honor societies

valmypal · #1 10-16-2006, 12:19 AM

Has anyone else ever encountered a honor society that was a wannabe social fraternity/sorority? I'm working as a GA with the greeks at my graduate college and all the honor societies here go around having bigs/lils and wearing letters and jackets and such. I have never seen this before. At my undergrad, honor societies were just something to put on your resume and help you academically, we didn't go around wearing letters and having big/lil night. It just seems to me like these students should just join social organizations. So I didn't know if this was a common thing elsewhere or if this university is just wierd.

PhoenixAzul · #2 10-16-2006, 04:35 AM

I'd say it's just campus culture. Otterbein doesn't have such a thing...our honor societies, however, do tend to wear their keys/pins often. Delta Omicron is a little more social than say, Phi Eta Sigma, but that's because theyre departmental.

AlphaFrog · #3 10-16-2006, 08:09 AM

It depends...are they "Honor Socities" or are they "Business GLOs"?

If Order of Omegas are all running around in "letters" and having big/littles, that's weird...but if Mu Phi Epsilon (music business fraternity) or Sigma Tau Delta (English business) are, I don't find that wierd.

33girl · #4 10-16-2006, 02:14 PM

Exactly what groups are you classifying as "honor societies"?

flirt5721 · #5 10-16-2006, 02:50 PM

I think it depends on the honor society. I know that Delta Sigma Pi (Business) have Big/Littles, wear letters, and have socials. That is the only one that I see.

But I don't see Eta Kappa Nu, Pi Tau Sigma, Phi Eta Sigma, or any other honor societies doing this.

AlphaFrog · #6 10-16-2006, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flirt5721

But I don't see Eta Kappa Nu, Pi Tau Sigma, Phi Eta Sigma, or any other honor societies doing this.

I had a boyfriend that was Phi Eta Sigma...they tried to do one social event and it flopped like an elephant trying to swan dive.

Tom Earp · #7 10-16-2006, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I had a boyfriend that was Phi Eta Sigma...they tried to do one social event and it flopped like an elephant trying to swan dive.

Loved the analogy!

Honor groups will have social parties and may try to emulate Social Greeks, but, they still are not the same.

There is a difference of course, but heck dont they like to party and get stupid like we do?

JonInKC · #8 10-16-2006, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

It depends...are they "Honor Socities" or are they "Business GLOs"?

If Order of Omegas are all running around in "letters" and having big/littles, that's weird...but if Mu Phi Epsilon (music business fraternity) or Sigma Tau Delta (English business) are, I don't find that wierd.

STDs? lol

valmypal · #9 10-16-2006, 09:57 PM

the honor society that i am talking about in particular is Phi Sigma Pi. i don't think its a big deal, its kinda cool, but my psychology honor society didn't do anything like that in my undergrad and i guess i was just surprised. i had to research what phi sigma pi was cuz they are not connected to a particular department, they are an honor society trying to bridge the gaps between academics, leadership, and social.

AUDeltaGam · #10 10-16-2006, 11:03 PM

I was/am a member of Phi Sigma Pi, and I know we did have some social aspects (like socials with the members) and some people had jerseys and hats made with letters. We never did bigs/littles, but we were a fairly new chapter when I was there, so that may be why. It seems that many chapters of Phi Sigma Pi act a little more "social" than other honor societies.

KatieKate1244 · #11 10-16-2006, 11:18 PM

I'm a member of Pi Alpha Psi, which is a honorary for Printing Students. We hold socials, but that's about it. From my understanding, though, back in the 60's it did sorta operate like a social GLO, but not anymore.

DSTCHAOS · #12 10-16-2006, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Loved the analogy!

Honor groups will have social parties and may try to emulate Social Greeks, but, they still are not the same.

There is a difference of course, but heck dont they like to party and get stupid like we do?

Good question.

I would never go to a social event sponsored by an honor society, a professional fraternity, a music fraternity, or a service fraternity and actually expect to have fun. Events sponsored by such groups are networking opportunities and nothing more.

Now if the event is actually FUN it is probably because the organization takes a back seat to the fun nature of the people at the event and/or the members of the organization are members of popular social fraternities and sororities.

violetpretty · #13 10-16-2006, 11:34 PM

Phi Sigma Pi at my school is called an "honors co-ed fraternity" and they do big/lil, have rush and PR t-shirts, and are fairly social as compared to honors societies. Same with the chemistry fraternity (Alpha Chi Sigma) at my school. I think the difference is that they are more academically and service based; I know both orgs tutor students fairly often. Social is a priority but not the primary aim.

irishpipes · #14 10-16-2006, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flirt5721

I think it depends on the honor society. I know that Delta Sigma Pi (Business) have Big/Littles, wear letters, and have socials. That is the only one that I see.

But I don't see Eta Kappa Nu, Pi Tau Sigma, Phi Eta Sigma, or any other honor societies doing this.

Not to nit-pick, but Delta Sigma Pi is not an honor society. It is a professional fraternity. I am a member (alumna) and we had a lot of social aspects as well as professional ones. Part of the official "purpose" which we had to memorize as pledges includes the phrase to foster "social activity and the association of students for their mutual advancement." Members are expected to be VERY active - unlike an honor society like Golden Key or Phi Kappa Phi which is just an honor - you go to one ceremony, get a pin, and put it on your resume.

The only Delta Sigma Pi letters I remember wearing were on party shirts. We did have big/little brothers, but we didn't do car decals, jerseys, or jackets.

AlexMack · #15 10-16-2006, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Good question.

I would never go to a social event sponsored by an honor society, a professional fraternity, a music fraternity, or a service fraternity and actually expect to have fun. Events sponsored by such groups are networking opportunities and nothing more.

Now if the event is actually FUN it is probably because the organization takes a back seat to the fun nature of the people at the event and/or the members of the organization are members of popular social fraternities and sororities.

Sorry, but this is untrue. I have partied with both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigmas. I had an insane amount of fun. They work hard AND play hard. They weren't members of social orgs either.