Duke University Sorority Article

[PiPhiERDoc]

Grrr...this article really ticked me off.
If you already have written off the benefits of lifelong membership in your organization - you are right, there will be no benefits for you.

And in fact, my organization EXPECTS our chapters to have programs that are about career building, leadership, finding mentors. In fact if you go on to our organizations website, you can find an alumnae mentor in your field of interest or sign up to be a mentor.

As a chapter advisor, I have written DOZENS of letters of recommendation for jobs, graduate school, medical school applications. I have mentored several women as they went through the medical school application process. The reason that I did that was because I had someone who mentored me, and I am forever grateful for the support, friendship, and lifelong sisterhood that Pi Phi has shown me.

When I graduated from medical school, I posted a notice on our fraternity website asking for hosts in the cities where I was interviewing for residency. I had Pi Phis from around the country who offered up their homes, their cars, and their time to show me around. For no other reason except that I was a Pi Phi, and I asked.

I know it has been said many times - but you get out of it what you put into it. If you see your involvement as four years of "social advancement" - that is exactly what you will get.

[AlwaysSAI]

Originally Posted by PiPhiERDoc

Grrr...this article really ticked me off.
If you already have written off the benefits of lifelong membership in your organization - you are right, there will be no benefits for you.

And in fact, my organization EXPECTS our chapters to have programs that are about career building, leadership, finding mentors. In fact if you go on to our organizations website, you can find an alumnae mentor in your field of interest or sign up to be a mentor.

As a chapter advisor, I have written DOZENS of letters of recommendation for jobs, graduate school, medical school applications. I have mentored several women as they went through the medical school application process. The reason that I did that was because I had someone who mentored me, and I am forever grateful for the support, friendship, and lifelong sisterhood that Pi Phi has shown me.

When I graduated from medical school, I posted a notice on our fraternity website asking for hosts in the cities where I was interviewing for residency. I had Pi Phis from around the country who offered up their homes, their cars, and their time to show me around. For no other reason except that I was a Pi Phi, and I asked.

I know it has been said many times - but you get out of it what you put into it. If you see your involvement as four years of "social advancement" - that is exactly what you will get.

Ditto on it all.

Except the article didn't tick me off as much. If that's how she wants to see it, so be it. I love both of my orgs and plan on always being involved. If she wants to toss it away when she graduates that is all on her.

Maybe the fact that the chapters don't take ritual seriously has something to do with them not staying involved. I don't know if I can say this right without offending someone....but, I think the fact that she basically called ritual crap from the 1800s speaks volumes for the way the chapter is carrying out and living the ritual.

I get so excited everytime I put on my badge(s) because I know that only a select group of men and women wear my badge(s) and only we know what they mean. I may be the minority, but I enjoy ritual. It speaks to me and enlightens my life every single day. Without ritual and the love and joy and meaning it brings, membership would be worthless to me.

[twhrider13]

I think she has a few good points. The part about "my ritual is boring," not so much. But "What have the (inter)national organizations done for us lately?" is a good point. I can tell you what mine's done, but none of it's good. *Shrug*