Local names for national organizations?

[catiebug]

At SMU and SFA, Pi Kappa Alpha was always called Pike; however, at my husband's school (MIT), they are Pika.

The first time he said Pika, I told him he had it wrong. He said I had it wrong. Fifteen years later, he is still wrong.

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

No one at W&L ever called Pi Kappa Alpha "Pike" either. They always said "Pika."

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

We definitely say Pike around here. The rest of the fraternities we call by their letters or name.

The only sorority with a real nick name is "DeeGee". The rest are just said or maybe shortened, like Alpha Gam.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by catiebug

At SMU and SFA, Pi Kappa Alpha was always called Pike; however, at my husband's school (MIT), they are Pika.

The first time he said Pika, I told him he had it wrong. He said I had it wrong. Fifteen years later, he is still wrong.

Actually, it's pika (all lowercase). They've been an independent living group, no longer affiliated with Pi Kappa Alpha, for more than 30 years. They are also coed.

[catiebug]

LOL - well, that explains it - he's class of '79. He said that the chapter got their charter revoked by nationals because they "initiated" a girl. Don't know if that's true or not, but like I said, he's been wrong before.

Originally Posted by aephi alum

Actually, it's pika. They've been an independent living group, not affiliated with Pi Kappa Alpha, for more than 30 years. They are also coed.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

Actually, it's pika (all lowercase). They've been an independent living group, no longer affiliated with Pi Kappa Alpha, for more than 30 years. They are also coed.

Isn't that what happened at several of the elite private schools up north that banned any organization that wasn't co-ed from being recognized on campus?

I want to say I think I heard about something similar at Brown, but I'm not sure if that's correct.

ETA: One of my few friends in grad school who is Greek is a SigEp from MIT. We reminisce about Greek life a lot

[tallgreekalum]

Sorry, but your husband is right(about this Pika is a local coed group that used to be a chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha. They are NEVER known as Pike!

Originally Posted by catiebug

At SMU and SFA, Pi Kappa Alpha was always called Pike; however, at my husband's school (MIT), they are Pika.

The first time he said Pika, I told him he had it wrong. He said I had it wrong. Fifteen years later, he is still wrong.

[Thetagirl218]

Delta Gamma went by Dee Gees and Kappa Delta went by Kay Dees!

[tallgreekalum]

By SPE, I assume you folks are saying Spee, not S P E? It has been more common in the south, but somtimes up here as well.
We used to call LCA "the Smurfs" because their house was painted blue with white trim. Years afterwards, still smurfs
Our (ADPhi) chapter at Johns Hopkins was known as WaWas after the store in the basement of the old chapter house. Most places we're known as AD or Alpha Delts, but at a few schools, we are known as the phis.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by tallgreekalum

By SPE, I assume you folks are saying Spee, not S P E? It has been more common in the south, but somtimes up here as well.
We used to call LCA "the Smurfs" because their house was painted blue with white trim. Years afterwards, still smurfs
Our (ADPhi) chapter at Johns Hopkins was known as WaWas after the store in the basement of the old chapter house. Most places we're known as AD or Alpha Delts, but at a few schools, we are known as the phis.

Yes, "Spee" is the pronunciation.

I don't know if I've ever met an ADPhi on these boards. We had them briefly, sort of, at my school. Speaking of SPE... nevermind.

Originally Posted by Thetagirl218

Delta Gamma went by Dee Gees and Kappa Delta went by Kay Dees!

Someone mentioned these earlier (or at least Dee Gee). I don't consider these "nonstandard nicknames" exactly because they're just phonetic spellings of the standard nicknames (DG, KD). But I guess if they're putting them on shirts and stuff that might could be consider nonstandard/unusual.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by tallgreekalum

Sorry, but your husband is right(about this Pika is a local coed group that used to be a chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha. They are NEVER known as Pike!

Well, technically, it sounds like her husband was a member when it was a Pi Kappa Alpha Chapter and that they still called "Pika" at that time.

[ta kala]

The only place I have heard SigEp called SPE was at Oregon State.