BGLOs DO NOT DEPLEDGE!!!

[Sweetepie]

I have also heard of this "depledging". There is a girl on my campus who "turned in" her letters when she started dating a guy who considered sororities high class gangs. He really must have changed her views.

[Corbin Dallas]

You can't renounce your membership once you join? That sounds like on Seinfeld when George was trying to break up with Susan. She wouldn't let him. Personally, if there is someone who joins my fraternity and then down the road decides he doesn't want to be affiliated with it, he can quit. I don't want a brother who doesn't want to be my brother. I'll do everything in my power to find out why, and try to reason with him not to, but if it comes down to it, he can quit.

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Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

[icytre]

Hello all,
I find this discussion quite intriguing!
I know of some members of BGLO's in Arkansas who actually denounced their letters.
They actually burned their letters because their pastor strictly forbad it. There were Alphas, AKA's, Zetas, Sigmas, and Deltas. I actually talked to one who considered himself a "former" member of Alpha Phi Alpha. He told me that he denounced the organization and burned his letters.
The thought of that was just repulsive. I literally had to retain my physical being to act rational with this guy! These are people who know everything about your organization....secrets, rituals etc, and they don't hesitate on giving non-members any/all information!
I have never heard of an official process where people turn their pin in though.

I've also heard of BGLO members renoucing their organizations and turning in their letters. On my campus, several women did it for religious reasons. But they wrote letters to Nationals relinquishing their memberships, turning in their pin, and sending back their letters. They also burned their paraphanelia!

[DELTABRAT]

Hey all:

I have a question that (for the sake of my Beloved Sorority) doesn't sound ignint (ignorant).

When I wrote an earlier post and referred to the woman who "burned her letters" I meant that she actually burned her paraphernalia that obviously had her sorority letters emblazoned across the front/side/wherever.

However, I am interested to know what "letters" people are referring to when they say that he/she "burned his/her "letters."

Is it the actual "letter" that is received from Nationals or some other "letters" that are being referred to? Or are people using "letters" meaning 'nalia' with "letters" interchangeably?

Just asking. I think that the term "letters" has different meaning for different organizations (especially between NPHC/IFC/NPC).

Just let a sistah know whatcha sayin'...

[This message has been edited by DELTABRAT (edited August 08, 2000).]

[Corbin Dallas]

When I say "Letters" I mean the shirt I was given when I joined my fraternity. It's a football type jersey, made of heavy cotton, with nothing but our letters across the front, about 8 inches high. Any time I speak of anything else with symbols or letters on it, a hat, party t-shirt, dress shirt, etc. i just call it my Lambda Chi hat, Pig Roast shirt, or Around the World shirt, or whatever the theme happened to be.

------------------
Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

[DELTABRAT]

Thanks for the input. That's what I thought in the first place but thatnks for confirming.

Anyone have a different idea or I'll just assume it's what we all meant.

[DELTABRAT]

Hey all:

Interesting topic.

I have never heard of anyone de-pledging their organization.

I have hears of one member of a sorority burning her letters (similar to what icytre referred to). She simply denounced her organization. Similarly, my best friend (from high school) is in another organization and she recently told me that someone at work found out she was an XYZ and she knew another lady there was too. She basically hoped no one would find out. She said when people give her the "call" she doesn't return it and says "I am not into that anymore."

I have a problem with that. She even stated that when she pledged that she really thought it would be a lifetime thing. She is now saved and doesn't feel that the lifestyle coincides with that of Christianity. I remember when she first crossed her parties were off the hinges like WHOA!!!

In that case I can understand why she would feel that way BUT everyone who pledges DOES NOT become a party animal so I don't see a reason to denounce on GP.

I will never do this. I don't feel my lifestyle as a DELTA is contradictory to my lifestyle as a Christian woman (it never has been)while some of the other things I was doing prior to DELTA may have been ...if that were the case, I would be denouncing a whole lotta stuff ...

Peace out!!!

This entire discussion is starting to sound cult-like.People can leave these organizations at any time. Why would you want someone to belong to your group when they dont really want to be there anymore? Thats so counterproductive. Before anyone gets too high and mighty, let me just say that part of being human is learning whats good for you and who you are as you go along. It doesnt end at 21 or when you join whatever, its a life long journey. Alot of the girls in my house stray or outright leave by senior year. I hate to say this but some of you are sounding like the gangs on Montel Williams who dont "let people leave."

