Lil' Sis's

[WCUgirl]

Originally posted by BellaBerlee
I know what little sisters are..but what exactly is a "rush girl"...someone to hang around their tent/house while they do rush? What do they exactly do, hand out drinks, snacks, tell them to go XYZ??

Pretty much.

The Sig Eps at my college asked each sorority to come out on a different night of fraternity rush. We pretty much just sat around and looked good. We talked to the rushees, helped make them feel more comfortable, etc. I personally didn't say, "Oh, you should join Sig Ep, they're the best!" or anything like that, and I don't recall the brothers asking us to say that. It was mostly to make them look good b/c they had a large amount of hot women in their house I guess.

As a Pike little sister I went out to the house during rush and talked to all the rushees. That's how I got my little brother -- he was a rushee, ended up pledging Pike and picked me since I had rushed him.

[PM_Mama00]

I find it kinda weird that the guys feel the need to include sorority girls in their recruitment. The Delt Sigs on our campus only allow brothers at their rush events and they do pretty damn good on their own.

[33girl]

Originally posted by Glitter650
From the alpha Sigma Alpha website... and I'm 99% sure I could find the same thing at any other NPC org's website.



Auxiliary groups, commonly referred to as little sister and big brother groups, are inconsistent with the concept and philosophy of all National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities and North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) fraternities. Their existence may very well jeopardize our status as single sex organizations.

Members of Alpha Sigma Alpha will decline to join fraternity auxiliary groups.

Big brother organizations are inappropriate to the mission and purpose of Alpha Sigma Alpha, therefore, chapters shall not establish men's auxiliary organizations or individual big brother relationships.

I guess I have to repeat myself:

There is a very, very, VERY huge difference between an honest to God little sister program where they have a rush, a pledging period and basically function like a sorority, and a sweetheart type recognition that h_n_l is describing. They probably shouldn't call them "little sisters" though because (as shown by this thread) people get the wrong impression. They are sweethearts. Sweethearts are obviously OK with NPC groups as any international fraternity sweetheart I've ever read about was an NPC member.

h_n_l is not in an auxiliary group. She is a sweetheart. SO SHE IS NOT BREAKING ANY ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA POLICY REGARDING THIS RULE, and the initmation that she is is not appreciated.

Icecold is right when she says this:

They are not it illegal at all they are only illegal in this term saying it is illegal for any memeber of frat/sorority to participate in the inner workings of these groups meaning they cannot make these girls

That is to say, the brothers of XYZ cannot make women participate in a pledging process to obtain any kind of recognition by XYZ.

Can we put this one to rest and stop trying to make everyone else look guilty for something perfectly innocent? Thank you, drive through.

[CarolinaCutie]

Originally posted by 33girl
I guess I have to repeat myself:

There is a very, very, VERY huge difference between an honest to God little sister program where they have a rush, a pledging period and basically function like a sorority, and a sweetheart type recognition that h_n_l is describing. They probably shouldn't call them "little sisters" though because (as shown by this thread) people get the wrong impression. They are sweethearts. Sweethearts are obviously OK with NPC groups as any international fraternity sweetheart I've ever read about was an NPC member.

h_n_l is not in an auxiliary group. She is a sweetheart. SO SHE IS NOT BREAKING ANY ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA POLICY REGARDING THIS RULE, and the initmation that she is is not appreciated.

Icecold is right when she says this:



That is to say, the brothers of XYZ cannot make women participate in a pledging process to obtain any kind of recognition by XYZ.

Can we put this one to rest and stop trying to make everyone else look guilty for something perfectly innocent? Thank you, drive through.

While I really don't think it's hugs_n_ladybugs's fault that this particular fraternity or campus uses the incorrect terminology, I also don't think it's fair to chastize us for knowing the correct terminology. It is only later in the thread that she mentions anything related to sweethearts. Little sister organizations are against NPC rules, and so when I see the phrase "Lil' Sis", this is what I (and everyone else in this thread, obviously) assume we are talking about. If the thread had been titled "Sweethearts" or if the initial post had mentioned sweethearts or anything CLOSE to sweethearts, the following contents would have been very different. This is evidenced by the fact that there are probably several threads floating around here about sweethearts and they are full of positive comments.

Yes, there is a huge difference between being in a Little Sister auxiliary group and being a sweetheart, but it was not at all clear what hugs_n_ladybugs meant.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally posted by CarolinaCutie
Yes, there is a huge difference between being in a Little Sister auxiliary group and being a sweetheart...

I agree, but I will say that once a fraternity starts naming more than one individual (as in a "court") it starts coming close to being perceived as a Little Sister group.

