Read "Pledged" Yet?

meazie · #1 04-18-2004, 11:14 PM

Hello to my ADPi sisters! I'm new to your board and am feeling a bit bold so I started my own thread.

While browsing through Barnes & Noble recently, I came across a book called "Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities" by Alexandra Robbins. So, I took the bait and bought it. Ms. Robbins went behind the scenes at a Southern university and managed to get four girls to spill their guts. I was a bit disappointed with this aspect of her book. She claims to be a journalist, yet is not always fair or objective.

The most disturbing part of this book is the chapter on Rituals. She reveals the secret handshake, sign and ceremonies for several major sororities. Luckily, ADPi was only mentioned a few times in her book and no ritual was revealed.

Just curious if anyone else has picked up this latest attack on sororities and has any thoughts. Looking forward to chatting with other sisters!

Violets!
Meazie

PS - I attended the University of Northern Colorado, Delta Chi Chapter, which has since closed.

honeychile · #2 04-18-2004, 11:39 PM

Welcome to GreekChat, Meazie! When you get a minute, let us know a little about yourself on the threads above, and read the Forum Guidelines.

In the meantime, no, I haven't read the book. I had heard that it was a hatchet job, so I'll wait until it's at a library or at least at Half Price Books! There's a thread on the book, I think in the Greek Life Forum.

Anyone else read it yet?

ASUADPi · #3 04-19-2004, 01:11 AM

I am on the waiting list for the book at my local library. I am number 9 on the list and they have only 1 book. It seems odd that the library doesn't even have the book yet and there are already 8 other people waiting to read it. But just hypothesizing, I'm sure the other 8 are most likely Greek and wanting to find out exactly what this woman is saying.

I personally think it will most likely be trash, but I'm curious to what she has to say.

lyrica9 · #4 04-19-2004, 11:44 AM

i think it would be very beneficial for all active members of all npc groups to read it. i plan to read it and encourage my chapter to read it as well.

why? because i think there will be girls going through recruitment this coming fall that will have read it, and i think we should be able to field questions and concerns they have that are related to the book.

ASUADPi · #5 04-19-2004, 12:09 PM

that's a really good point about recruitment. Maybe that is something alot of chapters should do is read it, because I'm sure there will be girls out there who do read the book and pretty much expect 'that' when they are going through FR.

#6 04-20-2004, 12:21 AM

I went to Barnes and Noble today and read part of it, and was kind of shocked. I am going to go back tomorrow and buy it since I got my paycheck yesterday! It seemed kind of interesting, but I think it's going to make me mad.

honeychile · #7 04-20-2004, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lyrica9
i think it would be very beneficial for all active members of all npc groups to read it. i plan to read it and encourage my chapter to read it as well.

why? because i think there will be girls going through recruitment this coming fall that will have read it, and i think we should be able to field questions and concerns they have that are related to the book.

I agree with lyrica9. As they say, "Forewarned is forearmed," and you'll have a better idea what incoming PNMs are discussing if you've read the book.

On the other hand, I hate-hate-hate the idea of this author making one more cent out of anti-Greek sentiment than possible! I plan to take it out of the library, get it at Half Price Books, or, if all else fails, go to Borders a few times to read it. (I read fast!

)

Another idea might be if the chapter buys one copy, and everyone reads that.

lyrica9 · #8 04-20-2004, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by honeychile
I agree with lyrica9. As they say, "Forewarned is forearmed," and you'll have a better idea what incoming PNMs are discussing if you've read the book.

On the other hand, I hate-hate-hate the idea of this author making one more cent out of anti-Greek sentiment than possible! I plan to take it out of the library, get it at Half Price Books, or, if all else fails, go to Borders a few times to read it. (I read fast! )

Another idea might be if the chapter buys one copy, and everyone reads that.

i forgot to mention in this thread, but i mentioned it in the thread i started about this in rush, but honeychile, that's what i plan to do.

i'm going to buy the book and loan it to as many of my sisters as i can before FR, and maybe even to the sisters of a-phi, pi phi, kappa and zeta that will have houses with us in the very close quarters of sorority row come august.

honeychile · #9 04-20-2004, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lyrica9

i'm going to buy the book and loan it to as many of my sisters as i can before FR, and maybe even to the sisters of a-phi, pi phi, kappa and zeta that will have houses with us in the very close quarters of sorority row come august.

You just warmed the cockles of the Panhellenic part of my heart!! Y

As wonderful as Alpha Delta Pi is, it's wonderful to also think panhellenically!

lyrica9 · #10 04-20-2004, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by honeychile
You just warmed the cockles of the Panhellenic part of my heart!! Y

As wonderful as Alpha Delta Pi is, it's wonderful to also think panhellenically!

we have a very strong panhellenic sisterhood here, i think. and we're really going to have to strengthen that when we do move into sorority row, because we are constantly going to be around each other.
glad i could warm your panhellenic cockles!

adpi1030787 · #11 04-21-2004, 03:10 AM

This is a link one of my sisters from my chapter sent me. It tells a little about the book. It is distigushing that someone would actually participate in ritual, pretend to care and love it, and then not only reveal the ritual, but everything else that may or may not be true. Anyway here is the link:

Have you seen this article yet???? You can respond to the author via her e-mail address, robbins322@hotmail.com

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4751618/

TT love,
Brandi

honeychile · #12 04-21-2004, 12:46 PM

PLEASE remember that any correspondance should come from our EO!!!! You must realize that any response that this author gets will just be fodder for her next book!

adpiucf · #13 04-21-2004, 01:29 PM

Agreed! Please do not write to the author. You are going to be just one more voice in a long line of letters that she could publish!

Why not do something positive? Reward your chapters for the things you are doing right and then make a list of all the things your chapter does that could be considered a chapter risk. Then, talk to your PD. If you come to her, she will support you and help you eliminate those unhealthy traditions.

lilcatwngs · #14 04-21-2004, 03:11 PM

I just got this book today and plan on reading it and loaning it out as soon as I'm done!

ASUADPi · #15 04-21-2004, 07:45 PM

Okay, I couldn't the whole article because after her second answer I was sickened. Who knows how I'm going to read the damn book?

But what I don't get is she is claiming she went undercover to find out if the myths are true but then she completely disses all sororities. No offense to her, but hello dumb butt it's college. Some of the 'myths' of sororities are unfortunately facts of life. People have sex. That is a fact of life. People have eating disorders. Again, another fact of life. So somehow because these women are sorority girls we are to blame for this.

I swear to god, it makes me want to go undercover to show all GOOD THINGS that we do. Our philanthropic activities. Our GPA requirements.

I bet NOT ONE GOOD THING is mentioned about sororities in this book.

We have such a bad stigma anyways, it would be nice if someone actually STOOD UP FOR THE GREEKS!!!!!

GRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!

Sorry needed to vent.

Agree with me, disagree with me, just respect my opinion.