you get them a shirt with their letters on it and your organization's name spelled out on top of their letters, but that's looked down upon here.

You can also get them other things (shot glasses, pens, gifts, etc.) with their letters but the shirt is the main thing.

I was just wondering how common this is in other campuses and what are some of the traditions if it exists where you're at.

When I first read this thread title, I thought you were talking about the organization.

I get the feeling it's not too popular these days (as it was, say, in the 80s) as little sister programs became forbidden by the NIC in 1987.

NPC sororities also do not have an official relationship with any fraternity as it would jeopardize our single-sex status.

I'm sure it still happens, but doing so would go against rules enforced by two umbrella organizations.

Psi U MC Vito · #3 07-11-2008, 04:33 PM

I know some Asian GLO do it down in Jersey. The little makes the big a paddle like a normal little.

PANTHERTEKE · #4 07-11-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTW

When I first read this thread title, I thought you were talking about the organization.

I get the feeling it's not too popular these days (as it was, say, in the 80s) as little sister programs became forbidden by the NIC in 1987.

NPC sororities also do not have an official relationship with any fraternity as it would jeopardize our single-sex status.

I'm sure it still happens, but doing so would go against rules enforced by two umbrella organizations.

Right, but on my campus it's not like a "group". It's just you asking a person of the opposite sex to be your Big Sister/Brother.

There is no rushing or pledging or anything you think of when you think of the tradition in the 80s.

#5 07-11-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANTHERTEKE

Right, but on my campus it's not like a "group". It's just you asking a person of the opposite sex to be your Big Sister/Brother.

There is no rushing or pledging or anything you think of when you think of the tradition in the 80s.

I know what you're talking about.

And what you're talking about is still looked down on by many HQs.

I still don't get why anyone would want anybody outside their org. to be their Big Whatever.

CrackerBarrel · #6 07-11-2008, 04:57 PM

We tried to bring it back and our headquarters explicitly told us that we could lose our charter for doing it if we got caught. Not something worth that kind of trouble IMO.

rufio · #7 07-11-2008, 05:22 PM

i know a quite a few chapters that do it, its very under the radar but they do take it seriously.

wolffootball37 · #8 07-11-2008, 05:34 PM

I have a question about the Big/Little thing. I went to a sort of summer rush party last week and i herd some girls saying they were "ABC Sweethearts". Now is that the same thing as Big Brother/ Little Sister?

#9 07-11-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolffootball37

I have a question about the Big/Little thing. I went to a sort of summer rush party last week and i herd some girls saying they were "ABC Sweethearts". Now is that the same thing as Big Brother/ Little Sister?

NO.

The title of Sweetheart has nothing to do with the Big/Little stuff.
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=84367

wolffootball37 · #10 07-11-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTW

NO.

The title of Sweetheart has nothing to do with the Big/Little program.

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=84367

Oh ok cool. Thanks for the link.

#11 07-11-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

I wouldn't refer to what he is discussing as a "program". It's very informal.

So you guys do it?

PANTHERTEKE · #12 07-11-2008, 07:11 PM

Yeah, exactly.

#13 07-11-2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANTHERTEKE

Yeah, exactly.

Btw people, BabyPink went to my school so she should know.

Doesn't really matter to me because I think the whole thing's stupid, anyway.

So I take it your HQs are okay with it? Do they even know?

PANTHERTEKE · #14 07-11-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTW

Doesn't really matter to me because I think the whole thing's stupid, anyway.

So I take it your HQs are okay with it? Do they even know?

I posted that before I was able to see your question to her.

There have been HQs at our school from different GLOs often, and it's still going on. Take it as you may.

#15 07-11-2008, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANTHERTEKE

I posted that before I was able to see your question to her.

There have been HQs at our school from different GLOs often, and it's still going on. Take it as you may.

I'm not talking about other HQs. I was talking about TKE and Phi Mu HQs. They're okay with it? You two seem to be knowledgeable about Big/Little Brother/Sister on your campus so I was just curious if TKE and Phi Mu HQs were okay with this happening under the radar at FIU.