What old tradition would you like to see revived?

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Cutie_Hootie

I might be in the minority here, but I miss real, good old-fashioned RUSH.

I mean Rush with frills.
-with every wall decorated
-with every girl having to stay up late to get the house decorated after MS.
-with matching outfits
-with skits every party and cool themes
-with beautiful snacks and desserts because you can
-with girls chanting and singing at the door as you walk in and are just overwhelmed by "the moment".
-Oh, and one more thing--definitely with real honest to goodness could burn everyone's house down candles.

[b]Yes, yes, and thousand times YES!!!!

Originally Posted by bejazd

Every 5-10 years my chapter holds a reunion and invites every collegian and alum to attend. There's usually a pretty big crowd in a big ballroom. It's so much fun to see old friends and see all the "eras" represented. But of course you don't know most of the women there personally.

One year, when the invitations were sent out, they asked you to include your favorite Gamma Phi memory with your RSVP. At the luncheon there were little bells with pink ribbons at each place setting. During the presentation a sister read off almost all the "memories" and if you remembered that story too, you rang your little bell. Needless to say some of the memories were hysterical, and it helped the many women of all ages present feel united as sisters even though of course we did not all know each other!

This sounds absolutely charming! I plan to let our chapter know about this. A group of us gets together every 5 years, but never formally. Something like this would be amazing!!

Did I hear that Sigma Chi no longer hosts Derby Days? Those were a LOT of fun! So was the Awards Season, when fraternities named Best Sweetheart, Best Little Sister, Best Sorority President, Best Sorority Pledge, Best Dressed, etc, etc.

We had "Feasts". Yeah, imaginative name! At least 15-20 of us would be going to a concert, with or without dates, and before we left, we would have a major dinner. M-A-J-O-R! Afterwards, we'd quickly tear down the tables, then head off to the concert en masse. I know other sororities did the same thing (or similar) - we used to separate which sorority a PNM would probably select by which concert they were most likely to attend. I can remember a PNM who was several sisters' rush crush saying that she loved Neil Diamond. Later that night, we pretty much shrugged and said that she wasn't going to pick us, but gave her the invitation anyhow. She did go to ABC!!

I've mentioned the other event I miss dozens of times, but it was the Amos Hall Study Breaks. During Finals, we always kept a huge coffee urn full of hot water, along with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and such on a special table for study breaks. At least one night a week, we'd have a sign in the elevator, inviting all of the other sorority women (NO MEN!) to join us at 11pm> 12 midnight. That way, no one was worried about their attire, makeup, etc, and at 12m, a timer went off so that everyone would go back to work. A lot of NPC goodwill came out of those study breaks!

[SthrnZeta]

Well I guess my schools R was half-frills. We definitely decorate and have matching outfits. No skits, but lots of songs. The girls wait outside the rooms and can hear us singing really loud and some chapters bang on the door - which as a PNM really gets you excited to go in (I think Chi-O was known for doing this at Mason and when I was going through R I thought it was really cool). We also have food - we would usually get those little cookies with the pink ribbon on it, but no PNM was allowed to take anything out with her, as it may be construed as a gift. Had the napkins with our letters and all!

[DGTess]

I've quit supporting the Greek system - though I support the ideals, the national philanthropy, and the local alumnae chapter because you can't do it from the outside.

I miss RUSH.
I miss PLEDGES. Frankly, when I invite a new sister, I want here to know that she is pledging her honor. Not necessarily to initiation, though if we didn't think she knew what she was getting in to, we wouldn't have invited her. I want her to understand the seriousness of it. AAA has new members, fraternities/sororities should have pledges.
I miss getting to know the rushees. What is this with "Rho Chi"? What a crock!. NPC would like you to believe every house is just like every other, just with different colors and badges. Had I not gotten to know the house's culture first, I would not have joined. The summer before freshman year, all the incoming freshman women were contacted by a summer Big Sister - a member of one of the sororities. I got a nice letter, and answers to mine, a frank discussion of Greek life and of other social, fraternal, academic, and entertainment options on campus, and a sense of what to expect.

