Guidelines for wearing your chapter name's letters

[Bee]

I'm looking for guidelines on use of chapter letters.

Like, if I'm a member of the Delta Zeta chapter of XYZ Sorority, are the chapter reference guidelines solely with the Sorority? Or is it totally acceptable to go around wearing the DZ letters?

I mean, NO! That can't possibly be OK. But I am searching for some official guideline somewhere. Where common sense does not, unfortunately, prevail.

This is happening and I'm trying to point out an error in judgment respectfully. Or, if I'm wrong here, I need to see it in writing somewhere.

Help?

[Titchou]

I've never heard of an NPC chapter wearing only the chapter letters. Yes, I've seen Gamma Gamma of Alpha Alpha but not just chapter letters.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Titchou

I've never heard of an NPC chapter wearing only the chapter letters. Yes, I've seen Gamma Gamma of Alpha Alpha but not just chapter letters.

This. The chapter letters typically accompany the sorority (or fraternity) name/letters in some way, so I don't think it's generally an issue?

[PersistentDST]

I would assume that may differ depending on the organization. Being in the NPHC, there’s obviously a lot of differences, so take my comment with a grain of salt if it doesn’t help you. But Greeks wearing just their chapter letters on a shirt happens pretty often in our council.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by PersistentDST

I would assume that may differ depending on the organization. Being in the NPHC, there’s obviously a lot of differences, so take my comment with a grain of salt if it doesn’t help you. But Greeks wearing just their chapter letters on a shirt happens pretty often in our council.

and that's exactly why I qualified it with NPC....

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Titchou

and that's exactly why I qualified it with NPC....

*You* did, but the OP didn't. It doesn't look like PersistentDST was replying to you.

[PersistentDST]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

*You* did, but the OP didn't. It doesn't look like PersistentDST was replying to you.

Precisely this. I saw the OP was in an NPC sorority, but she didn’t specify, so I just added my thoughts. I’m not clear why I received a negative response.

[Bee]

Originally Posted by PersistentDST

I would assume that may differ depending on the organization. Being in the NPHC, there’s obviously a lot of differences, so take my comment with a grain of salt if it doesn’t help you. But Greeks wearing just their chapter letters on a shirt happens pretty often in our council.

Can you share an example, or guidelines that make this acceptable?

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by Bee

Can you share an example, or guidelines that make this acceptable?

I am in an NPHC organization as well. As for guidelines, I don't know if they are public or where to locate them, but I know that they are not that specific to your situation.

HOWEVER,

As a practice, when I have seen chapters wearing chapter-specific paraphernalia, it is always in the colors of the organization and/or is branded in some specific way to that chapter and organization.

Example:

Nobody at Howard confuses a big pink and green chennille letter A for being anyone but the AKAs, specifically the Alpha Chapter.

If I were an NPC chapter, I'd make sure that chapter-centric nalia also included the word "chapter." And I'd hope against hope that this chapter wasn't doing it on purpose.

[PersistentDST]

Originally Posted by Bee

Can you share an example, or guidelines that make this acceptable?

As far as I know, there’s not any formal guidelines about chapter letters being used exclusively for my organization. It’s not rare for ‘nalia to feature chapter letters. One of my friends celebrated her 10 year anniversary with her line sisters and they wore black sweatshirts that had their chapter letters on the front in red and white with an elephant on the back with their line numbers.

I’ve seen items with chapter names/letters, founding years and even chartering years for specific chapters. All of these things can be a point of pride and pretty normal to see at events, so I honestly never thought twice about it.

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

I am in an NPHC organization as well. As for guidelines, I don't know if they are public or where to locate them, but I know that they are not that specific to your situation.

HOWEVER,

As a practice, when I have seen chapters wearing chapter-specific paraphernalia, it is always in the colors of the organization and/or is branded in some specific way to that chapter and organization.

Example:

Nobody at Howard confuses a big pink and green chennille letter A for being anyone but the AKAs, specifically the Alpha Chapter.

If I were an NPC chapter, I'd make sure that chapter-centric nalia also included the word "chapter." And I'd hope against hope that this chapter wasn't doing it on purpose.

All of this.

The colors really help on our end. Since the NPC can use different colors more liberally, emphasizing “chapter” may help to clear that up. I can definitely understand the confusion.

[Bee]

Thank you!! Much appreciated input.

Originally Posted by PersistentDST

As far as I know, there’s not any formal guidelines about chapter letters being used exclusively for my organization. It’s not rare for ‘nalia to feature chapter letters. One of my friends celebrated her 10 year anniversary with her line sisters and they wore black sweatshirts that had their chapter letters on the front in red and white with an elephant on the back with their line numbers.

I’ve seen items with chapter names/letters, founding years and even chartering years for specific chapters. All of these things can be a point of pride and pretty normal to see at events, so I honestly never thought twice about it.



All of this.

The colors really help on our end. Since the NPC can use different colors more liberally, emphasizing “chapter” may help to clear that up. I can definitely understand the confusion.

[Bee]

All logical and makes perfect sense to me.

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

I am in an NPHC organization as well. As for guidelines, I don't know if they are public or where to locate them, but I know that they are not that specific to your situation.

HOWEVER,

As a practice, when I have seen chapters wearing chapter-specific paraphernalia, it is always in the colors of the organization and/or is branded in some specific way to that chapter and organization.

Example:

Nobody at Howard confuses a big pink and green chennille letter A for being anyone but the AKAs, specifically the Alpha Chapter.

If I were an NPC chapter, I'd make sure that chapter-centric nalia also included the word "chapter." And I'd hope against hope that this chapter wasn't doing it on purpose.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by Bee

I'm looking for guidelines on use of chapter letters.

Like, if I'm a member of the Delta Zeta chapter of XYZ Sorority, are the chapter reference guidelines solely with the Sorority? Or is it totally acceptable to go around wearing the DZ letters?

I mean, NO! That can't possibly be OK. But I am searching for some official guideline somewhere. Where common sense does not, unfortunately, prevail.

This is happening and I'm trying to point out an error in judgment respectfully. Or, if I'm wrong here, I need to see it in writing somewhere.

Help?

Shall I assume the chapter letters in question are not attached to your initiation badge? Unless women are refusing to wear their initiation badges (the rampant Equity Revolt) and are choosing to wear chapter guards alone.

[Bee]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

Shall I assume the chapter letters in question are not attached to your initiation badge? Unless women are refusing to wear their initiation badges (the rampant Equity Revolt) and are choosing to wear chapter guards alone.

It's not related to an Equity Revolt. They just like their chapter letters I guess. I've just never seen this without also featuring the sorority itself. That the chapter letters happen to be identical to another national organization is what's leaving me floored.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Bee

It's not related to an Equity Revolt. They just like their chapter letters I guess. I've just never seen this without also featuring the sorority itself. That the chapter letters happen to be identical to another national organization is what's leaving me floored.

So... are they wearing, for example, stitched letter shirts with DZ plastered across the front and nothing else on it?

Do they know their chapter designation is the same as another NPC? Perhaps they're simply ignorant to this fact. You'd be surprised how many collegiate members of NPCs have no clue about national sororities that exist outside of their campus.