Calling new members "baby"

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by thetaj

My chapter does say "Theta babies." I'm trying to get them to call them Thetartots but it's kind of hit or miss Someone suggested "kittens" once but that's just creepy.

I'm actually quite amused by Thetartots, but wouldn't want to be called that.

I've definitely seen Baby (Lady)Bugs. Now that our mascot official though, they could be DotTots. On second thought...no, Pearls are just fine.

[DubaiSis]

Originally Posted by thetaj

My chapter does say "Theta babies." I'm trying to get them to call them Thetartots but it's kind of hit or miss Someone suggested "kittens" once but that's just creepy.

I am so all over calling your pledges Thetartots! And it is SOOOOO much cuter than Theta Baby. I will admit, however, that I could see your headquarters not thinking it was quite as hysterical as I do.

Yes, bring back PLEDGE. Yes, ditch Baby anything forever.

[BraveMaroon]

Yeah, I'm done to death with the "baby (insert mascot here)" thing.

Of course, I fought the losing battle all through college to get my sisters to stop referring to themselves (and others) as "girls".

I had no problem being called a pledge - I survived and have no scars mental or physical from that brief time in my life.

But, I'm sure that 20 years from now, there'll be a new trend and the Baby Quatrefoils/Crescent Moons/Palm Trees of today will clutch their pearls in horror and remember the good old days.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by thetaj

My chapter does say "Theta babies." I'm trying to get them to call them Thetartots but it's kind of hit or miss Someone suggested "kittens" once but that's just creepy.

No.

Just, no. Read this, below, and then tell me that Bettie Locke Hamilton would approve of Thetartots (wince), or Theta babies (ugh), or kittens (really?), or anything else.

http://books.google.com/books?id=JJ3...page&q&f=false



Sorry the link is funky, I'm too annoyed to make it pretty.

[thetaj]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

No.

Just, no. Read this, below, and then tell me that Bettie Locke Hamilton would approve of Thetartots (wince), or Theta babies (ugh), or kittens (really?), or anything else.

http://books.google.com/books?id=JJ3...page&q&f=false



Sorry the link is funky, I'm too annoyed to make it pretty.

We don't in seriousness call them babies. It's meant to be endearing, it really is. We aren't schemingly oppressive, we love our new women.

As for Thetartots, it's just something silly. It makes me giggle, but I wouldn't want to be called that lol.

Idk *sigh* I feel like there are much greater offenses to our founders out there, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms. This doesn't really bother me. But really, I think this might only bother the generation or so older than us, because it's so widely-used in colleges without hardly anyone in the sorority, other than HQ, fussing about it. This is just an observation, though.

[thetalady]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

No.

Just, no. Read this, below, and then tell me that Bettie Locke Hamilton would approve of Thetartots (wince), or Theta babies (ugh), or kittens (really?), or anything else.

http://books.google.com/books?id=JJ3...page&q&f=false

Sorry the link is funky, I'm too annoyed to make it pretty.

AZ- I loved reading this!! How have I missed this fascinating story? I never knew about Bettie & her kitties. I have "more than a few." Makes me see more of a connection with her

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by thetalady

I totally agree! I personally dislike the use of the term. As far as I know, Theta does not have any "baby kites". I think the term "baby" may be more prevalent in organizations that have an animal as a mascot...

I have definitely seen Baby Thetas and Baby Kites, though it is not too widespread thank goodness. I also seem to remember some missive put out by HQ requesting that the term "baby" not be used with regards to new members. I have been surfing around on the HQ website, but can't seem to find it. Maybe it was via their twitter/facebook feed? Maybe it was through The Bulletin? Who knows. But I do know that there has been some element of communication with members to stop using that term.

And I agree with the poster above- life was much simpler when we used the term pledge. I can't think of anyone who was offended by that.

[flirt5721]

It's annoying to me. My chapter never used it while I was active. I think they may have gotten it from one of the ELCs when it was going through the revitalization process like two years ago. I have seen so many chapters start calling new members "Baby Xi's". If I remember correctly I believe there is a rule that says we are not supposed to use Xi on its own.

I have emailed Nationals asking what their stance on the issue is but have not received a reply. To me it is so disrespectful to a new member. I would have hated to be classed a baby. My NMOC always made it clear to us that we were not pledges or anything else. She always said you are New Members.

[CougADPi]

Ours are Alphas. Pretty sure I have never seen them referred to as Baby Alphas or anything like that. I think Alphas is cool enough on it's own.

My cousin, who just joined AGD, is super proud to be a "Baby Squirrel" and uses the term constantly in her facebook posts.

[Always AlphaGam]

Originally Posted by CougADPi

My cousin, who just joined AGD, is super proud to be a "Baby Squirrel" and uses the term constantly in our facebook posts.

Baby Squirrel doesn't bother me too much. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think I've ever seen/heard of my IHQ taking a stand against it.

What really infuriates me is the need for some chapters to do the handsigns...but that's for the handsigns thread.

[thetaj]

Originally Posted by Always AlphaGam

What really infuriates me is the need for some chapters to do the handsigns...but that's for the handsigns thread.

?

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by Always AlphaGam

Baby Squirrel doesn't bother me too much. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think I've ever seen/heard of my IHQ taking a stand against it.

What really infuriates me is the need for some chapters to do the handsigns...but that's for the handsigns thread.

UGH - don't get me started on the handsigns.

[GolfersLady]

I dislike the use and I know we are encouraged on a national level to eliminate it from chapter vocabulary.

Here's another good blog post on the topic.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Okay, I have a theory:

The word "pledge" was eliminated around the time I joined, like, late 90's - early 00's. It seems like some groups came up with official replacement words: phis, pearls, alphas, while others just expected "new member" to be sufficient. Nobody likes using "new member", so instead, chapters locally made up their own, usually as some version of "baby [insert mascot here].

So, my conclusion is that if orgs don't want their new members referred to as "baby X", they need to come up with something else to make part of the chapter lexicon.

ETA: This is easier for some groups than for others, but Alpha Phi could certainly use "lilies" to refer to their NM's. That's kinda cute.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Okay, I have a theory:

The word "pledge" was eliminated around the time I joined, like, late 90's - early 00's. It seems like some groups came up with official replacement words: phis, pearls, alphas, while others just expected "new member" to be sufficient. Nobody likes using "new member", so instead, chapters locally made up their own, usually as some version of "baby [insert mascot here].

So, my conclusion is that if orgs don't want their new members referred to as "baby X", they need to come up with something else to make part of the chapter lexicon.

ETA: This is easier for some groups than for others, but Alpha Phi could certainly use "lilies" to refer to their NM's. That's kinda cute.

As far as I know, ASA pledges have been Pearls loooooooooong before the 90's, whether they were commonly referred to as such or not.