Rules regarding appearance

[OSU Maman]

Do sororities and fraternities have rules regarding appearance? I am curious as to whether tattoos or piercings are allowed or if it depends on the individual chapter.

[33girl]

This depends on the individual chapter, and even then, I doubt any of them have written rules - it might just be frowned upon.

The one thing there might be an actual rule about is that you can't tattoo your letters or any other sorority insignia on you.

[AlphaFrog]

I wouldn't doubt a chapter or two out there have bylaws about tats and piercings, but I don't think a national org as a whole would. That's something that would have to be applied across the board for collegians and alums...and who wants to be in an org where they dictate what their 30 yr old (or heck, 21 for that matter) members can/can't do with their bodies??

[OSU Maman]

So even if there are no written rules against it, do you think there are some chapters that might not want you to join their fraternity or sorority because a tattoo or piercing doesn't fit their image?

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by OSU Maman

So even if there are no written rules against it, do you think there are some chapters that might not want you to join their fraternity or sorority because a tattoo or piercing doesn't fit their image?

Absolutely. If you walk into SEC recruitment (or any competitive/conservative) looking like you fell facefirst into a tacklebox, you're probably not going to get a bid.

One/a few tattoo(s) that can be covered? Probably not a big deal...
Tounge ring/bellybutton ring? Probably not a big deal, especially with a clear spacer in.

[OSU Maman]

I am talking about a single tattoo or piercing.

[KSUViolet06]

If we're talking about OSU, it's really no biggie if she's got a tattoo as long as it's not huge or in a highly visible area, like a big snake on her forearm. I know OSU sorority women with small "girly" type tattoos on their shoulders, backs, etc. that aren't really noticeable.

As far as piercings, I don't kow anybody who is in a sorority at OSU with a piercing other than the standard ear ones. So I couldn't tell you.

[AOII Angel]

At my campus, all of the Sigma Kappa's got their letters tatooed on their big toes...ouch! One of my sisters had a stupid looking panda head with a big red bow and AOII under it on her ankle. My old roommates (twin sisters) had a piece of wheat and a red rose entwined around AOII on their ankles. The list goes on and on. Head to toe tats are a completely different story though!