sorority life

ASUADPi · #1 04-17-2003, 01:26 AM

My sisters, I would just like to know if anyone has watched sorority life 1 or 2 on mtv? I just ask because I don't understand, the attitude of some of these "pledges" is completely insane. I would have never treated my fellow "alphas" or sisters the way these girls treat each other. I just wanted to know what you all thought about the show.

honeychile · #2 04-17-2003, 02:55 PM

What do I think of "Sorority Life"? In a word, trash! I would have nothing to do with people who disrespected their pledges or Alphas so much.

When y'all get down to it, New Members are somewhat like guests. They don't enjoy all the benefits of membership, and so they should be treated with dignity. Yes, pledging has traditionally meant learning to help the sisters with various things, but this is such a poor excuse for a "sisterhood".

I've spent more time trying to tell friends that "Sorority Life" is NOT representative of any sorority that I know of than I care to think - and most certainly not Alpha Delta Pi!

honeychile

nauadpi · #3 04-17-2003, 04:32 PM

I have to agree that I think the show is just bad...It puts these women in a horrible light only showing what would be interesting to watch not what all goes on...And I do have to agree that they way their new members are treated is just horrible...They also have no respect for eachother...I always am a fan of the way my chapter words it...alpha's are to be treated like princesses...I think the real problem with the show though is the way it is edited to show what mtv wants it to show, not everything that is happening...

I also have to agree with honeychile that I spend way too much time having to explain to people that this is not how sorority life really is...

I think the sad part though is that I have gotten hooked on watching it too much, but I have found it handy to know what has happened when it comes to perspective members and people who judge greek life in general. I become able to compare and contrast...Which helps to shed some light...

honeychile · #4 04-17-2003, 05:00 PM

Just keep telling yourself, "Knowledge is Power."

It works for me!

honeychile

ADPi-Jen · #5 05-31-2003, 05:30 PM

Ok, OK, I'll admit it! Yes, I did watch SL2, every week.

I was usually mortified at the lack of respect displayed especially by the "sisters" toward the "pledges." I could not believe it! (Can anyone say HAZING?!!)

I suppose my watching of the show can be related to a car wreck, I didn't want to watch but I just couldn't stop. I had to see what would happen next.

Yes, I do think that the "pledges" were hazed especially by the standards in ADPi. I am so very glad that I wasn't a part of an organization that would treat their new members that way.

What the heck was up with the "plegdes" having to buy gifts and do stuff for their big sisters?! Shouldn't it have been the other way around.

Just my 2 cents....

Jen
ADPI

ASUADPi · #6 05-31-2003, 07:09 PM

I totally know what you mean Jen. I was not forced to buy things for the actives. My diamond and my violet sisters bought me stuff. The only thing I was required to do, which cost me, was to give my diamond her paddle. I totally was cool with it because my diamond had done so much for me, it was my way of showing her how much she ment to me. I put alot of work into her paddle.

The whole "hazing" thing is crazy. I missed the episode where the pledges were concerned about hazing and according to the synopsis I read on the mtv site, the sisters totally gave the pledges crap for being concerned about being hazed. Hello isn't that like a crucial thing to be worried about.

Even though the show can be considered trash, it was like addictive to watch. But man, I just wanted to slap some of those pledges at times. I would never disrespect my sisters the ways those girls completely disrespected each other.

polarpi · #7 06-01-2003, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ASUADPi
The only thing I was required to do, which cost me, was to give my diamond her paddle. I totally was cool with it because my diamond had done so much for me, it was my way of showing her how much she ment to me. I put alot of work into her paddle.

You got to do a paddle???

Our chapter was told that we do not do paddles because it's some form of hazing....when I first joined, I was actually looking forward to making a paddle for my diamond sister (or "big" as I thought it was before learning about our TME program) and was disappointed not to be able to do one. Maybe I should look into making one to send to my "little" diamond...hmmm

ASUADPi · #8 06-01-2003, 04:46 AM

I think my being able to do a paddle for my diamond also relates to the time I was intitated, which was in 1998. I found when I transfered in 2000 that the chapter there didn't do paddles because they were somehow considered a form of hazing. (How is completely beyond me though, I mean, hello we don't haze).

I thought it was the coolest thing giving my diamond her paddle. The look on her face is one I will remember until the day I die. It was like she was so proud I was her diamond.

Anyways.

Brianna

honeychile · #9 06-01-2003, 07:43 AM

I could be completely wrong, but my understanding is, because of groups such as DZO, Alpha Delta Pi bends over backwards to ensure that there's not even an appearance of hazing. Since paddles signify that a pledge is going to be paddled (think of Kevin Bacon in "Animal House"), our EO frowns on using paddles for any reason - including as a gift between Diamond Sisters.

Sometimes I get a little frustrated with the rules banning things that sound like hazing, but after watching the SL farce, I'm pretty proud of our stance!

ADPi~Ally · #10 06-01-2003, 07:32 PM

They are not paddles, they are "plaques with handles"

. I got 2 plaques with handles, one from my big sis, and one from the chapter as a senior gift. They are cute and no way shape or form mean anything more than a decoration.

ADPi-Jen · #11 06-01-2003, 09:46 PM

While in my chapter there were a lot of things that we couldn't do because EO considered them "hazing." After seeing some things that have gone on with both chapers involved with MTV's SL, I am GLAD that I could be a part of an organization that didn't tolerate in any way, shape, or form or even the appearance of hazing.

