my very long rush experience

[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.

[greekalum]

Originally Posted by OTW

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.

Oh, how I wish that, as well. And on a few issues that are in my mind bigger deals than when you wear letters. Campus culture/'everyone does it' is tough to buck, but aren't collegiate women strong enough to resist peer pressure?

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by greekalum

aren't collegiate women strong enough to resist peer pressure?

LOL. Ummm no. If they were, they wouldn't cry on Bid Day.

ETA: Congrats on Tri-Sigma and I am sorry we hijacked your thread with this debate. Your nationals does permit your new members to wear sorority letters before initiation, but it is your choice if you would like to wear them now or never!

Originally Posted by greekalum

Oh, how I wish that, as well. And on a few issues that are in my mind bigger deals than when you wear letters. Campus culture/'everyone does it' is tough to buck, but aren't collegiate women strong enough to resist peer pressure?

Yep, I'm aware of the bigger issues. If it's the letters now, then who's to say that it won't escalate into something that could potentially harm a member for real?

[adpiucf]

According to ADPi standards, UCLA Presents is considered hazing, but the chapter participates anyway. What makes it hazing? The sororities all participate and invite the parents of the new members to a special event where they "present" the new members of their sorority. To ADPi this event is considered hazing because the new members wear white and the initiated members wear black.

But we have bigger fish to fry in the grand scheme of sorority life... For example, DID YOU KNOW that not only did Morgan Fairchild star as the Alumna of All Evil in the new TV movie "The Initiation of Sarah"... but she was ALSO a lead in the original 1978 cast?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by greekalum

Oh, how I wish that, as well. And on a few issues that are in my mind bigger deals than when you wear letters. Campus culture/'everyone does it' is tough to buck, but aren't collegiate women strong enough to resist peer pressure?

No. If they were, we wouldn't have chapters who hate doing frilly rush still doing it. That's the same type of issue, IMO.

As I've said before I don't recall all this "can't wear letters before initiation" business when pledging involved more work than it does today. I don't mean hazing, I mean work. But anyhoo.

My feeling is - tell the pledges that they are allowed to wear letters if they are, nationally. If they CHOOSE not to, because of campus culture or because they don't feel they should for whatever reason or because they are all fru fru girly girls who wear nothing but flowered sundresses every day, that's their prerogative.

For every member of a national on here who says "we can't wear letters before intiation" there will be another who says they can. As far as I'm concerned, just chalk it up to different campuses are different and forget about it. I mean, what are you going to do? Have a national consultant there forcing the pledges to wear letters to show they're not being hazed? If that wouldn't contribute to feelings of ridicule, I don't know what would.

[SigKapSweetie]

Congratulations to you! I'm so glad you found your home with Sigma Sigma Sigma!

And I want to echo what others have already said: you are a fantastic writer! I really enjoyed reading your story.

[canadajen]

Congratulations on finding your greek home & for following your heart!!

Your story was amazing, and I echo what may others have already said - you should seriously consider becoming a writer.

Best wishes to you!