Sweethearts wearing letters?

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

Actually, in my state, calling a new member a pledge is against the law because it's hazing. Nationals also condemns it. It is reminiscent of the days in which a new member was required to participate in unfortunate events in order to initiate, aka hazing.

Which state?

At least in AST, not allowing a new member to wear letters IS hazing, because it's telling them that they can't do certain things unless they're initiated. It's the same thing as requiring them to wear certain clothing all the time, which IS hazing.

That may be an Alpha Sigma Tau rule, but it isn't for all organizations. Again, my understanding is that Alpha Epsilon Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta and Pi Beta Phi do not allow their "new members" to wear their letters prior to initiation.

Whether a certain org's nationals have strict rules about non members wearing letters is one thing. However, if Nationals does NOT say that it is verboten, then it is left up to the individual chapter, and it shouldn't matter to us.

There is specific language in Sigma Chi Fraternity's Constitution or the By-laws that states who may wear letters etc.