Plegdes wearing letters???

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by starang21
wow, are people really that interested in what goes on behind close doors in the NPHC organizations?

I'm not. But, then again, SisMunch is an AKA, so I've always known what to ask and what not to ask.

TomEarp, your refusal to respect the traditions of the NPHC (say it with me now!) reflects very poorly on you, and as a result, you're not representing your organization very well. If you're going to resort to negative comments and rudeness to mask your disinterest and ignorance, please remove your letters from your signature. You do not have to accept the traditions as your own, but you are hopefully mature enough to rise above the pettiness that you have displayed.

[absolutuscchick]

Originally posted by Senusret I

If "Pledging" is discovered, it can result in a chapter being suspended or dechartered.

Really?? All the guys I knew who were in two diff. NPHC fraternities (I forget the names..) all had to dress alike, and one group had to carry around canes that were red and white when they were pledging....Jett Jackson was one of those guys!!

[DeltaSigStan]

I guess this all comes down to what is considered hazing. One of the non-ifc frats have their pledges wear dogtags, camoflauge pants and their GLO shirts during their "hell week". They're not allowed to talk to anyone except actives and only if they're spoken to. THis was hard, as my bio lab partner was one of their pledges and wouldn't talk to me in class at all; he text messaged me everything he wanted to say!

Now, if we did that, we'd be gone for sure. Is it fair? No, but that's the price you pay I guess for National Affiliation, which I'd still rather have.

[DGMarie]

Originally posted by Senusret I
Traditional pledging has been abolished as a requirement for membership in NPHC organizations. Each affiliate organization has adopted a standardized selection and membership intake process, unique to each organization, that conveys the information deemed important to know before initiation.

.....

Thank you for replying to this. It helped a lot!

[SIAsensacion]

Originally posted by cammykaze1920
Co-sign!!
And I must say that I saw some girls from your sorority on-line earlier this year in NYC. The line was very tight...especially since it was pretty cold out that night.

Ok, so I'm sorry for being a little behind the eight-ball in replying to this post, but THANK YOU CK1920 for the shout-out!!! I would LOVE to know what school you saw the girls at, and when if you can remember. I can't wait to come home and see some pledges for myself in person!! And although I haven't seen any Zeta pledges in a while, I must say that the ones I saw at UMCP when I was in school were always on point (although I almost NEVER would see them until their probate)

And P.S. Your royal blue is looking LOVELY

[cammykaze1920]

Originally posted by blulady
People, how difficult is it to just understand that everyone's organization is just not the same. Understand that if organizations in the NPC are permitted to wear their letters with any combination of colors it is because their colors may not have the level of significance to their organization as do members of the NPHC. As a member of an NPHC organization, I can say that our colors have a ritualistic, secretive meaning; therefore we are not permitted to wear our letters with any color just because we like the way it looks, or whatever the case may be. As far as identifying aspirants to our organization by way of wearing our letters and colors, one has to know the history of organizations of the NPHC. Before 1990 aspirants to orgs. of the NPHC wore identifying clothing and carried items unique to the org they were pursuing membership with. Because pledging as we (NPHC) once knew it is now forbidden, no org of the NPHC wants anyone to be able to identify its potential new members simply because of the penalties they may face if it is discovered. Anyone with Greek radar can tell which org. a person is pursuing if they know what to look for in a case like this, but in a nutshell, it's as simple as I just explained it.

Oh, yeah did I forget to say that I am a ..... Zeta?

Hey Soror!!
Welcome to the discussion....and thanks for your post.

[cammykaze1920]

Originally posted by SIAsensacion
Ok, so I'm sorry for being a little behind the eight-ball in replying to this post, but THANK YOU CK1920 for the shout-out!!! I would LOVE to know what school you saw the girls at, and when if you can remember. I can't wait to come home and see some pledges for myself in person!! And although I haven't seen any Zeta pledges in a while, I must say that the ones I saw at UMCP when I was in school were always on point (although I almost NEVER would see them until their probate)

And P.S. Your royal blue is looking LOVELY

Why thank you! I do love my royal blue.....lol. Yes, the school was Columbia University in the city. I believe it was like Feb-March 03.

