How protective are you of your letters?

[Rio_Kohitsuji]

The RW thread got me thinking about this. I've noticed some people on here are quite protective of their letters no matter what they're printed on or who is wearing them. While others are more of the opposite. An example from my campus is that no pledge at ANY time may wear the organization they are pledging's combination of letters while other school's denote that as hazing.

I know that I've become more laid-back w/my letters over time, and I don't freak out if a friend who's cold wears one of my sweatshirts off of campus now (not relaxed enough for on-campus ). But I know of people who if their own mother was freezing too death wouldn't let them wear a party-shirt, heh.

[DST4A00]

I don't know if I'd go so far as to deny someone who is freezing my jacket (luckily my mom's in the same sorority) but I wouldn't let someone wear my para when they're not a member. I might not let someone use my umbrella. I'd have to think about it.

[MSKKG]

Originally posted by Rio_Kohitsuji
But I know of people who if their own mother was freezing too death wouldn't let them wear a party-shirt, heh.

Seems to me this would violate everything those letters stand for.

[KSUViolet06]

I don't let anyone wear my letters (Sigma OR Kappa Phi) or t-shirts. It was never an issue for me. Everyone understands that those are mine. It's not like my friends run up to me BEGGING to wear letters of a sorority they're unaffiliated with. If my friends need shirts or other clothes, I have PLENTY without my letters that they can borrow. It's no big deal.

Anything else like pens, cups, or mugs, you can most certainly use as long as they are returned and do not leave my house.

I have heard of greeks throwing letters/t-shirts in the trash or taking them to the thrift store. I would never do that. If there's t-shirt that's old or doesn't fit anymore, I pass it down to another sister or give it away in a shirt swap with another Sigma chapter.

I don't consider it being protective. I'm just following HQ's policies. Letters are to be worn by members only. If you're not a member, you don't wear them. No biggie.

[KillarneyRose]

If someone were freezing and needed a jacket or getting soaked and needed an umbrella and the only ones I had to lend had my letters or, Heaven forbid, my crest, I would let them.

I'd like to think I'm a compassionate human being first and a Delta Zeta second (not that the two are necessarily mutually exclusive )

I just can't imagine that my Founders would want someone to catch pneumonia rather than borrow my jacket!

[KSigkid]

I'm actually pretty protective of my letters - I mean, if someone were dying of hypothermia I'd consider letting them wear a sweatshirt...maybe...

Seriously though, I'd rather not let someone wear my letters unless it were absolutely necessary. If it were an extreme case, then fine, but I just don't feel comfortable having non-members wearing Kappa Sigma.

[Glitter650]

If someone just wanted to borrow a sweater... the first one I'd hand over wouldn't be my letters... HOWEVER... as someone (*Maybe* S&S ?) said in the RW thread... I'd rather have a non member who is representing the values of Phi Sig (or at the very least not making an ass of themselves) Than a member dancing in her blinged out Phi Sig thong on the bar, ya know ?
That being said... it really doesn't make sense to me why but people who CHOOSE to leave the organization WANT to wear their letters still.
I know all situations are different, and I undstand some people wanting to sport letters after disaffiliating. Either way it *kinda* bothers me, but I'm not going to throw red paint on their sweater, or call them out on it.

[K-ThetaGrl]

Being that I love my letters I think its disrepectful for others to wear our letters. A 'rival' sorority on campus have a party that they call a Princess party where they make shirts that have our letters or insignia on it and dress really girly to make fun of us (we're stereotyped as being really girly and prissy but we consider it as having class.). Stuff like this pisses me off. But a frat on campus has shirts that we're taken from us or willingly given to them years and years ago that were passed down and sometimes they wear them at the bar, we think thats ok because its all in good fun. I dunno to a nongreek it seems like no big deal but to a greek your letters are sacred.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally posted by K-ThetaGrl
Being that I love my letters I think its disrepectful for others to wear our letters. A 'rival' sorority on campus have a party that they call a Princess party where they make shirts that have our letters or insignia on it and dress really girly to make fun of us (we're stereotyped as being really girly and prissy but we consider it as having class.)

Wow.

[ZTABullwinkle]

Personally, I won't wear any of my letters if I am drinking. Plus, I won't buy those shorts with them on the butt or flip-flops with them on the bottoms.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

If someone were freezing, I would lend them my sweater etc. but if that person started acting like a brute wearing my letters, I would take it back faster then they can blink.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose


I'd like to think I'm a compassionate human being first and a Delta Zeta second (not that the two are necessarily mutually exclusive )

I just can't imagine that my Founders would want someone to catch pneumonia rather than borrow my jacket!

Exactly how I feel - of course, about Alpha Delta Pi - but the one of the major parts of being a Greek is compassion, is it not?

I do get irritated with seeing our Crest on non-member related items, though - and don't get me started on the thongs or other underguccis!

K-ThetaGrl, you (as a group) are obviously doing something right - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Now, on a 180, I remember going trick or treating with my two best friends as kids dressed as Tri-Deltas. Their mother was a Tri-Delta, and made our sweatshirts!

[ladygreek]

Turn your sweater or jacket inside out.

[pinkyphimu]

i loaned a friend my phi mu sweatshirt bc it was the only clean one i had and she was freezing! no biggie. if she called me up and asked to borrow it, i would say no. that would be weird.

as far as party shirts go, who cares? if you are giving them out as favors and are giving them to the dates of your members then there are people of the opposite sex running around in your letters. or what about when a sorority and fraternity team up for a party or greek week, etc. and get a shirt made together.

i think we as greeks have bigger fish to fry than a non-member borrowing a lettered umbrella in the rain.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by ladygreek
Turn your sweater or jacket inside out.

I might consider letting someone wear my letters in a medical emergency (hypothermia/a newborn needs to be wrapped/etc.) in the way ladygreek describes. Otherwise, no. Period.

Even then, I'd give up my shirt, bra, pants, etc. before the letters.