Stop the "Baby" Talk

[sigmagirl2000]

Originally Posted by KayDee29

A friend of mine is a Tri Sigma, and apparently at their school they call their new members "Baby Sailboats." I didn't realize a Sailboat could be a baby, but I chose not to point that out.

Perhaps they should just call them Sunfish or AquaFins?

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

Perhaps they should just call them Sunfish or AquaFins?

Oh, PLEASE don't call them dinghies!!

[ASTalumna06]

I just saw a pic online that has 2 girls (I won't say from which sorority) holding a poster that reads:

"No maybes.. ABC has the hottest babies!"

Does anyone else find this saying disturbing?

[KillarneyRose]

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

Perhaps they should just call them Sunfish or AquaFins?

Or maybe dingheys?

And DZ pledges can be hatchlings!

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by KillarneyRose

Or maybe dingheys?

And DZ pledges can be hatchlings!

Maybe my group can start calling alumnae "cougars"!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Not always true.

Alpha Sigma Alpha and Alpha Sigma Tau both have open mottoes that correspond to their Greek letters, so you can't say that pledges "don't know what they mean." Anyone looking at the banner below the crests would know what the letters mean. (Whether they mean MORE than that may or may not be another story.) There may be other groups that have open mottos too, but those are the two I thought of off the top of my head.

Very true, and I should have (1) remembered that, and (2) qualified my bafflement as relating only to those organizations where pledges do not know any meaning for the letters -- in other words, where the letters and the coat of arms are on equal footing in terms of pledges not knowing what they mean and in terms of that information not coming until initiation. That's what I was really getting at -- if pledges do not know either the meaning of the letters or the meaning of the coat of arms (or whatever other symbol), I'm a little baffled when some people say it's wrong, or even hazing, to tell them they can't wear one (letters) but accept telling them they can't wear the other (arms).

To be clear, absolutely any group can and should have whatever policy they think is appropriate, and no other GLO, campus or non-member should question or criticize that. What raises my eyebrows a little is when it's described as "hazing" not to let pledges/NMs wear letters. It raises my eyebrows both because I think it can imply that those groups who do things differently might be hazing, and because if it's hazing not to let pledges wear letters, why isn't it also hazing not to let them wear the coat of arms? There just seems to be a logical inconsistency there -- again, if the justification about not wearing the arms is that pledges don't know what they mean and if letters and arms are the same in terms of what pledges do or don't know about them.

To look at it in a purely practical sense, there is usually too much imagery on a crest to explain what it all means on bid day/whenever you pin in your pledges.

Sure, but on top of that, the explanation is often part of the initiation ritual that only initiated brothers/sisters know. It's always been my sense that's how it is for most groups.


Back on topic, I do feel the need to point out that my own fraternity did in the early days informally call new members (and new chapters) "kittens." It was all part of the pervasive cat symbolism reflected in my username.

[groovypq]

You know, it's funny, ZTA does not prevent NMs from wearing letters (they cannot wear the crest until initiated), but in my chapter it seems like NMs don't WANT to wear them til initiation. Maybe it's because they get so many as gifts then. :-)

[33girl]

Originally Posted by groovypq

You know, it's funny, ZTA does not prevent NMs from wearing letters (they cannot wear the crest until initiated), but in my chapter it seems like NMs don't WANT to wear them til initiation. Maybe it's because they get so many as gifts then. :-)

If it's a campus tradition, regardless of what your HQ or bylaws say, most people will follow along by what the rest of campus does.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I think the better question is: who has ever seen apparel with an NPC crest that wasn't fugly? Outside of D9 and D9-style line jackets, I don't know really think of the crest as an accessory.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I think the better question is: who has ever seen apparel with an NPC crest that wasn't fugly? Outside of D9 and D9-style line jackets, I don't know really think of the crest as an accessory.

*raises hand* I have! Some of the actives wear 1/4 zip sweatshirts or fleece with a very small coat of arms embroidered on the left side, and our letters embroidered on the back of the collar. Very subtle and classy. Not at all fugly. And a lot better than some of the tanks and tshirts that we see in photos here.

I've also seen a simple black cardigan with the coat of arms embroidered (again, small and tasteful). Maybe it's because Theta has black and gold so it isn't gaudy?

Point of info: for Theta, it is a complete coat of arms that you will always see. The eagle is the crest and is not to be separated from the rest.

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

Some of the actives wear 1/4 zip sweatshirts or fleece with a very small coat of arms embroidered on the left side, and our letters embroidered on the back of the collar.

Would love to share that look with my Collegians!

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by MaryPoppins

Would love to share that look with my Collegians!

I'll pm you! Although does it ever get cold enough there? It does here, at night/early morning in Jan/Feb.

[HQWest]

I have seen some nice T-shirts that have just the outline of the sorority crest either white or gold in relief on a dark blue or black. It was very striking.

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

I'll pm you! Although does it ever get cold enough there? It does here, at night/early morning in Jan/Feb.

It gets into the teens and snows here believe it or not! Worst of all, we get a damp cold, due to our native humidity, that seeps into your bones.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

*raises hand* I have! Some of the actives wear 1/4 zip sweatshirts or fleece with a very small coat of arms embroidered on the left side, and our letters embroidered on the back of the collar. Very subtle and classy. Not at all fugly. And a lot better than some of the tanks and tshirts that we see in photos here.

My sister has a similar sweatshirt - it's really cute! It's a light grey 1/4 zip with ZTA over the heart and the coat of arms on the back. The Gamma Phis on my campus had similar ones too.

Originally Posted by AzTheta

Point of info: for Theta, it is a complete coat of arms that you will always see. The eagle is the crest and is not to be separated from the rest.

I <3 you, and so does heraldry.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Not even big dangly ones? In color? I think that could be quite a look. Quite a look indeed.

No? Well, I was thinking more along the lines of pendants anyway.

I vote for the earrings...