All Orgs That were founded before 1930/Why I pledged stories

[trueblueZTA]

ZTA was founded October 15, 1898 at Longwood College. We are part of the "Farmville Four". Three other organizatiosn were born around the same time.
My mother was in a sorority when she was in college. So it's always been something that I knew I would do. I just thought I would pledge the same way she did. But the school I go to does not have her chapter. So I went to my school having my heart set on a particular chapter just because I knew someone already in it. I visited later and my mother made the comment that my grandmother was in a different chapter on campus and thats when my love for Zeta all started. I had been to the other two houses (we only have three chapters on campus!) and Zeta was my last party for the night. And as corny as it sounds when I walked through the door I knew I was home. I knew I wanted to spend the next four years with those girls. I was so lucky to receive a bid from them. And now I have another connection to my grandmother. My time in ZTA is almost up and I can not imagine what I am going to do without "my girls" once I have graduate....if you are thinking about rushing... GO FOR IT! It's the most amazing experience!

[Scones]

Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded on November 1, 1901 at Richmond College in Virginia.

[summer_gphib]

Gamma Phi Beta was formed Nov. 11, 1874 at Syracuse University.

I chose to pledge Gamma Phi Beta for a lot of different reasons. It was new to our campus, so I felt there was a lot of potential to have a leadership role, and to take on something new and exciting. I skipped formal rush to go through the recruitment process for the Gamma Phi expansion. I was also incouraged to rush from my bf at the time who was a Lambda Chi at another university, and two very good friends who were Sigma Nu's (also new to the university).

I went through the recruitment process for the colony... and just so happened to come down with a bad sinus infection. When it came time to interview with International President Diane Thompson, I was running a pretty high fever, and was carrying kleenex everywhere. I managed to SNEEZE on her. Good impression I'm sure. Anyway, I didn't receive a bid. Go figure.

I felt horrible and decided to wait and go through formal recruitment. But that spring a good friend of mine, who was a Gamma Phi, asked me to come to informal recruitment (structured) I couldn't make it, because I had class, but I was invited to the next night, which was informal pref night. I got a bid!

[AlwaysSAI]

Let's see

Sigma Alpha Iota: University School of Music, Ann Arbor Michigan-1903

I joined Sigma Alpha Iota because I wanted a sisterhood of only women and having already had a negative experience with NPC in formal recruitment, I thought I may be more comfortable with a relaxed recruitment. I also love music. I studied voice classically for five years before realizing I would never survive the broadway curcuit. SAI was a way for me to nurture my musical abilities and dreams with other women who had the same passion. We are also relatively new to campus-just chartered in 1999. I saw the potential to help an org grow and change in a way that established chapters can't.

Phi Sigma Pi: State Teacher's College at Warrensburg, Missouri (now Central Missouri State U)-1916

I joined Phi Sigma Pi because I was looking for camaraderie. I wanted to broaden my horizons and meet more people outside of the music and education buildings. I was looking for a place where I would feel comfortable confiding in each and every member and an organization that provided financial support to collegiate members. (SAI only offers scholarships to music fields-even though our membership is much broader) While I loved being apart of a brand new org and watching it grow, I also wanted to be apart of something that was strongly established so that I could spend more time enjoying the members.

It's hard for me to explain, really. I've been asked before why did I join Phi Sig after SAI. I guess the easiest answer is that, while I cherish and love everything SAI is about---I really found my heart and my home with the brother of Phi Sigma Pi. Phi Sigma Pi is the place that I can relax, kick back and just be myself.

[lstorey]

Alpha Xi Delta was formed in April 1893 at Lombard College in Illionois.

[modorney]

Acacia - May 12, 1904

Historically, Acacia was restricted to Masons, and, for the most part, Masons must be 21, which meant the early years of Acacia were older students. However, a century ago, college wasn't just 18-22 year olds, there were many older students back then. And, after WW I, colleges were filled with men in their twenties. It was possible to be a member of a GLO and Acacia, since Acacia often was more of a "Masonic club", than a fraternity.

Becoming a Mason involves a fair amount of study and work, but there are clauses in the rules of Masonry that allow relatives of Masons to become Masons "on sight", without all the work, and at a younger age, around 18. Some Acacia chapters allowed this, and, in 1931, this was formalized in the rules. By 1933, the Masonic requirement was totally dropped, at the national level, though a few houses still practiced the requirement.

WW II brought more veterans, who were older, and those chapters who resembled Masonic clubs flourished well into the fifties. Many of these chapters allowed dual membership with traditional fraternities, as the Acacia chapter either didn't have a house, or the "house" resembled more of a "university club" (eating rooms, ritual rooms, and a limited number of residence rooms, generally occupied by much older members),

By the early sixties, Acacia chapters everywhere were the same as any social fraternity, and dual membership had ended. Since the thirties, there was always an undercurrent to change the name to something resembling other GLO's - like AAA (Tri-Alpha) or AK (Alpha Kappa).

Hazing was never a major factor, there were no traditions of nude pranks or insane behavior to preserve. Paddling only happened during hell week; most of the pledge period involved a work project. Acacia adopted a mentorship program, similar to Sig Ep's Balanced Man program, to replace pledge hazing.

Acacia has about 44 chapters, somewhat small for a national. It will be interesting to see if they pursue great expansion, or merger with another national.

*****

I joined Acacia because I found a handful of close friends in the chapter. We acquired a much nicer and larger house, and expanded too quickly. My house went through some tough times in the post-Vietnam era (and the rapid expansion split us into many factions), but survived and did well. And, most of my longest-lasting friends are brothers.

Later, I joined the Masons, and Acacia was a catalyst for that.

[SxyLambdaLady6]

Originally Posted by trueblueZTA

My time in ZTA is almost up and I can not imagine what I am going to do without "my girls" once I have graduate....if you are thinking about rushing... GO FOR IT! It's the most amazing experience!

what do you mean by your time in Zeta is up? Isn't your sorority membership for life? I know that in my org I will be supporting my chapter and sorority for the rest of my life. I will always be an LTA even after I graduate. I've heard people say (mostly mainstream orgs, not minority orgs) that after they graduate they are done. Hopefully thats not true..

I know I'm gonna be a Neo for life....

[Pike_Cardinal]

I don't know about any sorority histories, but there are some really cool stories from the books of fraternities founded during/before the civil war era, it was also during a time when secret societies really operated secretly.

[TriSigmaKel-lay]

As trublueZTA said

We are part of the "Farmville Four". Three other organizations were born around the same time.

Sigma Sigma Sigma is another of the "Farmville Four". We were founded April 20, 1898.

I was unsure when I rushed where I would end up. It wasn't until Pref night that I was sure. I can't imagine being anywhere else now.