What old tradition would you like to see revived?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I miss getting to know the rushees. What is this with "Rho Chi"? What a crock!. NPC would like you to believe every house is just like every other, just with different colors and badges. Had I not gotten to know the house's culture first, I would not have joined. The summer before freshman year, all the incoming freshman women were contacted by a summer Big Sister - a member of one of the sororities. I got a nice letter, and answers to mine, a frank discussion of Greek life and of other social, fraternal, academic, and entertainment options on campus, and a sense of what to expect.

Rho Chis are just to guide you through the actual week of rush. As several women have pointed out, some schools do still have "Greek weekends" and teas and such for HS seniors. Plus, if you have deferred rush, the rules should be such that freshmen can get to know sorority women just like they would any other people on campus. Rho Chis haven't replaced any of that, and they don't tell you all the sororities are alike - they just want you to make the decision for yourself, rather than having the first sorority you walk into be the sorority you pledge (even if it isn't right for you).

[ealymc]

When we pledged, God forbid one of our pins were stolen by a sorority girl or we would have to do something to earn it back from her. Well, my pledge class lost two pins in the SAME DAMN WEEK and we decided to march across campus (in our Oxfords and boxers, no less) chanting "A-L-P-H-A, S-I-G-M-A, Alpha Sig, Alpha Sig, ASA" and once we reached the chapter room, she was serenaded with the two songs that she had previously chosen (which we actually worked our asses off for and made REALLY good!) Ah, memories... The sororities just give the pins back nowadays...

[ealymc]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I miss greetings and being called a respectable names by "pledges". I miss the special ceremonies before initiation and would predicate one's membership.

"Good morning, Big Sister Gorgeous One, So Lovely to Behold!"

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Definitely agree with bagging all of the "politically correct" terms NPC put into place (even now, most people don't use them) and bringing back interviews and more learning of history, etc to pledgeship. It shouldn't be the ONLY time you learn about your sorority but you should know the basics before initiation.

Ditto, NutBHair!

Also, if you are rushing/pledging as a first semester freshman, you should have to make grades before initiation.

FYI...Chi Omega still does this (we never changed!)

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by ealymc

When we pledged, God forbid one of our pins were stolen by a sorority girl or we would have to do something to earn it back from her. Well, my pledge class lost two pins in the SAME DAMN WEEK and we decided to march across campus (in our Oxfords and boxers, no less) chanting "A-L-P-H-A, S-I-G-M-A, Alpha Sig, Alpha Sig, ASA" and once we reached the chapter room, she was serenaded with the two songs that she had previously chosen (which we actually worked our asses off for and made REALLY good!) Ah, memories... The sororities just give the pins back nowadays...

So glad my sisters used to razz you.

[ealymc]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

I miss pledge class "bolts". Did anyone else do those? The pledge class would plan a secret out-of-town trip, prank the sisters somehow before we left (toilet paper the hallway, leave a mess in the suite, lock their doors from the outside, mess with the showers or toilets in the bathroom, etc.), grab a few seniors and our Pledge Master out of their beds with no notice and BOLT! Best weekend of our lives!

We had something similar called Walkout. AWESOME!

[SWTXBelle]

I had forgotten the walkout . ..fun times!

[ealymc]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

So glad my sisters used to razz you.

They were our favorites, man. Always pickin' at us in some way and we LOVED it! LOL

[AlethiaSi]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I miss greetings and being called a respectable names by "pledges". I miss the special ceremonies before initiation and would predicate one's membership.

Sisters are still greeted inside the house (as sister so and so) and on campus, but only by name... there is more to it but i can't write about that
It IS nice to hear and to have that respect, we also greet the new members in turn but not in the formal way they are supposed to.

[REE1993]

I think it's respectful to greet sisters as Miss (first name). You do it on interviews at work and in many other social situations. Standing for alumnae and National Officers - always a thoughtful gesture.

Sister interviews/signatures -how else are you going to get to know each sister? Imagine being able to meet every sister of your entire soririty, even for 15 minutes... it's very cool. Now, in chapters of 100+ girls, I imagine that's tough, but maybe they can do tandem interviews for 5 minutes. It was a great way to learn stuff you might not know otherwise, and forge new relationships.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

DITTO and DITTO (harmless pranks, of course).

I miss collegians standing when alumnae walk in the room (we even used to stand for seniors!).

I remember this! "One stands out of respect for the pin she wears!"

I miss pledge class "bolts". Did anyone else do those? The pledge class would plan a secret out-of-town trip, prank the sisters somehow before we left (toilet paper the hallway, leave a mess in the suite, lock their doors from the outside, mess with the showers or toilets in the bathroom, etc.), grab a few seniors and our Pledge Master out of their beds with no notice and BOLT! Best weekend of our lives!

As Pledge Mother, I was pranked pretty well. The most memorable was when a few of us had stayed up 18 hours for a horror film festival (never again!!). One of the movies was Psycho. The pledges put cherry jello in my shower head, and needless to say, I thought it was blood pouring out of my shower!!

Nutbrnhair, I've always wondered how Chi Omega gets around the shorter New Member period with the grades. We use mid-term grades.

[bejazd]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I've quit supporting the Greek system - though I support the ideals, the national philanthropy, and the local alumnae chapter because you can't do it from the outside.

....What a crock!. NPC would like you to believe every house is just like every other, just with different colors and badges. Had I not gotten to know the house's culture first, I would not have joined.
I miss the opportunity for leadership. Today's collegians are expected to conform. "Go along to get along" should have no place in the Greek system.

Wow, that's kind of an extreme view DGTess. I'll agree with you that some of the PNM vs rushee stuff is pretty lame...I mean, it is what it is. Sorority RUSH. Pledging. Initiation. Lifetime Membership. But in the big picture, all the NPC groups are pretty much the same at the national/international level, and they all offer very similar programming and membership opportunities. Each individual chapter and the individual members are unique and create their own chapter culture at any given time. I don't think there's any less opportunities for leadership or an expectation to conform particularly. just curious why you feel that way!

[Benzgirl]

I repeat .... the need to make grades prior to initiation.

[DeeZeeOE07]

Originally Posted by ealymc

When we pledged, God forbid one of our pins were stolen by a sorority girl or we would have to do something to earn it back from her. Well, my pledge class lost two pins in the SAME DAMN WEEK and we decided to march across campus (in our Oxfords and boxers, no less) chanting "A-L-P-H-A, S-I-G-M-A, Alpha Sig, Alpha Sig, ASA" and once we reached the chapter room, she was serenaded with the two songs that she had previously chosen (which we actually worked our asses off for and made REALLY good!) Ah, memories... The sororities just give the pins back nowadays...

At my campus the guys still sing to us to get their pins back. My chapter's already stolen atleast one pin from 4 of the 7 fraternities on campus so they have a lot of singing to do! I don't think we get to pick the songs but they do come in their boxers and get on one knee to sing. It's pretty funny!

[ealymc]

We were an odd pledge class... we looked forward to walking into a room of screaming girls. Go figure.