[NicoleRey]

[A high school teacher of mine "was" a member of a BGLO and renounced her membership when she was saved as well. She said, as I have seen here a few times, that it was contrary to her Christian beliefs....I am not a member of a BGLO, but my understanding was that hey were built upon Christian Principles by God-fearing men and women. (Please correct me if I am wrong)

I suppose it is up to the person to decide what is contrary to thier beliefs. I know people who, after being saved, stoped listning to secular (sp?) music, playing cards, dancing, etc...You have to make those decisions. Although I can't see where working in th ecommunity could possibly go against any Christion philoshophy.

But BURNING letters? I am a member of OES and while our "letters" might be diferent than those of BGLOs, I say with some bit of confidence that they are both SACRED. I don't even put my T-SHIRTS with OES on them on the floor unless it's laundry day! (And I'm pretty messy.. )
The thought of BURNING letters makes me cringe!

Okay...I've rambled enough. And may have gotten away from the thread. SORRY :0

Peace

[This message has been edited by NicoleRey (edited August 17, 2000).]

Is anyone else concerned about the fanatacism here? I encourage a healthy appreciation for your house but the way some of you speak about it with such religious fervor, (again the whole cult theme comes to mind) I can understand why outsiders might think you see it as a religion. When its time to do the laundry my letters get tossed about like anything else. Nor do I think that our groups want to be worshipped as they appear to be by several of the BGLO members Ive seen post on this forum. All in all, I must say reading all this has taught me several things about other GLOs that I didnt know before

[12dn94dst]

Originally posted by NicoleRey:
But BURNING letters? I am a member of OES and while our "letters" might be diferent than those of BGLOs, I say with some bit of confidence that they are both SACRED. I don't even put my T-SHIRTS with OES on them on the floor unless it's laundry day! (And I'm pretty messy.. )
The thought of BURNING letters makes me cringe!

Okay...I've rambled enough. And may have gotten away from the thread. SORRY :0

Peace

[This message has been edited by NicoleRey (edited August 17, 2000).]

I see your point about burning your letters, that would not be my number one choice for "disposal." I think option number one should have been giving any and all 'nalia to a "former" soror/brother or sent it to HQ to be placed in the archives/museum. But after that, what else would someone who denounced do? They don't want to have anything to do with the org, so I think the "proper" way to "dispose" of 'naila you cannot give away is to burn it. We have enough issues with folks wearing letters that aren't theirs to begin with, why make it worse?

"none can leave" that is a strong statement. But consider this. If we are born into a family or adopted into a family as a child, no matter our actions we will always BE part of that family. We can legally remove affliation and distance ourselves physically and emotionally. But we are still part of the family no matter what.

Many apply this same concept to thier GO [Greek Organization]. Once you have initiated you are considered brother/sister by the organization, you are privilaged to "family" secrets and you are called to uphold responsiblites. Now, You can "leave" the organization (i.e. refuse to affliate, terminate communication and participation, cease to uphold your responsiblites). But you are part of the family and know about the family. Just like anything, people's participation within an organization will wax and wane. Some may find their pin after 20 years and realize what they had abandoned and return to the family.

Unforunitly, some memebers do completely turn their backs on their family and remove all possible connection with them in the future. And so do GO members...

Originally posted by --------:
This entire discussion is starting to sound cult-like.People can leave these organizations at any time. Why would you want someone to belong to your group when they dont really want to be there anymore? Thats so counterproductive. Before anyone gets too high and mighty, let me just say that part of being human is learning whats good for you and who you are as you go along. It doesnt end at 21 or when you join whatever, its a life long journey. Alot of the girls in my house stray or outright leave by senior year. I hate to say this but some of you are sounding like the gangs on Montel Williams who dont "let people leave."

[DirectorDST99]

Originally posted by Ice Cold Kreator:
While Sigma Pi Phi did begin in 1902 (I think), commonly known as the Boule', it is not a member of the BGLO...

I don't think any organization is a MEMBER of the BLGO..BLGO is not an organization. Perhaps you meant to say that Sigma Pi Phi is not a member of the NPHC.

I don't think he was referring to BGLO's as a governing body. Sigma Pi Phi is not considered a BGLO because it was a fraternal organization with its roots firmly planted in the professional world of African Americans. BGLO's tend to refer to collegiate students.