Highschool Sororities....

[rhoyaltempest]

I think it's different if you are under the advisement of a national sorority or fraternity and DO NOT consider yourself in a sorority or fraternity. We have the Rhoer Club and Rhoers know that they are not in a sorority, but rather in a sisterly club for high school girls. They step, do community service, go to conferences, etc. but must keep their grades up to continue to participate.

IMO, sorority/fraternity membership should be reserved for college students. High school groups should not try to mimic national organizations. This also takes away from the prestige of pursuing a sorority or fraternity at the college level and can make high schoolers misinformed and unappreciative of the "real" experience and lifetime commitment that college organizations require. Scholarship should be their main focus anyway, not trying to be in a sorority or fraternity.

[LatinaAlumna]

Originally Posted by ms_gwyn

OTW

I was always under the impression that Le Aikanes meant Friends...I would ask my sister but we don't talk...we haven't for over 10 years....

The groups were founded in the 50/60s..Cheryl Tiegs was a member of Na Al'ii, my thinking is when there were founded based on Polynesian pop culture that was popular during the time, I know this sounds bad, as a Greek and all, but it has been almost 20 years, since I was out of High School, my memory is very faulty during that time period. A lot of the groups that were on campus when I was there are gone and a few new ones have formed....Most were of Hawaiian themed, except for Les Petites Amies which is French and stands for The Little Friends.

Ms_Gwyn, you are from Alhambra? One of my sorority sisters went to HS in Alhambra, and was a member of one of these groups (although I can't remember the name). I do remember her saying there was a group for boys called "Le Frat". This was back in the early 90s.

[sororitygirl93]

I went to HS in Indianapolis in the 90's. There were several HS sororities in the area that had been around since my mom's HS days or longer. One was called "Euvola", and another called "Sub Deb." My HS administration HATED it. They both hazed a ton. I remember everyone talking the day that they had to wear horrid ugly clothes with no makeup - it was an annual event.

[AnchorAlumna]

My high school had 3 sororities when I was there...of course my parents weren't country club members so I wasn't invited to any of them! My daughter later became a member of 1 of them. By then 1 was gone, only 2 left. There was a fraternity when I was in school, but most of the members were in Key Club and it actually functioned as a fraternity. Now boys AND girls belong to Key Club. Back in the day, if you got IN a sorority you certainly never quit...when daughter was a member, seniors became alums after the winter formal...but there were usually just a handful of seniors, most had quit by then.
And...
There was a high school sorority named Delta Gamma, with several chapters. Apparently it came along AFTER Delta Gamma (the NPC group) was founded. Occasionally their yearbooks or composites crop up on eBay.

[justabeachbrat]

My high school didn't have sororities, but did have girls clubs that ruled the school. Oddly, they were run by Y. There were several of these clubs, and each group had a sweater, a section of the lunch area carved out that one did not cross unless being a member, and a pecking order, from the best to the not-so-hot groups. There was a form of rush, with membership gained only by being voted in and what would be considered hazing. I was a "legacy" of a group my older sister was in before she graduated. Being in my "blimp" stage at the time, I was told by the members that this was the only reason I was allowed to join. I quit, leaving the dear girls.
After high school, I went to junior college, then tranferred to the nearby state college which had an active Greek system. Once on campus, it felt as if my high school had followed me there. Girls from those "in" high school clubs were ruling the top houses, and I avoided those houses, it was too weird.
The high school seemed to have no control over these groups. My mother, who can be a crusader, was very upset about the hold the clubs had on the high school and tried through the board of education to get them tossed off campus. This was in my sister's freshman year. My sister had her back off when word went around school that my sister would be a social outcast if my mother continued to rock the boat. Much to my mother's dismay, my sister joined a club the following year. It was basically understood that if you wanted to date the cute guys--jocks, student leaders, etc., you gained membership into one of these clubs, and the hotter the girls, the better.
I have no idea if the school still allows the clubs, I hope not.

