Plegdes wearing letters???

[agzg]

Originally Posted by kddani

Why the size limit?

My guess is because 4" is the "typical" size of a block lettered shirt, and if they have to let new members wear letters (stupid HQ!), they need to find some other way to demean the new members?

[Gusteau]

If their stitched letters, anything over 4" is tacky IMO. Have you seen those heinous 8" letters - blech!

[jnowak530]

My chapter only allows the pledges to wear a pledge pin; many of them do choose to wear the fraternity colors during that time. After initiation they are allowed to wear the TKE letters, crest, member pin, etc...

[rollthedice]

When I was pledging I was not allowed to wear letters or anything relating to the sorority with exception to our pledge pins/ribbons (and bid day shirts which had screen printed letters). That being said, orders for apparel went out while we were pledging and we were allowed to order apparel. Once we were initiated our "moms" presented us with our first set of letters. I believe that my letters are much more special to me because I had to "earn" them. Just my opinion though.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by rollthedice

because I had to "earn" them

Earn them? It sounds more like your gratification was delayed, thereby making the experience more meaningful for you.

[ruellesmith]

As for kappa alpha theta, as pledges we are not allowed to wear anything that has our letters... on lavaliers, shirts, sweatshirts, backpacks... nothing. the only thing that national lets us have is the word THETA along with our pledge pins.

[jolene]

Originally Posted by ruellesmith

As for kappa alpha theta, as pledges we are not allowed to wear anything that has our letters... on lavaliers, shirts, sweatshirts, backpacks... nothing. the only thing that national lets us have is the word THETA along with our pledge pins.

You can't wear event shirts? What about Bid Day shirts with the letters on it?

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by jolene

You can't wear event shirts? What about Bid Day shirts with the letters on it?

No. The ONLY exception is if there is a shirt that is promoting a Panhellenic or Greek Life event and the Greek letters "Kappa Alpha Theta" are on the shirt, along with other GLOS' Greek letters. Otherwise, not. Bid day shirts will say "Theta" or "Kappa Alpha Theta".

We're not the only NPC GLO that restricts wearing letters to initiated members.

This has been covered in other threads on GC, and I'm not feeling like searching

ETA: it's Headquarters, not "national" because we are an international fraternity (Canadian chapters).

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by AZTheta

No. The ONLY exception is if there is a shirt that is promoting a Panhellenic or Greek Life event and the Greek letters "Kappa Alpha Theta" are on the shirt, along with other GLOS' Greek letters. Otherwise, not. Bid day shirts will say "Theta" or "Kappa Alpha Theta".

We're not the only NPC GLO that restricts wearing letters to initiated members.

This has been covered in other threads on GC, and I'm not feeling like searching

ETA: it's Headquarters, not "national" because we are an international fraternity (Canadian chapters).

That's one of the beauties of the NPC. Not everyone has the same personal rules, and you can make an argument for either way. And that's fine. I'm happy that I got to where the greek letters ADP as a pledge, and that our Alphas may also do so, but I'm not going to question another GLO's decision to restrict it.

And we're not "national" either - referring to our Headquarters as "Nationals" is akin to fingernails on the chalkboard to me. It's Headquarters, Memorial Headquarters, or International Officers, not "Nationals".

[SAEalumnus]

The only official law where SAE is concerned is Title XIII, Section 66D1 of the Fraternity Laws which states, in part, that "[o]nly initiated members shall be permitted to wear or display the coat of arms of the Fraternity." Nothing official is stated regarding letters, but I know it's a common preference among chapters that pledges not use or wear the letters of either our name or motto since they have not yet been instructed in their meaning.

[Thetagirl218]

At my chapter the new members were not allowed to wear anything that had the greek letters on them except for panhellenic shirts that had everyone's letters on them or shirts that had our name spelled out. They were given their first set of letters "shirt form" after initiation

Originally Posted by zetamazing

apparently our pledges ARE allowed to wear letters, but generally decide as a pledge class NOT to until initiation- just because you don't even know what the letters really mean until you are initiated. and it's something to look forward to ... i was so happy when i put my first set on

Fairleigh Dickinson, huh? Nice.

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by OTW

Fairleigh Dickinson, huh? Nice.

The most interesting people tend to come from that chapter.

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by zetamazing

apparently our pledges ARE allowed to wear letters, but generally decide as a pledge class NOT to until initiation- just because you don't even know what the letters really mean until you are initiated. and it's something to look forward to ... i was so happy when i put my first set on

Really. I wonder if any National Staff would be interested in that tidbit of information...

[SWTXBelle]

You cannot "earn" the right to be a Gamma Phi Beta. It is an honour to be invited to membership, and after careful preparation to be initiated into full sisterhood.
The ability to drink copious amounts of alcohol, do strenous exercises, sucumb to peer pressure, fit a physical stereotype, endure humiliation, or any other of dozens of "tests" sometimes put forth as a way to earn Greek letters is not what we look for in our potential members. Sincerity, dedication, intelligence, depth of character, and yes, love, learning, labor and loyalty are the distinquishing characteristics of our members.
Our pledges are allowed to wear our letters from day one, although the crest is reserved for initiated members, as is our badge. I am proud to be a member not because it means I have successfully run an obstacle course, but because I am a part of an organization of women whose creed means more to me with each passing year.