my very long rush experience

_Lisa_ · #1 10-25-2006, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTW

If it says that you're allowed to in your New Member Manual, chapters shouldn't dictate otherwise.

Sigma Kappa considers that hazing.

_Lisa_ · #2 10-25-2006, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterXO

I've never really understood that thought process. It's ok to not allow new members to participate in ritual or wear a pin, but it's hazing if they can't wear letters???

I think that when HQ explicitly says that PNM's are allowed to wear letters before iniation they are trying to diffuse any potential hazing situations where a PNM might feel as if she has to "work" for the honor of wearing them.

Drolefille · #3 10-25-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Lisa_

I think that when HQ explicitly says that PNM's are allowed to wear letters before iniation they are trying to diffuse any potential hazing situations where a PNM might feel as if she has to "work" for the honor of wearing them.

Plus the SK new member pin IS a Sigma (snake) and a Kappa. So, it wouldn't make sense anyway at least as far as we are concerned.

I figure that even though the new members don't know what the letters mean, they've pledged to join, learn and uphold the values that they learn. Their wearing of the letters is a reminder of that pledge, just like it's a reminder to the actives of the promises we've made.

AND OP:

Congrats to you and Tri Sigma!

KSUViolet06 · #4 10-25-2006, 02:31 PM

What chapter are you from dear?

SigKapSweetie · #5 10-25-2006, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Lisa_

I think that when HQ explicitly says that PNM's are allowed to wear letters before iniation they are trying to diffuse any potential hazing situations where a PNM might feel as if she has to "work" for the honor of wearing them.

Co-sign!

sailboatgirl · #6 10-25-2006, 02:52 PM

CONGRATULATIONS! Welcome to Tri Sigma!

I, too, just let out a little yelp! My coworkers thought that my friend's daughter (one of my sorority sister's) who is in the hospital had taken a bad turn...which she hasn't!

Drolefille · #7 10-25-2006, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterXO

My organization has this policy as well and although I respect it, I don't really see the logic. I understand that saying you can't wear letters could be perceived as hazing, but how is it any different from denying a NM the right to wear a pin or participate in ritual? Can't it be hazing to tell a NM they have to sit outside chapter while ritual is being conducted? Or that there will be a special meeting after the regular meeting that only initiated members are allowed to attend? I just think if denying the right to wear letters is hazing then everything else should be too. Personally I don't think any of it is hazing... but that's a whooooole other topic!

See my post above for my take on it. It think it's also partially because it was used as a hazing tool. It's like scavenger hunts. They're not necessarily hazing, but they've been used that way too often.

_Lisa_ · #8 10-25-2006, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

See my post above for my take on it. It think it's also partially because it was used as a hazing tool. It's like scavenger hunts. They're not necessarily hazing, but they've been used that way too often.

Exactly! You've hit the nail on the head.

indygphib · #9 10-25-2006, 04:54 PM

What a great story - you are a terrific writer! Congratulations to you and Sigma Sigma Sigma!!!

violetpretty · #10 10-25-2006, 05:57 PM

Congratulations to you and SSS! Where do you go to school? Where was your old school?
I had a feeling that it was "Ari" from the beginning because it was one of the two sororities that wasn't at your old school and you didn't like the other one.

Ocalagirl · #11 10-25-2006, 06:44 PM

This story was amazing!! I read it all and I too must say you are an AMAZING writer!! And I also want to congratulate you on winding up with a wonderful organization such as Tri-Sigma!!

AlexMack · #12 10-25-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariesrising

I was allowed to wear letters prior to initiation, but I didn't. I just wanted it to be something special I saved.

Same with my chapter. We were allowed to use letters in our AIM profiles etc. None of us were for awhile, and my big asked why (I'd had them, then taken them out) and she was so mad when I told her that I'd been told not to put them in there. So back in they went.
Our first set of letters came from our mothers (now Sigmas) so while you could buy your own, it was much more special to wait.

ufdale · #13 10-25-2006, 07:04 PM

The other new members and I discussed this some time back and we thought we weren't supposed to wear BLOCK letters (the cutout kind). We did get out first block letters with our family prints on them from our bigs. I'm not sure who told us this though...

33girl · #14 10-25-2006, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterXO

My organization has this policy as well and although I respect it, I don't really see the logic. I understand that saying you can't wear letters could be perceived as hazing, but how is it any different from denying a NM the right to wear a pin or participate in ritual? Can't it be hazing to tell a NM they have to sit outside chapter while ritual is being conducted? Or that there will be a special meeting after the regular meeting that only initiated members are allowed to attend? I just think if denying the right to wear letters is hazing then everything else should be too. Personally I don't think any of it is hazing... but that's a whooooole other topic!

Personally, I think it all depends whether your letters have an open meaning or not. If the pledges really have no clue what they mean until after initiation, I can see the logic behind preventing wearing them.

And as AlphaFrog said - if the other chapters on campus don't wear letters before initiation, right or wrong, I as a pledge wouldn't want to either. To tell the girls they HAVE to wear letters before initiation is just as bad as the reverse.