[CarolinaCutie]

Originally posted by NutBrnHair
I agree, but I will say that once a fraternity starts naming more than one individual (as in a "court") it starts coming close to being perceived as a Little Sister group.

I agree with this. I also really liked your story about being a rush girl for Chi Omega. Although I don't think there is anything wrong with the official title of Sweetheart, when it comes to devoting any of my time or resources to helping another organization recruit members, I'd have to say that time would be better spent focusing on improving my org.

[33girl]

Originally posted by CarolinaCutie
While I really don't think it's hugs_n_ladybugs's fault that this particular fraternity or campus uses the incorrect terminology, I also don't think it's fair to chastize us for knowing the correct terminology. It is only later in the thread that she mentions anything related to sweethearts.

I was addressing the posts that came AFTER hugs_n_ladybugs clarified what she was talking about. This issue was over and done with till the thread was bumped.

In other words, read the thread before you put your two cents in.

[Glitter650]

Originally posted by 33girl
[B]I guess I have to repeat myself:

There is a very, very, VERY huge difference between an honest to God little sister program where they have a rush, a pledging period and basically function like a sorority, and a sweetheart type recognition that h_n_l is describing. They probably shouldn't call them "little sisters" though because (as shown by this thread) people get the wrong impression.

Can we put this one to rest and stop trying to make everyone else look guilty for something perfectly innocent? Thank you, drive through.

Wasn't trying to make anyone else look guilty, attempting to post for clarification, I guess I just added to the confusion, didn't mean to.

[TSteven]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
I find it kinda weird that the guys feel the need to include sorority girls in their recruitment. The Delt Sigs on our campus only allow brothers at their rush events and they do pretty damn good on their own.

I would like to address this. I wouldn't say fraternities feel a *need* (i.e. have to) include women during rush per say. As you pointed out, there is a chapter on your campus that only allow brothers at their rush events and they do well. And that is all well and good for them.

However, on other campuses, having sorority women help out is not only allowed but a nice touch as it were. Something more akin to Babs and Mandy - The Omega Name-tag Hostesses from "Animal House" - than say Paris Hilton in a tube top and Daisy dukes "going wild". But to be clear, the chapter sells the brotherhood to the men rushing, not the women.

Generally speaking there is a big difference (rules, guidelines etc.) between IFC rush and NPC recruitment. Please note that even the terms generally used are different. i.e. recruitment for sororities and rush for fraternities.

Generally speaking, fraternity rush is all about getting as many of the best men that fit with your chapter that the chapter can. In most cases, there isn't anything like house total or quota unless it is chapter imposed. So any advantage a fraternity chapter can use - be it having sorority women "help", having live bands, or having a barbecue - is going to leave a better impression than those chapters that don't have anything "fun".

And I bet dollars to donuts that if you were to ask many men, that they might find the concept of the NPC formal structure for recruitment a tad bizarre. Quota and house totals? And the whole skits and making get well cards out of elbow macaroni at craft night. I tell you what. I bet if an NPC chapter *was* allowed to have well dressed fraternity gentlemen politely escorting the PNMs into the chapter house and waiting on the PNMs, it would leave one hell of a positive impression on those PNMs. And yeah, that's one of the reasons why NPC does not allow men. To give an 'unfair' advantage to any one group.

Which goes back to the difference between IFC rush and NPC recruitment. It is *ok* to be different and "not equal" - as it were - during IFC rush. Those men who enjoy the certain events will rush those chapters. Those who do not, will go elsewhere. Which may be why there are often more fraternity chapters on a campus than sororities.

Viva la différence.

edited for spelling

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by TSteven

And I bet dollars to donuts that if you were to ask many men, that they might find the concept of the NPC formal structure for recruitment a tad bizarre. Quota and house totals? And the whole skits and making get well cards out of elbow macaroni at craft night. I tell you what. I bet if an NPC chapter *was* allowed to have well dressed fraternity gentlemen politely escorting the PNMs into the chapter house and waiting on the PNMs, it would leave one hell of a positive impression on those PNMs. And yeah, that's one of the reasons why NPC does not allow men. To give an 'unfair' advantage to any one group.

Many men aren't the only ones who think NPC formal structure is bizarre. There are women too, and I am included.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Originally posted by TSteven

Generally speaking there is a big difference (rules, guidelines etc.) between IFC rush and NPC recruitment. Please note that even the terms generally used are different. i.e. recruitment for sororities and rush for fraternities.

And I bet dollars to donuts that if you were to ask many men, that they might find the concept of the NPC formal structure for recruitment a tad bizarre. Quota and house totals? And the whole skits and making get well cards out of elbow macaroni at craft night. I tell you what. I bet if an NPC chapter *was* allowed to have well dressed fraternity gentlemen politely escorting the PNMs into the chapter house and waiting on the PNMs, it would leave one hell of a positive impression on those PNMs. And yeah, that's one of the reasons why NPC does not allow men. To give an 'unfair' advantage to any one group.

