Definition of "Chapter"

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by FΔithHΩpeLoΛe

Oh ok, I see - but not all organisations follow that system, right?

If I was starting a new Sorority could I just randomly pick three Greek letters based solely on the fact that a Sorority does not exist with that name? Especially if it's the founding chapter?

And Sydney: No, I'm not a member of any Sorority, I'm still trying to understand the system before I weigh up any options.

If you're starting a new sorority, then it would start as a local sorority, and there would only be one chapter. Therefore, you wouldn't necessarily need to give it a Greek letter chapter designation. As for the name of the actual sorority, if you're starting the whole thing from scratch (A HUGE UNDERTAKING!!), then you can name it anything you want, for whatever reason you wish.

And actually, Delta Chi, a national fraternity, doesn't even use Greek letters for individual chapters. Their chapter here at Penn State Behrend is simply known as the "Behrend Chapter".

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

If you're starting a new sorority, then it would start as a local sorority, and there would only be one chapter. Therefore, you wouldn't necessarily need to give it a Greek letter chapter designation.

BUT, if you were to give a chapter designation, it'd the Alpha chapter (or Nevada Alpha or Evansville Chapter or whatever).

Example: Two of the locals on my campus go by a chapter designation. One calls itself the Alpha Chapter and the other calls itself the Delta chapter b/c of things that have happened in its history.

I too am curious, though... Why the Delta Omega Lambda in your user name?

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

I too am curious, though... Why the Delta Omega Lambda in your user name?

Looks like she just picked Greek letters that looked like the English letters.

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Looks like she just picked Greek letters that looked like the English letters.

That was my assumption, but you never know.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

And actually, Delta Chi, a national fraternity, doesn't even use Greek letters for individual chapters. Their chapter here at Penn State Behrend is simply known as the "Behrend Chapter".

Kind of a sidetrack, but a FUN FACT nonetheless: The reason we believe our founders decided to name their chapter after their university was because they wanted the prestige of Cornell to rub off on their newly founded group. So from the beginning they were known as "The Cornel Chapter of The Delta Chi Fraternity."

Herff Jones, however has not gotten the memo because they only offer us Greek letter guards and not English letters (though I have seen some old badges with English guards.)

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

Kind of a sidetrack, but a FUN FACT nonetheless: The reason we believe our founders decided to name their chapter after their university was because they wanted the prestige of Cornell to rub off on their newly founded group. So from the beginning they were known as "The Cornel Chapter of The Delta Chi Fraternity."

Herff Jones, however has not gotten the memo because they only offer us Greek letter guards and not English letters (though I have seen some old badges with English guards.)

Wow, I never knew this - interesting. How would you have a guard in English though - especially if you went to (ex) Transylvania University? Wouldn't that be a tad long?

[FΔithHΩpeLoΛe]

Wow, thanks everyone for your answers, I think I get it now

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Looks like she just picked Greek letters that looked like the English letters.

Lol, yeah I did! I wanted my username to be FaithHopeLove and then picked random greek letters to make it look different - Apologies if I offended anyone

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

If you're starting a new sorority, then it would start as a local sorority, and there would only be one chapter. Therefore, you wouldn't necessarily need to give it a Greek letter chapter designation. As for the name of the actual sorority, if you're starting the whole thing from scratch (A HUGE UNDERTAKING!!), then you can name it anything you want, for whatever reason you wish.

Originally Posted by SydneyK

It sounds like you're wanting to start a new sorority - there are several threads on GC that you should read if you're really thinking about starting one.

I never thought of starting a Sorority, and I definitely won't now I just wanted to know what thoughts go into naming a Sorority because I'm new to Greek life and want to understand the naming process behind the Sororities I want to join so I don't get confused when I meet someone from a different chapter.

Thanks for all your help!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by FΔithHΩpeLoΛe

Lol, yeah I did! I wanted my username to be FaithHopeLove and then picked random greek letters to make it look different - Apologies if I offended anyone

Well, just to let you know, your username actually is Fdith Hqpe Lole. Greek letters often look NOTHING like their English equivalents (despite what a passel of graphic design firms or clothing manufacturers would have you believe).

[FΔithHΩpeLoΛe]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Well, just to let you know, your username actually is Fdith Hqpe Lole. Greek letters often look NOTHING like their English equivalents (despite what a passel of graphic design firms or clothing manufacturers would have you believe).

My username wasn't *supposed* to look like it contained the English equivalents of the Greek letters, it was supposed to look like I substituted the letters A, O, and V with symbols that *looked* like the English letters, not *translated* into English letters...

[33girl]

Originally Posted by FΔithHΩpeLoΛe

My username wasn't *supposed* to look like it contained the English equivalents of the Greek letters, it was supposed to look like I substituted the letters A, O, and V with symbols that *looked* like the English letters, not *translated* into English letters...

But why would you want to have a username that makes no sense? Greek letters aren't just fun symbols, they are letters in an alphabet.

It's kind of the equivalent of getting a Chinese tattoo that looks cool and then finding out it means "cabbage skyscraper" or something of the like.