Wearing your letters?

[Texas Beta]

Originally Posted by blkwebman1919

That stems from the thinking that your fraternity affiliation is just a "college" thing. That also means you may place way too emphasis on what other people (may) think.

For those of us whom consider our fraternal bond a lifetime committment, we don't judge people that way, and those of us who come from that type of "greek" (read, fraternity) culture recognize that. We reserve the right to wear letters when and wherever we want.

That being said, I don't go around sporting paraphernalia all the time like it's the only stuff I own, either. We look at Greeks who do that and immediately think, "neo" (neophyte). I don't wear letters often anymore (except when I'm working in an official capacity with my org or in a service-related event). But I do have the license place/keychain/etc, and I do have a couple of jackets/sweaters that I may wear to specific events when appropriate.

Bottom line: My fraternal bond is for life. Many of us look at it that way, while others may not. In any case, I don't let other people's opinions affect whether I "wear letters" or not. Some of those same people will tell you that you're a "loser" to have joined a fraternity/sorority in the first place.

I think everybody joins a fraternity for life. I can't wait to be an alumnus and help my chapter. I think the basic point of this argument is that people dress the way the position in life dictates. If you're making plenty of money, or command a powerful position in your business, I don't think you're going to be wearing your "badge" or whatever sort of pin you have to a dinner party. I'd rather new guys have my old shirts then myself wearing them even to work out. Being a member of a fraternity for life, does not mean you have to wear your fraternity’s clothes to prove that. When you are alumni there are so many better ways you can prove this. I don't see myself in the future ever wearing t-shirts besides the odd day that I can relax; even then I hope to be wearing smarter casual apparel.

In my view, wearing fraternity shirts = college. College matures you. When you’re finished with college, hopefully you adopt a more mature style of dress.

[OhSoSmoothKalyn]

Originally Posted by Texas Beta

Being a member of a fraternity for life, does not mean you have to wear your fraternity’s clothes to prove that.

I agree... there are many of my sisters who give away their shirts to the newer girls during senior service... I think it's a good thing to do... I'm a sophomore and I can't wait to give away my stuff to a younger sister... When you join an organization, you join it for life, you will always be what you initiated into

[blkwebman1919]

Originally Posted by Texas Beta

I think everybody joins a fraternity for life. I can't wait to be an alumnus and help my chapter. I think the basic point of this argument is that people dress the way the position in life dictates. If you're making plenty of money, or command a powerful position in your business, I don't think you're going to be wearing your "badge" or whatever sort of pin you have to a dinner party. I'd rather new guys have my old shirts then myself wearing them even to work out. Being a member of a fraternity for life, does not mean you have to wear your fraternity’s clothes to prove that. When you are alumni there are so many better ways you can prove this. I don't see myself in the future ever wearing t-shirts besides the odd day that I can relax; even then I hope to be wearing smarter casual apparel.

In my view, wearing fraternity shirts = college. College matures you. When you’re finished with college, hopefully you adopt a more mature style of dress.

I don't necessarily disagree. As I said, I myself don't wear letters frequently anymore (I've been out of school a while). My point is that I reserve the right to wear letters if I choose to do so. They aren't any less my letters just because I graduated from school. For me, it isn't a matter of trying to prove anything to anyone. I dress appropriately for my current age/status/whatever, whether on the job or off; I definitely dress much differently than I did as an undergrad in college.

If I choose to wear 'nalia, it's no different than anyone wearing stuff with college names and logos (whether as a graduate or as a fan, but I suppose some people may not consider that "mature dress").

Like I said (in a nutshell) in my earlier post, one's opinion on the "wearing letters" issue depends on your viewpoint in general about fraternity/sorority life and its relevance after college.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by blkwebman1919

I don't necessarily disagree. As I said, I myself don't wear letters frequently anymore (I've been out of school a while). My point is that I reserve the right to wear letters if I choose to do so. They aren't any less my letters just because I graduated from school. For me, it isn't a matter of trying to prove anything to anyone. I dress appropriately for my current age/status/whatever, whether on the job or off; I definitely dress much differently than I did as an undergrad in college.

If I choose to wear 'nalia, it's no different than anyone wearing stuff with college names and logos (whether as a graduate or as a fan, but I suppose some people may not consider that "mature dress").

Like I said (in a nutshell) in my earlier post, one's opinion on the "wearing letters" issue depends on your viewpoint in general about fraternity/sorority life and its relevance after college.

If you notice, there are very few non-NPC/NIC members speaking on this topic for a very good reason.....

[akdphi_cherry]

At my school, I see letters everywhere, usually block letters, but a lot of tote bags for the NPC sororities. As someone mentioned before, it may partly be because of the high ratio of cultural GLOs we have on campus. I would definitely say that the majority of letter wearers I see belong to cultural GLOs, but they're certainly not the only ones. I see a lot of proud ZTAs, for one.