Dear Collegians, Please be kind to our legacies

[1964Alum]

I was initiated in 1964 so am quite a bit earlier than you! The doldrums and drugs had not as yet hit the GOLs back then, so there was still great interest in joining up. There were some 600 girls who had signed up for rush with about 120 places more or less so competition was fierce.

All of our legacies were outstanding members we were thrilled to have. Daughters of some of our sisters from my time, however, defected to other GLOs, mostly Kappa and Zeta as I remember. One pledge sister (with two sons) exclaimed "They just didn't raise them right!" LOL! Many of my friends post college are Kappas. And Chi Os on my campus now compete with Kappa, which wasn't there when I went through! Both groups do exceptionally well.

When I returned to attend a reunion for our era a pledge sister and I organized some years back, the aftermath of the drug era was still in full effect. Very sad. The "All American Boy" frat had had their chapter closed by their Nationals as well as a high achieving sorority which had always been a major competitor for us. Both because of drugs, including selling them. They are both back on campus and doing well as they always had. The sororities are now quite large and there are many more of them, including the traditionally Black and the Multi-cultural groups. Also gone is the ridiculous 55 member cap on all the sororities which was ridiculous even back then. The good thing is that in a sorority of that size, we all knew each other very well. I don't know how the gals with 200 or more sisters manage!

[SWTXBelle]

My non-Gamma Phi legacy sorority dropped me like a hot potato after I burst into tears when asked "How are you?". Why? Well, my beloved 32 year old aunt had just died of cancer. I am glad they treated me that way, though - I got to see right off the bat the depth of their care and compassion. I will say, however, that their treatment of me left a bad taste in my - and the sister of the sorority's - mouth. To this day, when that name is mentioned, I have a knee-jerk bad reaction. Be kind to legacies - even if they don't pledge your chapter, you want them and their family to think well of you.


Epilogue - when I graduated, I was awarded the Sallie Beretta Outstanding Senior Woman award at Southwest Texas State University. A member of the chapter which dropped me was sitting next to my mother as they detailed my undergraduate achievements. "Why didn't we get her?", the alumna queried. My mother was happy to let her know.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

My non-Gamma Phi legacy sorority dropped me like a hot potato after I burst into tears when asked "How are you?". Why? Well, my beloved 32 year old aunt had just died of cancer. I am glad they treated me that way, though - I got to see right off the bat the depth of their care and compassion. I will say, however, that their treatment of me left a bad taste in my - and the sister of the sorority's - mouth. To this day, when that name is mentioned, I have a knee-jerk bad reaction. Be kind to legacies - even if they don't pledge your chapter, you want them and their family to think well of you.


Epilogue - when I graduated, I was awarded the Sallie Beretta Outstanding Senior Woman award at Southwest Texas State University. A member of the chapter which dropped me was sitting next to my mother as they detailed my undergraduate achievements. "Why didn't we get her?", the alumna queried. My mother was happy to let her know.

Indeed, things work out the way they are supposed to. So sorry that you were not treated with kindness and compassion.