Wearing letters

[33girl]

I've heard of making a point of NOT wearing letters, it's a sort of reverse snobbism. IMO it's just as bad as wearing your letters every single day just to shove "I am Greek" in everyone's face.

LOL "one ball system."

[Kevin]

I think the only time I wear Sigma Nu anything anymore is either when I'm at the gym (I have a bunch of old fraternity T's) or when I'm dressed down and don't plan on going out in public. I have an old Sigma Nu polo that I'll whip out on homecoming or at some sort of advisory thing if I do that, but otherwise, the only way you'd know my greekness/affiliation is by my membership certificate which is displayed on the ego wall in my office.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by Kevin

...my membership certificate which is displayed on the ego wall in my office.

Ha ha! I have one of those...I also call it an "ego wall!"
I am proud to wear my badge often. I have a detachable guard so I can wear it as a lapel pin. I wore letters when I was a regional officer and visiting collegiate chapters, but it seems kind of funny for an overweight middle-aged woman to be wearing sorority letters, so I don't! But when I was fresh out of college, I wore them when I could.

[7thSonofOsiris]

What up Sports Fans?

Hey, I think that people should feel as free as they want to when it comes to wearing their letters, as long as they wear this gear with class. Because ultimately, once we dawn those letters, we represent our organizations, their precepts, and we are the standard bearers for our organizations. Lastly, even when you think no one is looking, someone is always looking. I wear my "greeks" when I'm headed back to the yard for homecoming or what have you, or, I will wear one of my many hats, as often as I like. I have my shingle posted on my office wall, because of my pride, and my ring was passed on to me by one of my uncles. My fraternity, ALPHA PHI ALPHA just celebrated 100 years of distinguished existence, so, my ALPHA Pride is off the chain.
I am also a Mason, and there are certain degrees of modicum that one must follow when it comes to wearing that mighty emblem, but, we all know what fits in each situation.

The 7th Son of Osiris

[AngelPhiSig]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Ha ha! I have one of those...I also call it an "ego wall!"
I am proud to wear my badge often. I have a detachable guard so I can wear it as a lapel pin. I wore letters when I was a regional officer and visiting collegiate chapters, but it seems kind of funny for an overweight middle-aged woman to be wearing sorority letters, so I don't! But when I was fresh out of college, I wore them when I could.

My roomie and I, both Phi Sigs from the same chapter (I was her membership orientation person...) have a wall between our rooms with all of our paddles and composites and our certificates. We call it the sorority wall!

[banditone]

I'm 34. I wear letters every day. Of course I have no choice (only tat I don't regret )


My fav wall in my office has:
- My Sigma Nu paddle.
- Certificate of initiation
- Signed wooden badge
- Framed smaller composites from every year EXCEPT my senior year (where the hell did that one go!?)

[zoebeth]

I'm 32 and I wore one of my letter sweatshirts yesterday.

[Tom Earp]

FEEL GOOD?

[The_Grip]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I've heard of making a point of NOT wearing letters, it's a sort of reverse snobbism. IMO it's just as bad as wearing your letters every single day just to shove "I am Greek" in everyone's face.

LOL "one ball system."

I can't say why that is the tradition, but I don't think it is 'reverse snobbism'. I suspect that it is a fairly old and relatively small school that predated most fraternities. Many of the houses that are strong there are very small nationally and many were local societies before affiliating nationally. There are also many other social organizations that have members from many houses (and independents). I can't really say (and that isn't the only unique tradition), but I do not think it is anything other than local tradition.

In any case, I am not trying to justify it--just pointed out something a little different. It is interesting that I was attacked for it and accused of being an elitist snob just because it doesn't fit into what everyone's idea of what a fraternity should do.

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by The_Grip

In any case, I am not trying to justify it--just pointed out something a little different. It is interesting that I was attacked for it and accused of being an elitist snob just because it doesn't fit into what everyone's idea of what a fraternity should do.

People were not attacking you because you don't wear letters....they were questioning your commentary about "third world" groups wearing them, and calling that elitist.

[blkwebman1919]

Originally Posted by The_Grip

It is interesting that I was attacked for it and accused of being an elitist snob just because it doesn't fit into what everyone's idea of what a fraternity should do.

I didn't accuse you of being anything, much less an "elitist snob". I was simply referring to your "third world" comment which, in the way you used it, has a negative connotation and, as a result, does sound elitist.

It is interesting, however (given your above statement) that the practice of wearing Greek letters after graduation (in your opinion, of course) is wrong because "it doesn't fit into what" your "idea of what a fraternity should do."

Your words.

[LexiKD]

I wear my badge all the time. It's set on a white gold necklace and is beautiful so why not?
I also have a few shirts from Alum events and recent homecomings. I think it's kinda nice to run into another alum that would not have said anything had she not seen the shirt!
Also, my college shirts have been made into a blanket so I couldn't wear them even if I wanted to.

[The_Grip]

Originally Posted by blkwebman1919

It is interesting, however (given your above statement) that the practice of wearing Greek letters after graduation (in your opinion, of course) is wrong because "it doesn't fit into what" your "idea of what a fraternity should do."

Your words.

No, those are not my words. Never did I say that wearing letters after graduation is wrong, in my opinion. Nor did I even imply that. I simply stated that I do not wear them and that I did not even while in undergrad. You should lighten up or at least read the posts before you moralize.

[RhoPsiDST]

the was i see it, as long as I am a member, 21 or 61, I am going to wear my letters!

[blkwebman1919]

Originally Posted by The_Grip

No, those are not my words. Never did I say that wearing letters after graduation is wrong, in my opinion. Nor did I even imply that. I simply stated that I do not wear them and that I did not even while in undergrad. You should lighten up or at least read the posts before you moralize.

Lighten up? Moralize? Are you kidding? I wasn't personally attacking you; All I did was make an observation in terms of words which you've been quoted as using by several GCers here, including myself:

Originally Posted by The_Grip

It is interesting that I was attacked for it and accused of being an elitist snob just because it doesn't fit into what everyone's idea of what a fraternity should do.

I will concede that you didn't actually say that "wearing letters after graduation is wrong" (my apologies for the inexact paraphrase of that post). However, you did imply that the practice of wearing letters (in any circumstance) was, for lack of a better phrase, "not normal" ("We didn't do it that way at my school", the "Nationals=franchise" comment, etc., etc.), and the "third world" comment sealed it for me.

However, your response was a bit salty. Maybe my comment hit a little close to home (however unintentionally). If so, that's a personal issue.

Given your last few posts, you would do well to follow your own advice. Remember that this all started with the "third world" comment.