The case of the "was."

[dzandiloo]

The problem is easily solved for alums - just say I'm a Delta Zeta (or XYZ) Alum. Cures all kinds of confusion!

[jubilance1922]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
I think a lot of it is the conversation. For example, here's one I have a lot at law school.

Classmate: "Oh, you're a Gamma Phi! Where were you a Gamma Phi at?"
Me: "Dinky State U, are you Greek?"
Classmate: "Yeah, I was an Alpha Phi at Big Local School."

Neither of us are saying we don't care anymore - but she's NOT an Alpha Phi at the U anymore. She's still an Alpha Phi, but not there. I think that's where a lot of the confusion comes from, because it's easier to say that than for me to say "Oh, I pledged at Wisconsin Platteville and am now a member of the Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter."

Interesting...I'm a grad student at a different campus than the one I pledged at, so sometimes people assume I pledged here. Normally my conversation goes:

Them: What sorority are you a member of?
Me: Sigma Gamma Rho
Them: Did you pledge here at Tech?
Me: No, I pledged at the U, and I'm a member of a graduate chapter.

I guess for D9 orgs, most folks ASSUME you're in a graduate chapter once you graduate.

[PlymouthDZ]

Originally posted by dzandiloo
The problem is easily solved for alums - just say I'm a Delta Zeta (or XYZ) Alum. Cures all kinds of confusion!

amen!


this is my reply

[Erik P Conard]

gosh, I thought Frau Blücher flew north for the winter.

[FSUZeta]

when the today show aired the super story on the u of wash. fraternity that is doing a great job at turning itself around, katie couric mentioned that she "was a tri delta for a year" at u of va. boy did that bug me!

[A Random DphiE]

Originally posted by BabyPiNK_FL


I'm a Phi Mu
Stay a Phi Mu
PHI MU 'til I die

i'm not a phi mu, but i love it nonetheless. ♥

Originally posted by FSUZeta

when the today show aired the super story on the u of wash. fraternity that is doing a great job at turning itself around, katie couric mentioned that she "was a tri delta for a year" at u of va. boy did that bug me!

its irks me as well.. she said something to that effect yesterday on the show when a group of tri-deltas were at the plaza... ::argh::

[disclaimer: i LOOOOOVE katie couric!]

[Xylochick216]

I know most people don't mean harm by it, but it does bug me when people say he or she WAS an XYZ. If people ask me, I tell them I AM an Alpha Chi Omega because I won't ever stop being one

[Erik P Conard]

what if some girl pledged, say, Kappa Delta, and declined to
be activated (made her grades, though).
Could she say "I WAS .." perhaps moot. Moving on...

[MTSUGURL]

I'd say no. She never initiated.

My sisters that graduate always say, "I was a Phi Chi." There's no desire for alum involvement from the majority of the chapter or the alumnae.

[dznat187]

while i admit sometimes i do slip and say 'was' (i do not mean that i am no longer a member) but i think it should matter more what i am doing than how i word something. people see me being involved as an alumn and a grad student. they see i am a greek and a delta zeta, even if i say i was in delta zeta at millersville. maybe the 'was' means that i was an active at that chapter and am no longer an active member of that chapter? maybe. im not sure, but that sounds more like what i mean. i mean no offense by it and usually explain my current involvement when the conversation arises, so i think it is fine. it'd be different if i was like 'i was an xyz.' and that was all i said.

[KillarneyRose]

I may have dreamed or imagined this or something, but I think I heard that when sisters of a certain sorority (no idea which one) become alumnae they are encouraged to exchange their chapter Badge guards for something else; a crest maybe. Has anyone ever heard this?

Again, like I said I may possibly have imagined or dreamed this piece of information!

[flirt5721]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
I may have dreamed or imagined this or something, but I think I heard that when sisters of a certain sorority (no idea which one) become alumnae they are encouraged to exchange their chapter Badge guards for something else; a crest maybe. Has anyone ever heard this?

Again, like I said I may possibly have imagined or dreamed this piece of information!

That's the first time I hear about that. Why would any one want to exchange sometime that is special to them?

[Erik P Conard]

yes, but Tommy, some of those unemployed old hides do fly
north for the winter.

[Beryana]

When I mention that I am in a sorority (usually along the lines of "I'm going to Nashville this summer for a sorority conference" or "One of my best friends, who is also a sorority sister, . . . .") most people ask where I went to school. This leads usually to the list of schools that I received degrees from (or did most of the degree work) - but I also point out that I was initiated at Michigan State which is NOT in the list of schools I attended. Sometimes the conversation leads into me explaining Alumna Initiation and my story of how I WAS an XYZ which was a local (it no longer exists and upon my initiation into AOII I had relinquished my ties to XYZ - so 'was' is accurate in that statement), etc.

In my neck of the woods, it is easy for people to say they 'were' such and such because they have not been involved in MANY years (closest collegiate chapter is 3 hours from where I live and closest alumnae chapters are 2-4 hours away!). If I meet and older AOII I usually get really excited whether they use 'was' or 'are'! The statement is usually phrased as "I was an AOII at UW-ABC" which is a bit more specific.

Sarah

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by flirt5721
That's the first time I hear about that. Why would any one want to exchange sometime that is special to them?

It could be symbolic that they're entering a new stage in their sisterhood.