I miss the opportunity for leadership. Today's collegians are expected to conform. "Go along to get along" should have no place in the Greek system.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I miss getting to know the rushees. What is this with "Rho Chi"? What a crock!. NPC would like you to believe every house is just like every other, just with different colors and badges. Had I not gotten to know the house's culture first, I would not have joined. The summer before freshman year, all the incoming freshman women were contacted by a summer Big Sister - a member of one of the sororities. I got a nice letter, and answers to mine, a frank discussion of Greek life and of other social, fraternal, academic, and entertainment options on campus, and a sense of what to expect.

Rho Chis are just to guide you through the actual week of rush. As several women have pointed out, some schools do still have "Greek weekends" and teas and such for HS seniors. Plus, if you have deferred rush, the rules should be such that freshmen can get to know sorority women just like they would any other people on campus. Rho Chis haven't replaced any of that, and they don't tell you all the sororities are alike - they just want you to make the decision for yourself, rather than having the first sorority you walk into be the sorority you pledge (even if it isn't right for you).

[bejazd]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I've quit supporting the Greek system - though I support the ideals, the national philanthropy, and the local alumnae chapter because you can't do it from the outside.

....What a crock!. NPC would like you to believe every house is just like every other, just with different colors and badges. Had I not gotten to know the house's culture first, I would not have joined.
I miss the opportunity for leadership. Today's collegians are expected to conform. "Go along to get along" should have no place in the Greek system.

Wow, that's kind of an extreme view DGTess. I'll agree with you that some of the PNM vs rushee stuff is pretty lame...I mean, it is what it is. Sorority RUSH. Pledging. Initiation. Lifetime Membership. But in the big picture, all the NPC groups are pretty much the same at the national/international level, and they all offer very similar programming and membership opportunities. Each individual chapter and the individual members are unique and create their own chapter culture at any given time. I don't think there's any less opportunities for leadership or an expectation to conform particularly. just curious why you feel that way!

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by bejazd

Wow, that's kind of an extreme view DGTess. I'll agree with you that some of the PNM vs rushee stuff is pretty lame...I mean, it is what it is. Sorority RUSH. Pledging. Initiation. Lifetime Membership. But in the big picture, all the NPC groups are pretty much the same at the national/international level, and they all offer very similar programming and membership opportunities. Each individual chapter and the individual members are unique and create their own chapter culture at any given time. I don't think there's any less opportunities for leadership or an expectation to conform particularly. just curious why you feel that way!

You can check out this post on my blog for a fuller explanation. It's not complete - I could probably write a book. The issue is indicative of the larger society. Look at the people crying "We can't use real candles" when in fact one person says they used candles, had a fire, and dealt. These are people who learn lessons, and the lesson isn't "don't use candles", it's "be careful with fire." Those are leadership lessons.

When my daughter when to University of Texas at Austin, rushees were required to PAY for the privilege of attending SIXTEEN houses on one day. Tell me she's going to remember squat? She and I decided it was an asinine system, and she's happily GDI.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DGTess

You can check out this post on my blog for a fuller explanation. It's not complete - I could probably write a book. The issue is indicative of the larger society. Look at the people crying "We can't use real candles" when in fact one person says they used candles, had a fire, and dealt. These are people who learn lessons, and the lesson isn't "don't use candles", it's "be careful with fire." Those are leadership lessons.

I think these days it's more - multiple chapters had incidents with fire and their insurance companies said they require a no-fire policy as part of their coverage. Same thing with many of the other restrictions.

[bejazd]

NutBrn, I meant all our groups are similar in the general sense that all of our National/Int'l officers share the same challenges in promoting scholarship, leadership, service and sisterhood among their membership and dealing with practical matters such as finances, liability, litigation, anti-Greek administrations, etc. Obviously each NPC group has a unique, rich and wonderful tradition and history loved and cherished by her own sisters.

Did you mean something different?

[33girl]

First off, as for the candles, several schools/landlords are the ones that have the policies - I know we rented from a regular landlord, and we weren't supposed to have any open flames at all. It was in our lease. Some chapters that aren't housed hold rituals in classrooms or all purpose rooms - these buildings are usually nonsmoking and any flame at all would have the sprinklers going off.

In other words, sometimes it isn't the sorority making the no-candle rules.

Originally Posted by DGTess

You can check out this post on my blog for a fuller explanation. It's not complete - I could probably write a book. The issue is indicative of the larger society. Look at the people crying "We can't use real candles" when in fact one person says they used candles, had a fire, and dealt. These are people who learn lessons, and the lesson isn't "don't use candles", it's "be careful with fire." Those are leadership lessons.

