Opinions on para in public

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

I'll just say that when we had our national convention in Las Vegas...

LOL......

Hey, to be honest, I really don't care "what" people do in their letters as long as they do it with class.

I am not one of those people who trips out when a Greek wears their tiki to the club. And heck, if you're over 21, I'm not going to think twice about someone drinking.

Now, have I pulled a lady to the side who was eating uncovered food while walking across campus? Yup.

[luvmypearls]

On Saturday, some of the new initiates met for a mixer. There was a reminder email about drinking and wearing para (esp being photographed with para and drinking(. Now, everyone who came out looked very lovely (as only my new sorors would). No one had on any para that I noticed and we had a very good time.

Later that evening, I went to the casino. Now I was wearing a pin on my jacket and I removed it, because it didn't feel right.


Now, I have been a lady of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for 15 days now and I remember one of the more seasoned sorors telling us to be careful when we want to "just make a quick run" and when we don't look our best. Well on Saturday morning, I was just going to drop the kids off at dance class, but when I looked at myself as I was going out of the door, I quickly removed the AKA baseball cap.

Sidenote: It was funny reading the post from nachural wishing she had letters and now, well...rep yo letters, soror!

[Lady of Pearl]

I think what is in question is proper protocol- as a seasoned Soror of 22 years within our organization. I can remember after being initiated and going to celebrate at a restauraunt where alcohol was being served that we were to remove our pin-whether we were drinking or not. I think we should abstain from even the appearance of evil. I would not want to represent Alpha Kappa Alpha in that manner. I can imagine someone saying oh those AKAs are not about nothing-- look at their members drinking and gambling with their paraphernalia on- is that what they are about? how common! A lady would never do that! If you disagree then send all your responses to me privately

[TotallyWicked]

hmm, I don't think people should wear letters while drinking, especially take pics with alcohol present, then all that ends up on facebook, myspace, and other internet sites. I also think Para shouldn't be the clothes you wear when you literally roll out of bed and go to class or anywhere looking a mess, I've seen so many greeks do that, some chick came with her hair undone, pajamas, slippers all with a seemingly brand new shirt repping her letters

I always iron my shirt(s) before I wear em, my folks know it's going to be a long night because they say "you're ironing your shirt, what do you have going on tonight?"

One of my shirts was stained and I cannot take it off, so I never wear it, unfortunately it's my crossing shirt

[IncontRHOllable]

Just adding my 2 cents on this very interesting topic. I too am of the opinion that it just does not look good to be wearing your para and drinking. Although a person may start out just sipping one glass of wine, what happens when the party really gets started and they "forget" to take off their letters and end up being sloppy drunk? Thank God I don't drink, but my concern would be how a situation like that would look to others who are not a part of your sorority, but may have been thinking about joining your sorority. I have seen this type of behavior at one time or another with all the sororities. I have love for all of my D9 sisters and there have been times when I have seen a sis from another D9 sorority buzzed with her letters on and I want to pull the sis to the side and ask her to think about how this may reflect on her sorority. I would always err on the side of caution and just not wear my letters and drink.

[1908Revelations]

I agree with what is being said about representing our letters well, but I care a great deal about how I represent myself. I can not represent AKA well if I don't first represent myself well! We were individuals before we made any pledge to any organization. Shouldn't self-representation be just as important? Whether or not we have on letters is optional, but we live in our skin and we should be respectable women where ever we go letters or not.

[Obsession8]

Originally Posted by 1908Revelations

I agree with what is being said about representing our letters well, but I care a great deal about how I represent myself. I can not represent AKA well if I don't first represent myself well! We were individuals before we made any pledge to any organization. Shouldn't self-representation be just as important? Whether or not we have on letters is optional, but we live in our skin and we should be respectable women where ever we go letters or not.

Yes, it should, soror (answer to question in bold). In many respects (in the big scheme of things), it should be more important. As you said, we were individuals before we became members, so behaving like a lady came first (well, for some of us, anyway ).

I know sorors who make a big deal about not wearing letters when going out (I agree that clubs + para = a no-no), even at greek functions where alcohol isn't served. With or without libations, there is always questionable behavior to be seen. I often just find myself shaking my head and thinking how hypocritical they're being. As TotallyWicked mentioned, pictures of such behavior can be found on sites like Facebook and MySpace, which just adds fuel to the fire. Whether in letters or not, people know you're an AKA. Not only does that look bad to fellow sorors and members of other orgs, but it *REALLY* looks bad to aspirants who see this and think it's okay and/or to men who see this and get the "wrong (or perhaps "right" ) impression" if you know what I mean.

I'm no saint (have my fair share of bad hair days, not always "dressed to impress", etc.), but TRUST I respect my letters enough to know how to act, whether I'm actually wearing them or not.

[1908Revelations]

^^^^I agree with you.

I know some people who make a huge deal about wearing letters, so they don't as to not make their orgs look bad if they will be doing things not becoming. The thing is some people know what org they belong to, so wearing the letters is not the issue if they are going to act an ass.

I personally have no issues with wearing letters (other than I have no para....I don't have money to spend on para *cough taking donations cough ). I was semi raised by my grandmother (which lives not to far away) so the old soul of knowing how to act and when is ingrained (sp?) in me. I don't drink or smoke plus granny can really kick some boo-tay!

[mccoyred]

I am going to disagree with the majority of the posters here.

As long as I am over 21, I am allowed to drink, period. Whether I happen to have on letters is immaterial to that fact. Now if I am dancing on the bar, then it is a bad look for me and for my organization. However, it is also true with non-alcohol-related activities as a previous poster mentioned.

The main issue is that folks need to act like they have some class, common sense and home training, which can be done with or without letters/symbols on your body.

[1908Revelations]

Originally Posted by mccoyred

The main issue is that folks need to act like they have some class, common sense and home training, which can be done with or without letters/symbols on your body.

That was my point.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

I'll just say that when we had our national convention in Las Vegas...

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by sphinxbeauty

Another sorority at my school will go so far as to put up post-it notes in their house covering ANYTHING with letters on it. The composites/picture frames/anything with letters will be post-it'd before people drink at their house.

NPC houses are unanimously dry. There should be no alcohol on any NPC sorority property.

The "no drinking in letters" for NPCs, however, is a myth.

[BlueReign]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

LOL......

Hey, to be honest, I really don't care "what" people do in their letters as long as they do it with class.

I am not one of those people who trips out when a Greek wears their tiki to the club. And heck, if you're over 21, I'm not going to think twice about someone drinking.

Now, have I pulled a lady to the side who was eating uncovered food while walking across campus? Yup.

See, I'm with you on this one. I wonder what the big deal is. I don't worship my letters so why would I remove them. I think if you are a stumbling drunk you will look bad with or without letters. I was a classy lady before and if I go out for a cocktail or two I am still a classy lady whether I'm wearing letters, symbols, or what.

Now I did see a stumbling drunk at a bar once wearing her colors and her lettered hat was on the bar, so I took it from her.