[ZTA72]

I'm from the suburban Nashville area and years ago, hahaha, when I went to high school there were numerous sororities and fraternities. We went to rush parties and if memory serves, we got our invites in the mail...I still have mine.
We did " community service" had car washes, meetings, and formals at the area country clubs.
It was a good experience for me and almost every girl who really wanted a bid received one.
I do know that at least one of the groups is still around today.
ZTA72

[ealymc]

Delta Beta Sigma, I think, is one of the h.s. sororities at Conway High School

[barnard1897]

Long post, but for those who are interested--

During HS, I belonged to Delta Beta Sigma in my city (deep south). The chapter had primarily members from my public high school but also a few girls from neighboring, wealthy private schools. It was very similar to an NPC group in many ways and I wouldn't be at all shocked if it was a feeder into some of the NPC groups at schools like Ole Miss, LSU, and such, because we really did a lot of the same kinds of activities and most of the women who pledged DBS went on to pledge sororities in college. It was not associated with the HS officially--just a lot of us happened to be members. I think we were asked to wear our pledge pins at school.

Our colors were black and gold. There was a crest, pledge pin, and badge. There was a rush period, held over the course of a few days at different members' homes, with themes, nametags, and refreshments. Bids were extended--it was so exciting because they came to your house, rang the doorbell, and when the door opened, 25-50 screaming girls--the cutest and most popular ones-- chanted, sang, and then asked you to join, followed by lots more screams and hugs when you (of course) accepted. It was very thrilling to be extended a bid, much like the feeling you have on bid day in college.

We had a manual to study, pledge meetings, and we had tests, just like the mem ed tests we took for my NPC sorority. There was ritual for pledging if I recall, and definitely an initiation ceremony, which was a mixture of some silly stuff like blindfolds, but also some typical sorority ritual aspects. I can't recall if there was an official philanthropy. The sorority had a long history dating back to the 1800s and there were founders and all the usual stuff you have to memorize. We had to write from memory the creed of the sorority for one exam. We were on watch by actives all the time during our pledge term, and they could issue demerits for behavior unbecoming a DBS member, if we were caught without the pledge pin, or if we could not recite facts about the sorority when asked.

We had a big sister program. There was a very exciting reveal for that, I clearly recall. I had a really popular, pretty senior as my big sis, and I just thought she was fabulous. She's off in Hollywood now!

DBS had a national HQ, even, somewhere in the deep south. I know for certain there were other chapters. One girl had actually affiliated with our chapter from one in another city when she moved into our town. They had national conventions, just like NPC groups do, though not on the same scale!

The women in my chapter were no different from the ones in college sororities. Some nice, some mature, some not. There were cliques within, and of course, some of the usual cattiness and power plays that pervade houses at the college level. Yet, I also met some very nice girls with whom I became close friends, and one of them is still my friend some 20+ years later.

I do not think such a system could have lasted into the 90s in non southern locales--it is amazing to hear it's still around. It was quite firmly rooted in the kind of Southern tradition that just would not have survived in northern cities. We had fun times, for the most part. My mom and dad, total non Greeks, thought the whole thing was frivolous and a waste of money (oh yeah-we paid national dues too). But I bet now, seeing what a loyal alum I am for my college sorority, they would think differently.

If nothing else, this experience was great training for recruitment and pledging once I got to college. I was prepared for rushing. I knew what to expect during the pledge program and didn't complain when we had to memorize all those historical facts about founders, etc. I understood what it meant to have chapter meetings and parliamentary procedure, elections, etc. I didn't know many of the girls when I joined, and so it was while before I learned to be confident around the older ones. I'm really glad I belonged because it gave me some perspective going into the collegiate greek system.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by barnard1897

Long post, but for those who are interested--

During HS, I belonged to Delta Beta Sigma in my city (deep south). The chapter had primarily members from my public high school but also a few girls from neighboring, wealthy private schools. It was very similar to an NPC group in many ways and I wouldn't be at all shocked if it was a feeder into some of the NPC groups at schools like Ole Miss, LSU, and such, because we really did a lot of the same kinds of activities and most of the women who pledged DBS went on to pledge sororities in college. It was not associated with the HS officially--just a lot of us happened to be members. I think we were asked to wear our pledge pins at school.