When my daughter when to University of Texas at Austin, rushees were required to PAY for the privilege of attending SIXTEEN houses on one day. Tell me she's going to remember squat? She and I decided it was an asinine system, and she's happily GDI.

Tess, I read your post, and while I understand your frustration with people not taking responsibility for their own actions, I really don't understand your railing at some of the things you are. Dancing With the Stars? It's a silly TV show. I don't think anyone feels they are being "mind controlled" if there's a reminder to vote for Marie Osmond because she's a Mu Nu. Would I vote for a sister who was running for homecoming queen? Yes, because she's not just a sister, she's my friend. I want my friend to win a contest she enters. There are several discussions on here about "the Machine" but that is most assuredly the exception, not the rule.

There was a large discussion on here about a sorority member (I think she was a KD) running for political office in Washington, and several of her sisters said that while they supported the fact that she was active politically, they didn't agree with her politics.

Several of my sisters are members of the Fraternal Caucus group - it's a lobbying organization. They certainly do not want everyone to think the same way. If that was the case, the sisters I know wouldn't be involved with it.

And I am sorry that you feel that meeting all the sororities is an "asinine system." Many women go through this process, and they DO remember who they liked and who they didn't. I realize that coming from a very small chapter this is a bit mind-boggling, but every school is different. If you wanted your daughter to have the kind of Greek experience you did, you shouldn't have sent her to UT.

Political activism isn't always a sign of leadership. I think (and I think DA would probably back me up on this) that in the "good old days" of protests and marching, there were just as many people there trying to hook up as there were people devoted to the cause..."what's your phone number?" in between "power to the people!" Sadly, a lot of women who are involved in feminist groups in college are told - NOT by the sororities, but by the "feminist" groups - that involvement in both is not possible.

[skylark]

Originally Posted by 33girl

In other words, sometimes it isn't the sorority making the no-candle rules.

And sometimes it is the sorority... my GLO's policy on candles comes directly from nationals and applies to chapters that are both housed and unhoused. It is even part of the risk management chairman's materials direct from the GLO to make sure every chapter complies...

[DGTess]

"And I am sorry that you feel that meeting all the sororities is an "asinine system." Many women go through this process, and they DO remember who they liked and who they didn't. I realize that coming from a very small chapter this is a bit mind-boggling, but every school is different. If you wanted your daughter to have the kind of Greek experience you did, you shouldn't have sent her to UT."

I didn't SEND her to UT. She CHOSE UT. I raised her to make choices and live with her decisions.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by bejazd

But in the big picture, all the NPC groups are pretty much the same at the national/international level, and they all offer very similar programming and membership opportunities.

"au contraire mon frere" -- or, I guess in this case, "ma soeur de NPC."

Our organizations have similarities on the inter/national level, but I see significant differences (which are fine with me, BTW)

[AlphaZetaXO]

I just though about this. Since we do still use real candles, one of the houses' curtains caught on fire last year. No one got hurt thank goodness, but it was kind of scary and they had to finish pref at the student center. I'm really surprised we're still allowed to use real candles after that.

[ealymc]

When we pledged, God forbid one of our pins were stolen by a sorority girl or we would have to do something to earn it back from her. Well, my pledge class lost two pins in the SAME DAMN WEEK and we decided to march across campus (in our Oxfords and boxers, no less) chanting "A-L-P-H-A, S-I-G-M-A, Alpha Sig, Alpha Sig, ASA" and once we reached the chapter room, she was serenaded with the two songs that she had previously chosen (which we actually worked our asses off for and made REALLY good!) Ah, memories... The sororities just give the pins back nowadays...

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by ealymc

When we pledged, God forbid one of our pins were stolen by a sorority girl or we would have to do something to earn it back from her. Well, my pledge class lost two pins in the SAME DAMN WEEK and we decided to march across campus (in our Oxfords and boxers, no less) chanting "A-L-P-H-A, S-I-G-M-A, Alpha Sig, Alpha Sig, ASA" and once we reached the chapter room, she was serenaded with the two songs that she had previously chosen (which we actually worked our asses off for and made REALLY good!) Ah, memories... The sororities just give the pins back nowadays...

So glad my sisters used to razz you.