[zchi2]

Originally posted by Buttonz
What I meant was....before a girl was on-line for AKA, she wore a lot of pink, because itwas her fav color. TO suddenly go from wearing a lot of pink to none would give anyone who was close to her the idea she was on line for them IMO

Well, I personally believe that if you know someone well enough to know that they wear pink at least 3 times a week, you will probably know if they are on-line without the change in clothing.
Different organizations "forbid" their pledges/associates from wearing the organizations colors for different reasons. It is sometimes because of the same reason why they can't wear the letters: they don't know the meaning behind them.

I personally don't want everyone representing my organization just because their were "picked" from the selection process. Our education process/pledging period is meant to teach our associate members what Zeta Sigma Chi is about and our rules and policies. If you don't know about my organization, how can you promote it? In MY opinion, that would do more harm than good.

[TigerLilly]

Originally posted by blulady
People, how difficult is it to just understand that everyone's organization is just not the same. Understand that if organizations in the NPC are permitted to wear their letters with any combination of colors it is because their colors may not have the level of significance to their organization as do members of the NPHC. As a member of an NPHC organization, I can say that our colors have a ritualistic, secretive meaning; therefore we are not permitted to wear our letters with any color just because we like the way it looks, or whatever the case may be. As far as identifying aspirants to our organization by way of wearing our letters and colors, one has to know the history of organizations of the NPHC. Before 1990 aspirants to orgs. of the NPHC wore identifying clothing and carried items unique to the org they were pursuing membership with. Because pledging as we (NPHC) once knew it is now forbidden, no org of the NPHC wants anyone to be able to identify its potential new members simply because of the penalties they may face if it is discovered. Anyone with Greek radar can tell which org. a person is pursuing if they know what to look for in a case like this, but in a nutshell, it's as simple as I just explained it.

Oh, yeah did I forget to say that I am a ..... Zeta?

Your post was interesting and informative, but you sounded a bit exasperated with everyone in the first line. I think most of us (again...*most* of us) do realize that everyone's organization isn't the same, so we're interested in understanding how they're different! I find it really interesting to hear about general ways that other groups do things differently.

Oh and BTW the other day I saw a ZPhiB lady on the military base near here wearing one of those great jackets!

[Tom Earp]

Get one thing first.

I am not trying to besmirch any Greek Organizations!

If the NPHC Greeks want to do it their way, that is fine.

So I am asking a question of WHY and Why Not, not degrading another Organization.

I think everyone should know that about me by now. I am a BIG backer of Greeks, any and all.


And I will not take My Letters from my Signature.

I am proud of any New Associate that joins my Fraterniy and want them all to be Initiated be active and Graduate from College, that is why they are there anyway!

[AXORissa]

Originally posted by zchi2
Well, I personally believe that if you know someone well enough to know that they wear pink at least 3 times a week, you will probably know if they are on-line without the change in clothing.
Different organizations "forbid" their pledges/associates from wearing the organizations colors for different reasons. It is sometimes because of the same reason why they can't wear the letters: they don't know the meaning behind them.

I personally don't want everyone representing my organization just because their were "picked" from the selection process. Our education process/pledging period is meant to teach our associate members what Zeta Sigma Chi is about and our rules and policies. If you don't know about my organization, how can you promote it? In MY opinion, that would do more harm than good.

I dont agree it does more harm than good. Obviously NPC orgs do it different-- the way our recruitment works is that it is a mutual selection process, and since we chose a particular member, we WANT to show them off. Usually rention rates of women after rush are fairly high (the rention usually correlates to the amount of hazing a particular chapter does, though...) so its not like we are showing off a huge group of women that wont be part of our organization- most likely they will be XYZs... and yes, you do get judged by your new members, but they are the future of your chapter, and more representative of the type of women that will be there in three years than the current sisterhood.

Plus, i would think it would be considered hazing (it is for AXO) to NOT allow the new members to announce they are joining that particular organization. In fact, once they receive a bid, they are considered equal to a sister, and you are supposed to treat her as such. AXO encourages new members to be allowed to wear letters, and it is hazing if you make them do any activity that sisters dont do also... we view it as, we picked you to be a sister, and we're proud of you. We cant forbid new members from doing anything, and we cant make them do anything. Most of the things that are accepted by NPHC standards as part of their program is considered hazing by our National.

