One Person - Two Sororities

[SthrnZeta]

I guess I just find it hard to believe another Zeta chapter wouldn't want me as a member because I couldn't see myself feeling that way about a transfer to my chapter - all Zetas are my sisters. But you do make a valid point, sad but true though it may be. Drole also makes a good point that there's no rule saying a person couldn't join some other group with greek letters, rituals, etc. that's not NPC. We sometimes forget there are other groups out there since NPC is so big. I just would hope that if someone did that, they wouldn't forget about the first org they joined... It is afterall, a lifetime committment. Chi-O at my school had a longer pledge period as well, but I was told that it was because they wanted to make sure their NMs made grades, but that's another thread... I too fear that pledge periods will become too short and thus not allow for the proper contemplation about the commitment girls are about to make.

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by SthrnZeta

<snip>... I too fear that pledge periods will become too short and thus not allow for the proper contemplation about the commitment girls are about to make.

I fear they already have. I'm hearing on these boards that 6-8 weeks is the norm. IMHO, one semester is more appropriate.

[SthrnZeta]

I believe in ZTA , the NM coordinator for a particular chapter has a couple programs to choose from, anywhere from 7-9 weeks and I want to say mine was somewhere in the middle (Fall 01). It was enough time for me because I was pretty sure from the start but I agree that extension of the pledge period isn't a bad idea.

[ASUADPi]

Originally Posted by BadCat25

SthrnZeta - You might feel differently if you were to transfer to a college with a Zeta chapter only to be told they wanted nothing to do with you. It does happen, more than any of us would like to admit.

Happened to me. I was unable to affiliate with my chapter. Mainly because 4 girls I went to HS with (but hated in HS) didn't want me there and because I was from a struggling chapter so somehow I was going to "hurt" them. Totally lame reasons then and totally lame reasons now.

If I could have dropped out and rushed again, I probably would have.

I understand why the rules come about, but I also see the other side of the coin.

[SthrnZeta]

Originally Posted by ASUADPi

Happened to me. I was unable to affiliate with my chapter. Mainly because 4 girls I went to HS with (but hated in HS) didn't want me there and because I was from a struggling chapter so somehow I was going to "hurt" them. Totally lame reasons then and totally lame reasons now.

If I could have dropped out and rushed again, I probably would have.

I understand why the rules come about, but I also see the other side of the coin.

That just seems so sad to me. I remember had a transfer that wanted to affiliate with us and we all liked her well enough and invited her out to stuff but in the end I don't think she felt comfortable with us since we weren't her initiating chapter so she just stopped coming to stuff - not sure if she went alum or what... But I could truthfully say that any girl who came to me who was a Zeta anywhere else and wanted to be in my chapter I'd vote in - for the simple fact that she's a sister no matter what and there were some other sisters out there who wanted her in enough to initiate her so I should trust their judgment as sisters. But I'm only speaking for myself here... I'm sorry that happened to you and as sad as it is, I'm sure you're not the only one.

I can certainly see both sides of this argument but I firmly believe in one and one only when it comes to NPC. I can definitely see missing the sorority experience, hence me joining an alum group

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

Then what is the point of loyalty and vows? If you can just change sororities as is convenient for you, then do your vows really mean anything?

Since BadCat mentioned that society allows women to change husbands, the same question could be asked about divorce and remarriage. What about their vows and loyalty? I'm not trying to say BC is right, and that the NPC rule needs to be changed, but her comparison is valid. It's an unfortunate trend that people all too often enter into something, take the necessary vows, and then change their minds later. Doesn't make it right... but it certainly happens.

That's why there is a 6-8 week period where new members are able to decide if they are able to make the lifetime commitment of joining a sorority.

And here's where I say that 6-8 weeks for an 18 year-old seems like a lifetime. I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule, but I would think that most college freshmen don't fully grasp the gravity of "lifetime commitment". I sincerely doubt that, within 6-8 weeks, they'll be able to discern whether they're prepared to make a lifetime commitment to the organization. Sure, they all think they do... but it's easy to say that when you're dying to be initiated! The "lifetime" part of the commitment can only be made as time passes.

I'm kinda rambling along here without a point... sorry. It's Monday.

