You Are Always Wearing Your Letters

[Gusteau]

I wonder if there's a correlation between badge lust and disliking this? Like AzTheta I liked it the first time I heard it and then started really analyzing it. For a student, I get it - on and around campus people know you and you're representing your chapter. But then he talks about the rest of your life, and I have to disagree. Do I represent Delta Chi at work? Yes, but I work in greek life. If that's not the case you probably don't. Do I represent Delta Chi when I go out to dinner? No, if I'm rude to my waitress (which I wouldn't be - major pet peeve - say thank you people!) she doesn't walk away thinking that this Delta Chi wasn't representing his values, she just thinks I'm a jerk. I also feel like it's negative reinforcement and doesn't appeal to why the person should represent their values but rather why they shouldn't misbehave. Anyway YMMV.

BlueOwl, I will agree that SDSU Greeks could use a whole bunch of good PR and this is a good move or them!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

I wonder if there's a correlation between badge lust and disliking this?

LOL. I don't know, but I don't like it either, for all the reasons that AzTheta, AOII Angel and you have given, and I would add that it's preachy.

I especially agree with Gusteau that the whole "when you commit yourself to that special someone, you're wearing our letters" is over the top. Yes, when you're in school, a bad decision can bring down a chapter. Not the same later in life.

I also take issue with the idea that the lesson "You're always wearing your letters" is "more important than our . . . history, our traditions . . . or our rules." Ummmm, no it's not. If I pay attention to the history, traditions and rules of my fraternity, especially those rooted in our values, then I don't need a lecture on how I'm always wearing my letters. That history and those traditions teach me more about how I should comport myself than a slogan does. AzTheta and Gusteau are right -- it's a form of shaming that says "don't embarrass us" rather than "live the values you've pledged yourself to."

(And AzTheta, I gag with you on "empower" and "empowerment")