Calling new members "baby"

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

I hear "Baby Owls" far too often. I do not like the term and as far as I know, the HQ still discourages it.

Better than "hooters".

I actually attended formal meeting as an advisor yesterday and I was asked to remind the chapter to not say babies/baby doves/etc.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by thetalady

I totally agree! I personally dislike the use of the term. As far as I know, Theta does not have any "baby kites". I think the term "baby" may be more prevalent in organizations that have an animal as a mascot...

My chapter, just this semester, started using "baby".. it's all over Facebook. Even tonight, a picture was posted of the new members after their pinning ceremony, and it was labeled "Baby Taus!" ... it makes me cringe. And you definitely don't need an animal to make it work. Unfortunately.

Originally Posted by AGD1111

When I was pledging all the initiated sisters called me "baby Squirrel" and I loved it. I didn't know who most of them were, but they'd see me on campus in letters and just shout "Baby!" and it just made me smile. I can understand why some wouldn't like it though. And if any of the other pledges didn't, all they had to do was say so and it stopped.

I would definitely be mortified if anyone yelled "baby" at me across campus. Unless of course it was a totally hot guy. Kidding, of course. But I think that for a lot of girls, this is the kind of little stuff that can completely turn them off from sorority life.

Originally Posted by 33girl

Oh and what about our chapter that goes by Apples. They could call their pledges Li'l Seeds, their alumnae Cores and the sisters who drink too much Baked Apples.

And would the girls who act up and are sent to Standards be called Bad Apples?

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

My chapter, just this semester, started using "baby".. it's all over Facebook. Even tonight, a picture was posted of the new members after their pinning ceremony, and it was labeled "Baby Taus!" ... it makes me cringe. And you definitely don't need an animal to make it work. Unfortunately.



I would definitely be mortified if anyone yelled "baby" at me across campus. Unless of course it was a totally hot guy. Kidding, of course. But I think that for a lot of girls, this is the kind of little stuff that can completely turn them off from sorority life.



And would the girls who act up and are sent to Standards be called Bad Apples?

Better than Tiny Taus, right? I guess y'all could go with Little Fuzzies?

Any women with excessive alcohol issues sent to standards, Rusty Anchors? Oh noes, that is Blanche Deveraux's favorite bar! Those who stop showing up, Dead Weights? If a woman is often shacked up, she Dropped Anchor? Oh, the chapter facility or meeting place, the Anchorage.

With Alpha Gamma Delta's new programming I could see a move towards a system similar to ADPi. New members are Alphas, initiated members Gammas, alumnae are Deltas, or Rosebuds, except that already has a usage for use. Hmmm petals, sisters sent to sorority court thorns?

[aephi alum]

When I joined my local, I was a pledge until I was initiated.

When we went AEPhi, I was a new member until I was initiated.

For AEPhi, most things that would imply that new members are "inferior" to sisters are discouraged. There are certain privileges (like wearing letters and participating in membership selection and ritual) that are not extended to new members. Aside from that, terms like "big sister" and "little sister" or "baby _____" are discouraged, and new members are considered "almost but not quite" on a par with initiated sisters.

Besides, I might have belted anyone who called me a baby giraffe...

ETA: "Thetartots" had me LMAO. I might have belted anyone who called me that, too, had I joined Theta.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

Besides, I might have belted anyone who called me a baby giraffe...

You would like my sister, I received a text message from her on bid day to the tune of "If one more person calls me a baby bunny I'm going to assault them!"

In retrospect I'm not sure if her objection was to being a baby or being a bunny...

[Old_Row]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

Better than "hooters".

I actually attended formal meeting as an advisor yesterday and I was asked to remind the chapter to not say babies/baby doves/etc.

Would that make the initiated members "big hooters?"

[AUAZD2001]

I've never had a problem with the term New Member. I believe that the moment you accept your bid you are a member. While you cannot know Ritual until you are an INITIATED Member, you still pay dues and attend all chapter functions. I am, however, a fan of extending the New Member period to a full semester. That way New Members could only be initiated if they proved themselves academically. 6-8 weeks is just too short to know if someone is a grade risk.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by Old_Row

Would that make the initiated members "big hooters?"

Bwah ha ha ha....GOOD ONE!