Our colors were black and gold. There was a crest, pledge pin, and badge. There was a rush period, held over the course of a few days at different members' homes, with themes, nametags, and refreshments. Bids were extended--it was so exciting because they came to your house, rang the doorbell, and when the door opened, 25-50 screaming girls--the cutest and most popular ones-- chanted, sang, and then asked you to join, followed by lots more screams and hugs when you (of course) accepted. It was very thrilling to be extended a bid, much like the feeling you have on bid day in college.

We had a manual to study, pledge meetings, and we had tests, just like the mem ed tests we took for my NPC sorority. There was ritual for pledging if I recall, and definitely an initiation ceremony, which was a mixture of some silly stuff like blindfolds, but also some typical sorority ritual aspects. I can't recall if there was an official philanthropy. The sorority had a long history dating back to the 1800s and there were founders and all the usual stuff you have to memorize. We had to write from memory the creed of the sorority for one exam. We were on watch by actives all the time during our pledge term, and they could issue demerits for behavior unbecoming a DBS member, if we were caught without the pledge pin, or if we could not recite facts about the sorority when asked.

We had a big sister program. There was a very exciting reveal for that, I clearly recall. I had a really popular, pretty senior as my big sis, and I just thought she was fabulous. She's off in Hollywood now!

DBS had a national HQ, even, somewhere in the deep south. I know for certain there were other chapters. One girl had actually affiliated with our chapter from one in another city when she moved into our town. They had national conventions, just like NPC groups do, though not on the same scale!

The women in my chapter were no different from the ones in college sororities. Some nice, some mature, some not. There were cliques within, and of course, some of the usual cattiness and power plays that pervade houses at the college level. Yet, I also met some very nice girls with whom I became close friends, and one of them is still my friend some 20+ years later.

I do not think such a system could have lasted into the 90s in non southern locales--it is amazing to hear it's still around. It was quite firmly rooted in the kind of Southern tradition that just would not have survived in northern cities. We had fun times, for the most part. My mom and dad, total non Greeks, thought the whole thing was frivolous and a waste of money (oh yeah-we paid national dues too). But I bet now, seeing what a loyal alum I am for my college sorority, they would think differently.

If nothing else, this experience was great training for recruitment and pledging once I got to college. I was prepared for rushing. I knew what to expect during the pledge program and didn't complain when we had to memorize all those historical facts about founders, etc. I understood what it meant to have chapter meetings and parliamentary procedure, elections, etc. I didn't know many of the girls when I joined, and so it was while before I learned to be confident around the older ones. I'm really glad I belonged because it gave me some perspective going into the collegiate greek system.

Hi Sister...I think this is really interesting! There was no hazing involved? You here so much about these HS groups being cruel to their pledges, but then again, I know not to believe everything I hear on TV!

[Bamamom13]

I was in a sorority in HS. I would have to get out the old, old, yearbook to even remember the name. We did some stupid hazing stuff: dropping pledges off in a graveyard and making them walk back to the sister's house where we were, blindfolding them and putting bananas in the toilet and making them reach in and grab one, really stupid stuff. I think it was fazed out after I graduated. But what was wonderful was that one of my 'big' sisters in HS ended up being my Big Sis in college.

[barnard1897]

Hi AOII Angel!! Roses to you!

The hazing in my DBS chapter was nominal. We were never asked to wear anything to school or forced to do anything we did not want to do in public. The worst I recall was that we had to memorize a lot of the sorority history and could be quizzed on the spot for it--we would be issued a "black mark" for not knowing something, and if you had too many black marks, you were not initiated. On the other hand, gold marks were also handed out for doing positive things. No one ever tried to humiliate us.