Which goes back to the difference between IFC rush and NPC recruitment. It is *ok* to be different and "not equal" - as it were - during IFC rush. Those men who enjoy the certain events will rush those chapters. Those who do not, will go elsewhere. Which may be why there are often more fraternity chapters on a campus than sororities.

Viva la différence.

I AGREE! (Sorry I had to edit your post a bit but I only deleted paragraphs for brevity and NOT to change the context!!!)

My boyfriend goes NUTS trying to figure out the concept of sorority rush. While it may make things more fair and civil for the girls it's a mind-boggling process. It prevents them from just doing whatever the girls might honestly like to do because everyone has to do the same thing.

While I like that concept of fairness it does take a certain amount of fun out of being able to freely express your org on campus any way you want to (within reason), it seems. (This is from the perspective of a GDI...)

I see the guys doing a lot more stuff and since they have less strict rules overall (not just during recruitment) they don't have to cut through red tape to just be themselves. While the girls have to worry about things that may seem just plain odd to outsiders. (Keep in mind that I fully accept and understand the concept of the rules as I am planning to rush in Fall), but it'd be so nice to see everyone stop worrying and just have a good time! Of course everyone is not able to be as responsible and sensible when left to their own devices, hence the strict rules, but I believe (or I'd like to believe) that the majority of people in general have common sense!

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally posted by BellaBerlee
I know what little sisters are..but what exactly is a "rush girl"...someone to hang around their tent/house while they do rush? What do they exactly do, hand out drinks, snacks, tell them to go XYZ??

what's really been funny is during rush, the fraternity guys will straight out say to girls, "You should go ABC...they can't tell you that because its dirty rushing, but seriously, you should be an ABC!". The guys can have freshmen in their house playing video games during fall quarter, they can straight out say "you want to pledge us?" to guys...drives me NUTS! We can't so much as say Boo to girls without getting accused of dirty rushing. I can't think of any guy on campus here that didn't get bidded by the fraternity of his choice...it's a lot more about the rushee's choice of chapter.

[blueangel]

I was a little sister at Phi Delta Theta. It was a wonderful program, and I'm not happy to learn that these type of programs are being phased out.

We did have little sister rush. It was very similar to "informal rush" at a sorority. We went to a parties, got call-backs, went to the second round, etc.

We had a brief "pledge" period where we got to know the guys, and were required to make a paddle and have everyone sign it. We turned in our paddles, and then at our initiation, the president of the Little Sister organization gave them back to us along with a Phi Delta Theta pin (letters, no shield). We also were allowed to order Phi Delt letter jerseys with "lil' sis" (and your name) on the back. And-- we had our own composite.

We were treated like gold by the brothers. We didn't bake cookies or serve drinks. We were pretty much spoiled by the brothers.

Once a week, we had dinner at the Phi Delt house with the brothers.. and of course, we were invited to their socials and parties.

I had a "big brother" too.

We had a mixture of sorority and non-sorority members in the Little Sister program.

I feel fortunate that I was able to be a part of it, and am saddened that so many women must now miss out on the experience.

[AXiDTrish]

At the school where I currently advise, one of the NIC groups has a little sister group that was very active. They have meetings, the girls do all kinds of things for the guys, etc. The guys actively recruit the women.

Here is where it gets frustrating......the guys tell the girls NOT to join sororities because their group is free and they can get more benefits from them! I actually had a conversation with the guy who is basically the chapter liason to the little sisters and he is 110% convinced that what he can offer these girls is more valuable then anything sororities can give them.

He reaps the benefits of his fraternity. Why would he think that a woman could not reap benefits from a sorority???? Needless to say this is an ongoing frustration with this NIC group!!!! The worst part about it... Our NPC and the NIC have historical (national) roots together, yet we have to compete with THEM for new members. What's up with that!?!?!

[FSUZeta]

trish, if you speak to this guy again, you might remind him of the benefits he is afforded by being a member of an nic fraternity, and the benefits those women are missing out on by being discouraged to join a sorority. after those women graduate and go out in the world and find jobs elsewhere, will there be an alumnae chapter of this little sister organization in her new town that she can join? does the little sister orgnization offer the opportunity to apply for scholarships to attend graduate or professional school? does the little sister group have chapters at other schools that come together every year or so at conventions where they experience sisterhood and friendship? does the organization further the cause of women?
does the organization allow the women to make their own decisions or are they merely pawns of the fraternity,i.e., do the women decide who will organize the group, do they choose their own members? and just hang in there-he will eventually graduate!