[Buttonz]

Originally posted by AXORissa
I dont agree it does more harm than good. Obviously NPC orgs do it different-- the way our recruitment works is that it is a mutual selection process, and since we chose a particular member, we WANT to show them off. Usually rention rates of women after rush are fairly high (the rention usually correlates to the amount of hazing a particular chapter does, though...) so its not like we are showing off a huge group of women that wont be part of our organization- most likely they will be XYZs... and yes, you do get judged by your new members, but they are the future of your chapter, and more representative of the type of women that will be there in three years than the current sisterhood.

Plus, i would think it would be considered hazing (it is for AXO) to NOT allow the new members to announce they are joining that particular organization. In fact, once they receive a bid, they are considered equal to a sister, and you are supposed to treat her as such. AXO encourages new members to be allowed to wear letters, and it is hazing if you make them do any activity that sisters dont do also... we view it as, we picked you to be a sister, and we're proud of you. We cant forbid new members from doing anything, and we cant make them do anything. Most of the things that are accepted by NPHC standards as part of their program is considered hazing by our National.

Rissa,
Very good post and I agree. We have the samething, a NM isn't allowed to do anything that a sister won't do. We don't tell them this until after the fact, but from the day that a Bid Card is signed, they are considered to be sisters. When this fall's pledge class found that out, I thought they were goign to kill me (I was thre NME) but there is a reason why they don't know it. THe only thing I disagree with (once again, this is my opinion) is letting NM's wear letters before they get in. My pledge sister and I got in on 5/4, pulling on a set of letters to go to class on 5/5 was one of the best feelings in the world, something that I never will forget. I worked hard to earn those letters. We were allowed to wear Sigma Delta Tau, or even SDT, but not SDT and I have to say, I am happy we couldn't. Maybe it's just me but thats how I feel. I don't like wearing things that I don't understand what it means.

[AXORissa]

Originally posted by Buttonz

THe only thing I disagree with (once again, this is my opinion) is letting NM's wear letters before they get in. My pledge sister and I got in on 5/4, pulling on a set of letters to go to class on 5/5 was one of the best feelings in the world, something that I never will forget. I worked hard to earn those letters. We were allowed to wear Sigma Delta Tau, or even SDT, but not SDT and I have to say, I am happy we couldn't. Maybe it's just me but thats how I feel. I don't like wearing things that I don't understand what it means.

Yeah, we had a big issue over this one year-- our CLC advised us, as a recruitment policy, to allow NM to wear stitched letters (screen print was ok in our chapter) but National didnt force us to let them wear them. Most sisters felt the NMs had to wait until initiation but others didnt care. We decided to wait until they were initiated before we let them wear them, more so because the other sororities at our school didnt let their NMs wear letters, and they all knew who our NMs were (by their pledge pins)

[ChaosDST]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Get one thing first.

I am not trying to besmirch any Greek Organizations!

If the NPHC Greeks want to do it their way, that is fine.

So I am asking a question of WHY and Why Not, not degrading another Organization.

I think everyone should know that about me by now. I am a BIG backer of Greeks, any and all.


And I will not take My Letters from my Signature.

I am proud of any New Associate that joins my Fraterniy and want them all to be Initiated be active and Graduate from College, that is why they are there anyway!

I haven't read this long ass thread.

But, I see that, once again, we're confronted with the differences b/w BGLOs and those that are not BGLOs.

I think it's silly for "pledges" to be wearing letters (and/or for people to wear letters on "bid nights"). Hell, I think the whole concept of "rush" is plain silly. Yet and still, I respect (key word: respect) this system of new membership for non-BGLOs.

[ChaosDST]

Originally posted by DGMarie
I'll show my age but this is how I remember NPHC at the U of S. Carolina in the late 1980's. One particular sorority (red was the color I recall) used to have their aspirants wear identical clothing, right down to matching khaki raincoats. They had to walk one behind the other where ever they went. And one group of men, Alpha Phi Alpha, used to perform nearly nightly outside my large, 11 story dorm. their aspirants (I think) used to chant and step and perform and we would all gather and look out our windows and watch. It was very interesting but it did not look like much fun. Especially all the marching around wearing raincoats and carrying paddles (I think it was paddles). I'll never forget the chant: A-L-P-H-A P-H-I, A-L-P-H-A ALPHA PHI ALPHA!

The "red" sorority is my sorority, Delta Sigma Theta

Since pledging was LEGAL and ABOVE GROUND, at that time, you witnessed the things that you witnessed.

Your memories are a beautiful thing