I think if there was anything negative, it was the typical thing where some girls were not invited to join. And that was very hard, especially because one of my very good friends went to first round and was not extended a bid later. She lived in the same neighborhood and belonged to the same tennis club and church as many of the chapter members. It was a terrible feeling for her and her mother (this was the deep south) that they didn't accept her. Truth-some of the girls in the chapter were just stuck up and didn't like her. Ultimately, I had to decide how much involvement I wanted in a chapter that excluded someone I cared about so much, so, I became less and less a part of it. I remained friends with some of them, but I owed my allegiance to her because she had been my friend through everything, long before the sorority. It was the right decision, as we are still great friends today.

Like any club, it was a learning experience. A bonus of it was that I already knew the greek alphabet by the time I pledged in college!

[hannahleigh<3]

im in a high school sororiy and like one of the posts above we dont do that much we have fundraiseres and meetings, and we get tshirts but otherwise not that much. its pretty much just like a big clique but as was mentioned there is tons of hazing for example we couldnt was our hair for a week we could shave at all we had to wear tacky clothes everyday for a week and the poored things (old milk, rotten eggs, cat litter, sardeens, etc) and it got worse every night. they ended up criscoing our hair twice, and we still couldnt wash it. we had to do really embarising things called "air raids" in the middle of hallways. im still not sure it was worth it but i like the idea of having "sisters"

[TNPhiMu]

Originally Posted by MTSUGURL

There are two highschools sororities here that I know of - Delta Beta Sigma and Alpha Delta Kappa. The ADKs used to make their pledges walk around in these gingham aprons and bows... I had heard that they tended to become AOIIs. We didn't have sororities at my highschool, but there was a fraternity - I don't remember what they were called.

I actually know people that were in both of these orgs! One of my Phi Mu sisters was a DBS in Forrest City, Arkansas. And my mom(who is a ZTA) was a Alpha Delta Kappa in Ripley, TN in the 70's.

I also know of one other one, in the Nashville area. I know that Brentwood HS has "BGC" (Brentwood Girls Cotillion). They have rush and formals and the like but I think are viewed as a service organization. The girl I know who was in it is a Phi Mu at UTK now.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by hannahleigh<3

im in a high school sororiy and like one of the posts above we dont do that much we have fundraiseres and meetings, and we get tshirts but otherwise not that much. its pretty much just like a big clique but as was mentioned there is tons of hazing for example we couldnt was our hair for a week we could shave at all we had to wear tacky clothes everyday for a week and the poored things (old milk, rotten eggs, cat litter, sardeens, etc) and it got worse every night. they ended up criscoing our hair twice, and we still couldnt wash it. we had to do really embarising things called "air raids" in the middle of hallways. im still not sure it was worth it but i like the idea of having "sisters"

People who do that kind of crap to you aren't sisters.

[lillylover3]

Originally Posted by ms_gwyn

WOW

This sounds like my High School and the Tri-Hi-Y clubs my sister was a founding member of Le Aikanes and I was a member of Lanakila. They were not sororities but sorority-like.

Gwyn

ahh! i loved tri hi y- i was VP my jr and sr year of highschool. and i was in leaders club[the "elite" of tri hi y-ha such a joke]. my mom was in hi-y[the girls] back in the day and they would do things with tri hi y[the boys]. but if you were asked to be in leaders, there was "hazing" as in: come get you from the football game and blindfold you and do things to spook you but nothing involving crisco or not shaving.....

nowadays, leaders isn't as exclusive but more intense than tri-hi-y[it combined in the 80's] but it's all run by the YMCA so it would never get out of hand to begin with.

but on another note, i think mobile is the last in AL to really have a strong sorority/fraternity system. in birmingham and montgomery they just have dances[montg: the assembly, camellia ball-girls, the squires-boys, MCC, cotillion] which were pretty much feeders into the debutante balls for college!!