I can't believe the way that the "sisters" approached their "pledges" when there was a concern about hazing. Personally, I would think that they would be concerned enough to approach them in a more caring manner. The sisters could have let them know if they had been just joking about being hazed, that it is a serious accusation and the repercussions that they can have on the chapter as a whole.

I'm really in no place to be telling DZO what they should or should't have done but I really think that the situation could have been handled better.

adpiucf · #12 06-02-2003, 03:27 PM

Sorority Life: I agree with the sister who said it is like watching a train wreck. The new members were hazed like crazy on both seasons; being an ADPi, we are educated to understand hazing in any form. Requiring pledge books, being woken in the middle of the night, keeping initation dates secret-- all hazing. Not to mention being forced to sing the Greek Alphabet while half-hanigng out of a moving vehicle! Eek! And what about season 1's moving large bolders as a new member activitiy? What was that all about?

I will say however, the cattiness of the roommates was completely keeping with COLLEGE life! Incoming freshmen, whether you are in a sorority or not, be prepared!

I applaud all the local GLO's who are up-and-coming, but I am glad to have joined an NPC sorority that is regulated by an Executive Office and NPC, so these things don't happen in our chapters. The locals have such a big job; I respect them so much for all of their hard work to maintain and regulate!

Moving on.... Paddles: ADPi does not condone paddles, regardless of what they are named. I personally think it is quite fun to have a paddle. If you do have a "plaque with a handle," I think that's definitely a fun piece of sorority memorabilia to show the kids someday!!! But.....

And here's the but--- moving forward, if you are an active collegiate member, please refrain from giving your alpha or delta diamonds anything that looks like a paddle or giving it to them and giving it a new name. Diamond Shaped boards, lion-shaped boards, wood gifts like jewelry boxes, etc., are perfectly fine-- it's ok for them to have a handle, as long as they aren't the traditional paddle shape. You can maintain your tradition, just modify it a little. It may seem unfair, but look at it from the other perspective-- it makes us unique, and sets us apart from the other sororities. Another reason to claim we are First and Finest!

Please educate your members on this as we head into fall recruitment. We Live For Each Other includes our Executive Office. We may not always see the "why," but there's a reason to all of these inane-seeming rules, I promise!

Also, a disclaimer...

I'm not posting this to create an argument; I'm just trying to put the word out so we are all on the same page. So please don't shoot the messenger! If you do have any concerns about any of this, please email me at allaboutadpi@yahoo.com.

Pi Love,
Your resident International Officer

ASUADPi · #13 06-02-2003, 06:56 PM

thanks for the information about SL3. I find it so sad that Zeta Sigma Phi would actually diss NPC, also hoping they don't. What's sad is don't they realize that all NPC sororities, just like all sororities, will have a voting method. Plus theres quota. I mean hello if you've got let's say 700 girls going through rush and let's say only 12 houses. I know quota is different for every house, depending on the size, but lets say for arguements sake that each can only take a max of 35 girls. That means out of the 700 only a max of 420 will make it. That means those NPC sororities have cut 280 girls, if not more. Unfortunately not everyone is cut out to be in a sorority, but if Zeta Sigma Phi does diss NPC, that really lack of respect on their parts.

My rush shirt one year said "No matter what the letter were all greek together", which is totally true. And if it is true and MTV doesn't edit their comments out, they have absolutely no respect for all greeks on the USC campus and greeks in general. I find that sad.

Brianna

valpogal99 · #14 06-02-2003, 10:30 PM

PolarPi - I think part of the reason that paddles in any form never started at Valpo is because we are a young chapter. I remember when the topic came up as a colony member and our TCC explaining that ADPi did not "allow" paddles because of the hazing that could be associated with them. I do like the ideas of exchanging wooden diamonds (with or without handles). I have seen some really cute ones exchanged at some of the area chapters here. I actually like them more than traditional paddles because they are specific to ADPi. My husband has a fraternity paddle and it made me want one. As a wedding gift, his fraternity presented me with a diamond plaque (with handle) that had both Greek organizations letters, crests, and symbols. It was really cute and sweet and I liked that they honored ADPi by not making it a traditional paddle. (Go AKL's for showing true Greek spirit).

ADPiUCF - thanks for being here to help provide clarification and knowledge to us all. It is nice to have an "inside" view of things!

texas*princess · #15 06-03-2003, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chloe173
And secondly, apparently these girls held some long standing grudge against panhellenic sororities as most of their members went through our rush and were cut from all houses. So there were threats that NPC sororities were going to be bashed. Hope not.

I heard this in the Greek Life forum by an AXO member who attends that school. She said the panhellenic council held meetings with them and tried to talk about the SL3 show, but the ladies of that particular sororority told panhellenic something to the effect that if the Panhellenic didn't start being nice to them, they [the SL3 sorority] would criticize the NPC sororities and talk about how terrible they [NPC] were in their confessionals.

I personally think that is ridiculous

As far as SL2 goes, I don't know if it was MTV's editing, or if MTV just got more video of the girls being catty and downright mean than they did with the 1st season of SL. DZO came across as very catty and mean not only to each other but to their "pledges".

I would agree with honeychile 110% when she said she would have nothing to do with any group if they treated their new members the way DZO did.

That's just my .02 on the whole SL issue