Wear letters at a bar??

[agzg]

I had a whole big thing typed out but I lost it so there ya go.

Honestly, it all boils down to image. There's a difference between my going to the bar without letters and making an ass of myself, even if everyone knows I'm an Alpha Gam, than there is by wearing letters in the situation and proving it, and giving off the perception that ALL Alpha Gams are drunken assholes.

I think it was an LC who came to our chapter while I was a collegian who put it this way: If you would take a kid there, in that context, then letters would be OK. For instance, say a bar serves good food, and you take your kid or your niece or nephew there for lunch or dinner. Letters would be OK (as long as you're not drinking). If you're going later at night, and taking a child would not be appropriate, then wearing letters would probably not be appropriate either.

Obviously lavalieres are easy to forget and I don't really take issue with that. It's the difference in seeing a flier posted on a light pole versus seeing a billboard hanging from the Goodyear Blimp.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by alphagamzetagam

I had a whole big thing typed out but I lost it so there ya go.

Honestly, it all boils down to image. There's a difference between my going to the bar without letters and making an ass of myself, even if everyone knows I'm an Alpha Gam, than there is by wearing letters in the situation and proving it, and giving off the perception that ALL Alpha Gams are drunken assholes.

I think it was an LC who came to our chapter while I was a collegian who put it this way: If you would take a kid there, in that context, then letters would be OK. For instance, say a bar serves good food, and you take your kid or your niece or nephew there for lunch or dinner. Letters would be OK (as long as you're not drinking). If you're going later at night, and taking a child would not be appropriate, then wearing letters would probably not be appropriate either.

Obviously lavalieres are easy to forget and I don't really take issue with that. It's the difference in seeing a flier posted on a light pole versus seeing a billboard hanging from the Goodyear Blimp.

Exactly. Even the other greeks take notice. Our newer members would always approach me at a party and ask, "Why are they wearing their letters?" assuming that they weren't supposed to be wearing them while drinking, either. It's just a respect thing to me. And like alphagam says... it's one thing for people to be aware you're in a sorority and you drink... it's another to be drinking with letters on and to have everyone at a bar or party feel justified in their thinking that all sorority girls are drunks.

I mean, if I'm getting ready to go out, what's the difference if I put on a shirt with letters, or one without. Quite frankly, why these girls are wearing t-shirts out every weekend is beyond me. Let's class things up a little, ladies!

[PANTHERTEKE]

I don't see it as such a big deal. I've seen members from every fraternity (that visits our local bar) and every sorority in letters at the bar at one point or another.

In fact a few seconds ago I was looking through some chick's Facebook pictures and some of them include pics of her and her sisters in letters at the bar.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Exactly. Even the other greeks take notice. Our newer members would always approach me at a party and ask, "Why are they wearing their letters?" assuming that they weren't supposed to be wearing them while drinking, either. It's just a respect thing to me. And like alphagam says... it's one thing for people to be aware you're in a sorority and you drink... it's another to be drinking with letters on and to have everyone at a bar or party feel justified in their thinking that all sorority girls are drunks.

Okay despite my cry of vive la différence!, I will make a comment on behalf of those who don't impose this rule.

The problem with it, it seems to me, is that it automatically equates drinking with getting drunk and making a fool of one's self. Yeah, I know we're talking about college students, but to me, saying "don't drink in letters" for the reasons you have given is pretty much the same as saying "don't wear letters when you drink because we don't think you, our sisters, are capable of drinking responsibly." To me, it seems much more to the point to say "Remember that when you wear letters that you represent ABG to the world; be careful not to do anything while wearing letters that would reflect badly on ABG."

As the Greeks might say, moderation in all things; nothing in excess. (But yeah, we are talking about college students. )

Follow whatever rules your org has seen fit to adopt, but don't look at other orgs askew if they have decided on different rules.

[AOEforme]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

The problem with it, it seems to me, is that it automatically equates drinking with getting drunk and making a fool of one's self. Yeah, I know we're talking about college students, but to me, saying "don't drink in letters" for the reasons you have given is pretty much the same as saying "don't wear letters when you drink because we don't think you, our sisters, are capable of drinking responsibly." To me, it seems much more to the point to say "Remember that when you wear letters that you represent ABG to the world; be careful not to do anything while wearing letters that would reflect badly on ABG."

As the Greeks might say, moderation in all things; nothing in excess. (But yeah, we are talking about college students. )

Follow whatever rules your org has seen fit to adopt, but don't look at other orgs askew if they have decided on different rules.

I agree. We're not allowed to drink in letters. We can't even have a business with "bar" or "pub" in the name sponsor our events.

However, when I was told this rule (especially because alcohol is allowed at some events, albeit under very strict guidlines), I thought the same thing.

I asked for the reason behind it and it was because while everyone may know you're an ABC, it's best not to broadcast it while doing activities that have the potential to reflect badly upon an organization and a life style we work hard to uphold.

I'm not sure if I 100% agree with it, because I do feel (in letter or not) that I always represent Alpha Ep. But, I follow the rule.

In addition, our chapter has a cute little saying called The 5 Ss, which are the only times our NMs are allowed to not wear their pledge pin: sleeping, showering, sports, s***-faced, and, well, something else that requires a lot of sweating.