Calling new members "baby"

[prettyv]

This is huge on my campus. I avoid it... although the thought of saying "Thetartots" makes me happy inside.

[DubaiSis]

I heard once that the only thing you do in your first year of work after college is learn how to work. My first job out of college was working at Club Med, which is a WHOLE different thing to learn. But my first real job was working at a huge publishing, media, owns everything type of company. And I think that really is what they taught me... amazing customer service skills and how to just show up and do your friggin job. It was full to popping with drama, and as soon as I was over all that it was time for me to move on. And I think that's how college life works. You go in unknowing and over the 4 years you get yourself into everything, some good, some bad, and just about the time you're ready to star in your own sorority girl massacre movie, you graduate and move onto other things.

[gee_ess]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

I heard once that the only thing you do in your first year of work after college is learn how to work. My first job out of college was working at Club Med, which is a WHOLE different thing to learn. But my first real job was working at a huge publishing, media, owns everything type of company. And I think that really is what they taught me... amazing customer service skills and how to just show up and do your friggin job. It was full to popping with drama, and as soon as I was over all that it was time for me to move on. And I think that's how college life works. You go in unknowing and over the 4 years you get yourself into everything, some good, some bad, and just about the time you're ready to star in your own sorority girl massacre movie, you graduate and move onto other things.

Love this!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

At Arkansas, the use of "baby___" is rampant. It is relatively new (along with the popularity of intricate handsigns, PULEEZE) and I think the pledges kind of like it. It is used endearingly, "We love our baby Kappas" and seems to be a bit of an ego thing for older members to say.

If the use of the word "pledge" and other related terms (pledge mom/pledge daughter) were eliminated because it was derogatory, then I think "baby" just topped that list.

Actually, I do not think the use of the word 'baby' is terrible - because if you do away with it, then older members will still find a word that conveys the relationship of older/newer membership. "Baby" is endearing in their eyes.

If they're using it in that way, it IS derogatory and verging on hazing.

I say officially go back to pledge. I never met anyone who minded it, but I can think of LOTS of my sisters who would have never put up with "baby" and laughed outright at the clinical-ness of "new member." (Bringing out "new member" at the height of Beavis and Butt-Head? Seriously people, not a good idea here.)

[AZTheta]

So many good quotes in the last couple of pages, and so many great laugh-out-loud moments.

Coping with life: always interesting how these young women think that they can ask me for a letter of recommendation, after some of the **** they pull. And I watch these "babies" go out in the world and not even get a toe hold in the work place. Then I wonder who's mean. Being accountable does matter.

Bottom line: it is what it is (ridiculousness), it'll be replaced by something else (of that I'm sure), and I cried when I saw the squirrel head unceremoniously abandoned on the lawn. *sniff* The least they could have done is to close his/her eyes.

[RaggedyAnn]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

As far as I know, ASA pledges have been Pearls loooooooooong before the 90's, whether they were commonly referred to as such or not.

Originally Posted by 33girl

I thought we weren't allowed to say just Pearls anymore.

[QUOTE=33girl;2093136]There was no usage of Pearl until after at least the 1994 convention, or it might have been 1996. It definitely wasn't used when I was an active.
QUOTE]

It was the 1994/5 year when they revamped and reissued the Encounter that the term pledges was changed to Pearl. I was active at the time.

The appropriate term now is New Member; Pearl is considered slang. Active is also not used, and has been replaced by Collegian or Collegiate Member.

[33girl]

So Pearl Members is out too?

And I do know we're (along w/ everyone else) not supposed to use active, and I usually don't, I was just lazy.