[FSUZeta]

you made perfect sense....even if it is monday.

i think that the pledge/new member period is too brief. zeta revealed a new new member program over the summer and whittled it down to about 5-6 weeks. i hope they ask all the collegiate vp-2's(new member coordinator) for input, since they experienced a different program as new members.

[puddintane]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

This does happen, but it is against NPC rules. If found out, the girl could have her membership terminated by both groups (depending on their policies).


This actually happened at my school awhile back (not going to post the actual sorority names). There was a girl who pledged XYZ at one school her freshman year. She spent 2 years there, served on Exec, and had a little sister. Her junior year, she decided to transfer to Kent because the journalism program was better here.

When she got here, she met members from ABC sorority (not at her old school). There were alot of girls from ABC in her major and she started hanging out with them alot. They liked her, so they invited her to a COB event. She got a bid, and became a new member of ABC. She never told them about XYZ at all.

Well, in that process, she completely cut out the XYZ's from her life. She stopped talking to her littles and removed all of the XYZ-related stuff rom her Facebook & MySpace, etc and replaced it with ABC.

Her XYZ little was the one who "outed" her. She was wondering why her Big had stopped talking to her since she switched schools. She went on MySpace and saw her page. Lo and behold, she was in ANOTHER sorority.

She notified ABC HQ, and her membership was terminated. She was also terminated from XYZ. This was a pretty big fuss when it was going on because Panhellenic found out about the whole situation in the middle of recruitment. This girl was pretty angry with the XYZs for getting her kicked out of ABC. The ABC's were mad because they felt lied to by her. She ended up transferring to a school out of state because she had no friends here after the whole thing went down.

MySpace...strikes again.

If she hadn't posted anything on either sorority...she would have got away with it.

I don't condone it, but that is probably what would have happened.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by puddintane

MySpace...strikes again.

If she hadn't posted anything on either sorority...she would have got away with it.

Most likely. Facebook & MySpace have made the world a LOT smaller.

[ZTAngel]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

you made perfect sense....even if it is monday.

i think that the pledge/new member period is too brief. zeta revealed a new new member program over the summer and whittled it down to about 5-6 weeks. i hope they ask all the collegiate vp-2's(new member coordinator) for input, since they experienced a different program as new members.

Ugh. I know my opinion is completely politically incorrect but I think the new member period should be way longer and that all pledges (yes, I said pledges) should be required to know the sorority history as well as chapter history before initiation. I think they should know the names of all the sisters and pledge sisters as well as where each is from along with their majors. The fraternities do that and I really feel as though the fraternities brothers have a much stronger bond to each other than I ever could have had with my sisters. I don't think hazing is ok but I don't see anything wrong with initiating the girls at the start of the next semester after they learn more about their sorority and sisters.

[SWTXBelle]

I still like the idea of having to make your grades before you are initiated - which requires a semester-long pledgeship.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by ZTAngel

Ugh. I know my opinion is completely politically incorrect but I think the new member period should be way longer and that all pledges (yes, I said pledges) should be required to know the sorority history as well as chapter history before initiation. I think they should know the names of all the sisters and pledge sisters as well as where each is from along with their majors. The fraternities do that and I really feel as though the fraternities brothers have a much stronger bond to each other than I ever could have had with my sisters. I don't think hazing is ok but I don't see anything wrong with initiating the girls at the start of the next semester after they learn more about their sorority and sisters.

agree with you sister!

[Cane94G8r97]

I was a charter member of a recolonization pledge class. My pledge period was oh about 9 months long... so, yes, I think 6 weeks is too short!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ZTAngel

Ugh. I know my opinion is completely politically incorrect but I think the new member period should be way longer and that all pledges (yes, I said pledges) should be required to know the sorority history as well as chapter history before initiation. I think they should know the names of all the sisters and pledge sisters as well as where each is from along with their majors. The fraternities do that and I really feel as though the fraternities brothers have a much stronger bond to each other than I ever could have had with my sisters. I don't think hazing is ok but I don't see anything wrong with initiating the girls at the start of the next semester after they learn more about their sorority and sisters.

Agree 100%. I know that with 200 person chapters that can be hard, but you should at least TRY. Some people make a habit of squeaking by with the bare minimum.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I still like the idea of having to make your grades before you are initiated - which requires a semester-long pledgeship.

Chi Omega still requires grades prior to initiation. We never changed & I think it's a very good thing.