Hand signs

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by ADPiEE

I love the whistles--i've never seen that!

There are a couple of interesting things about that chart.

First, Phi Beta Kappa (which wasn't always an honor society) is included. Second, so is Theta Nu Epsilon, which has always been a class society, not a fraternity as such.

But the other thing I noticed is Alpha Delta Phi. The badge of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity is not shown on the chart, but if all badges are matched with the fraternity or sorority, there is one diamond badge (other than SAE and Fiji) left over, and I think it's ADPi's badge.

So, that would mean this chart dates from between 1905, when the Adelphian Society went national and changed its name to Alpha Delta Phi, and 1913, when the name was changed again to Alpha Delta Pi. And that would mean that the last whistle shown was/is ADPi's.

ETA: And I see that while I was typing this, honeychile also pointed out the ADPhi = ADPi bit. Guess that means my guess was right.

[ADPiEE]

I used to have the first Sisters but I think I lost it in one of our many moves...I really need to get them again.
I love the Phi!
Does it say what campus this was from?

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by ADPiEE

I used to have the first Sisters but I think I lost it in one of our many moves...I really need to get them again.
I love the Phi!
Does it say what campus this was from?

Most of my books are still packed, so I'm not sure. It may have been in one of the Loyally volumes, too. But as MysticCat has so kindly pointed out, it had to be a chapter between 1905-1913.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Most of my books are still packed, so I'm not sure. It may have been in one of the Loyally volumes, too. But as MysticCat has so kindly pointed out, it had to be a chapter between 1905-1913.

And one not at an all-female school, so based on the time-line at The Wiki, that would seem to narrow it to just four possibilities -- Delta (Texas, 1906), Epsilon (Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane, 1906), Upsilon (Washington State, 1912) or Tau (Kansas, 1912).

Given that Kappa Alpha Order is also on the chart, I think that would further narrow it down to Tulane or Texas. And since Zeta Tau Alpha chartered at Texas in 1906 (the same year as ADPi) and didn't charter at Tulane until 1927, I'm going with Texas.

[SWTXBelle]

I know of several sororities which have ritual hand signs. I also know the Gamma Phi whistle.

[glittergal1985]

Theta Phi Alpha's sign is made of three fingers on each hand forming the letter "theta." I have a feeling it's not that old, but is lately appearing all over TSM and Pinterest as "our" sign.

[NutBrnHair]

For years, (certainly back to the 1970s) Chi Omegas posed for pictures like this, but of course that takes 2 people to perform! I'd say the handsigns for Chi Omega (with just the fingers) have occurred in the last 5 years.

This pic is from 2000:

[ADPiEE]

I know ours has been around since at least the early 80's.......

[trisigma212]

I've seen some new Sigma handsigns. Usually we just did the sigma with our pointer and thumb, but I've seen some chapters making the triangle with their hands. I guess that would be okay in places that don't have a Tri Delta chapter since it looks like a delta. I kind of like it for more formal occasions such as with badge attire since I usually associate the sigma with just plain hanging out with my sisters. Anyone else seen this?

[jazing]

Are the whistles similar to knocks?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by jazing

Are the whistles similar to knocks?

No, because as indicated by the chart up thread, generally whistles are not secret and can be used (to the extent they are used at all anymore) in public.

[Cheerio]

The hand signal currently fashionable within my NPC group is something I learned long ago as a pledge. It's not something we commonly used until recent popularity of NPC groups publicly throwing handsigns.

When viewing recently-posted Bid Day and NM Class photos, I notice a few NPC handsignals appear similar when photographed from afar (from not-in-closeup mode).

[camom]

They are making theta's with their mouths. Looks strange to me.

[adpimiz]

I like our diamond. Simple and cute.

[LatinaAlumna]

I see lots of photos online where NPC sorority women will get a celebrity or famous person to pose doing their hand-sign. This is odd to me, because for my org. and most other NALFO orgs., it is highly inappropriate to allow someone to do your hand-sign in your presence.