my very long rush experience

[alexandrapaige]

no longer feel comfortable

[FSUZeta]

that is so great!!! congratulations to you and welcome to the farmville four sisterhood!!

[OtterXO]

Congrats! What a great story with a happy ending!

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by alexandrapaige

My few weeks in Sigma have already been some of the happiest I can remember. There’s no place I’d rather be for the rest of my life.

Welcome to Sigma! I've been a member for 2 years now (almost three) and it's been one of the best experiences of my life!

Just a slight sidenote: Sigma does allow new members to wear letters! It says so in your copy of Forever Sigma!

[alexandrapaige]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Just a slight sidenote: Sigma does allow new members to wear letters! It says so in your copy of Forever Sigma!

hmm... must just be my chapter then. we're not allowed to wear letters (except for our pins) or use them in any way (on aim profiles, facebook, etc). I don't mind though, it just makes it more special when i do get to wear them.

Originally Posted by alexandrapaige

hmm... must just be my chapter then. we're not allowed to wear letters (except for our pins) or use them in any way (on aim profiles, facebook, etc). I don't mind though, it just makes it more special when i do get to wear them.

That's one of my biggest sorority pet peeves.

Chapters who go against inter/national policy. If it says that you're allowed to in your New Member Manual, chapters shouldn't dictate otherwise. Stuff like that pisses me off.

[_Lisa_]

Originally Posted by OTW

If it says that you're allowed to in your New Member Manual, chapters shouldn't dictate otherwise.

Sigma Kappa considers that hazing.

[_Lisa_]

Originally Posted by OtterXO

I've never really understood that thought process. It's ok to not allow new members to participate in ritual or wear a pin, but it's hazing if they can't wear letters???

I think that when HQ explicitly says that PNM's are allowed to wear letters before iniation they are trying to diffuse any potential hazing situations where a PNM might feel as if she has to "work" for the honor of wearing them.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by _Lisa_

I think that when HQ explicitly says that PNM's are allowed to wear letters before iniation they are trying to diffuse any potential hazing situations where a PNM might feel as if she has to "work" for the honor of wearing them.

Plus the SK new member pin IS a Sigma (snake) and a Kappa. So, it wouldn't make sense anyway at least as far as we are concerned.

I figure that even though the new members don't know what the letters mean, they've pledged to join, learn and uphold the values that they learn. Their wearing of the letters is a reminder of that pledge, just like it's a reminder to the actives of the promises we've made.

AND OP:

Congrats to you and Tri Sigma!

[SigKapSweetie]

Originally Posted by _Lisa_

I think that when HQ explicitly says that PNM's are allowed to wear letters before iniation they are trying to diffuse any potential hazing situations where a PNM might feel as if she has to "work" for the honor of wearing them.

Co-sign!

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by OtterXO

My organization has this policy as well and although I respect it, I don't really see the logic. I understand that saying you can't wear letters could be perceived as hazing, but how is it any different from denying a NM the right to wear a pin or participate in ritual? Can't it be hazing to tell a NM they have to sit outside chapter while ritual is being conducted? Or that there will be a special meeting after the regular meeting that only initiated members are allowed to attend? I just think if denying the right to wear letters is hazing then everything else should be too. Personally I don't think any of it is hazing... but that's a whooooole other topic!

See my post above for my take on it. It think it's also partially because it was used as a hazing tool. It's like scavenger hunts. They're not necessarily hazing, but they've been used that way too often.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by OtterXO

My organization has this policy as well and although I respect it, I don't really see the logic. I understand that saying you can't wear letters could be perceived as hazing, but how is it any different from denying a NM the right to wear a pin or participate in ritual? Can't it be hazing to tell a NM they have to sit outside chapter while ritual is being conducted? Or that there will be a special meeting after the regular meeting that only initiated members are allowed to attend? I just think if denying the right to wear letters is hazing then everything else should be too. Personally I don't think any of it is hazing... but that's a whooooole other topic!

Personally, I think it all depends whether your letters have an open meaning or not. If the pledges really have no clue what they mean until after initiation, I can see the logic behind preventing wearing them.

And as AlphaFrog said - if the other chapters on campus don't wear letters before initiation, right or wrong, I as a pledge wouldn't want to either. To tell the girls they HAVE to wear letters before initiation is just as bad as the reverse.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by OTW

That's one of my biggest sorority pet peeves.

Chapters who go against inter/national policy. If it says that you're allowed to in your New Member Manual, chapters shouldn't dictate otherwise. Stuff like that pisses me off.

It could be a campus culture kind of thing - possibly that no other chapters on that campus let NM wear letters. Sigma on my campus didn't let NM wear letters.

Still not saying it's right, though.

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

It could be a campus culture kind of thing - possibly that no other chapters on that campus let NM wear letters. Sigma on my campus didn't let NM wear letters.

I'd like to think that inter/national policy would supersede campus culture and chapters would be smart enough to respect that rather than risk getting in hot water with their HQs.

[tunatartare]

What I understand is why organizations that have letters on their new member pin still don't let their new members wear letters. What's the point? They're wearing them every day as it is.