So you're thinking about joining a sorority or fraternity? That's great! But how do you know which one is right for you? By rushing and pledging! These are two of the madatory time periods one must go through to becoming a brother or sister. I will be talking about this subject as I know it for sororities, but I doubt there's a huge difference for fraternities.
When thinking of joining a sorority, one goes through a RUSH PERIOD. During this time the organization holds sisterhoods, philanthropies, and mixers with the members of local fraternities for you to come and see if that partiular sorority is a good fit for you. For the sororities around Ottawa (where I am from), the rush period tends to last 2-3 weeks. This is your time to bond with the sisters and see if this is something you truly want to pursue.
If the sisters of the sorority believe you would make a good sister and mesh with the organization well, you will be invited to become a PLEDGE. This means you will have tasks to do to show your dedication and how much you want to become a sister, while also learning the history of the sorority. This time period tends to last a few weeks and can be a very emotional time for the pledges. During this time, you may be asked to not continue on as a pledge, or you may decide to step down yourself for whatever reasons. In the end, there is an INITIATION that happens with the pledges who make it this far. Most sororities (and fraternities) have many personal traditions that are top secret for initiation, and should never be shared! It can jeopardize the chance of becoming a sister. At the end, if you make it through initiation, you will officially become a sister!
These times are ones that you will remember for the rest of your life and treasure forever. It's also important to go through all of this to become closer to your pledge class as well as the active sisters of the sorority. Like I said, most of this is similar for fraternities, from what I have heard anyway. And there is no better thrill than being pinned and told you are officially one of the newest members of such an amazing organization that a sorority is...
So if you want to find sisterhood, new friends, amazing experiences, or just something new, rushing a sorority or fraternity may be the thing to do! Trust me, I'm the shy type until I get to know people, and it was the best decision I ever made and it's now one of the most important things in my life. :)
xo.Jay
Ever wonder exactly what the Greek community is like? It's definitely different from the movies and television shows... and in Canada, it's even slightly different than other countries!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Fraternities and Sororities
So one of the first things that should be covered is definitely what are sororities and fraternities anyway?
Sororities and fraternities are social organizations for undergraduate students that exist at many colleges and universities. They are sometimes also known as "Greek letter organizations" or "soros and frats." They tend to be single-sexed organizations in most cases, with sororities for women and fraternities for men.
Structure. Each sorority and fraternity only has one national organization with the one name, but many have different chapters at different schools. For example, Phi Sigma Sigma was born in New York but now has 107 chapters across the United States and Canada. Other than international organizations, there are also such things as national (just one country) and local (just one location) sororities and fraternities. I am a part of a local sororitiy, only centering in Ottawa, Canada.
Members. When one wants to join a sorority or fraternity, they participate in the rush period, and are then invited by the sorority or fraternity itself to become a member. Each person can only be loyal to one sorority or fraternity. I'll talk more about rushing and such at another time. Once you are a member of a sorority or fraternity, you are a lifetime member. It is an honour you keep with you, even after graduation. Some members of the sorority or fraternity are elected by their sisters or brothers into positions that they hold within the organization. Some of the positions are more work than others, but they all tend to be equally as important.
Houses. Some sororities and fraternities have a house to call their own, usually on or close by the school campus. Sometimes the houses will have the Greek letters on the front of it. Some members tend to live in the house, while a majority tend not to, but visit the house often. Many events, such as mixers and brotherhoods or sisterhoods, tend to be held at these houses.
There's a lot more to be said about each of these things, but it definitely changes depending on where you are and what organization you're talking about! I'll be back to teach more soon.
xo.Jay
Sororities and fraternities are social organizations for undergraduate students that exist at many colleges and universities. They are sometimes also known as "Greek letter organizations" or "soros and frats." They tend to be single-sexed organizations in most cases, with sororities for women and fraternities for men.
{ The Greek alphabet which the organization names are based from }
Structure. Each sorority and fraternity only has one national organization with the one name, but many have different chapters at different schools. For example, Phi Sigma Sigma was born in New York but now has 107 chapters across the United States and Canada. Other than international organizations, there are also such things as national (just one country) and local (just one location) sororities and fraternities. I am a part of a local sororitiy, only centering in Ottawa, Canada.
Members. When one wants to join a sorority or fraternity, they participate in the rush period, and are then invited by the sorority or fraternity itself to become a member. Each person can only be loyal to one sorority or fraternity. I'll talk more about rushing and such at another time. Once you are a member of a sorority or fraternity, you are a lifetime member. It is an honour you keep with you, even after graduation. Some members of the sorority or fraternity are elected by their sisters or brothers into positions that they hold within the organization. Some of the positions are more work than others, but they all tend to be equally as important.
Houses. Some sororities and fraternities have a house to call their own, usually on or close by the school campus. Sometimes the houses will have the Greek letters on the front of it. Some members tend to live in the house, while a majority tend not to, but visit the house often. Many events, such as mixers and brotherhoods or sisterhoods, tend to be held at these houses.
There's a lot more to be said about each of these things, but it definitely changes depending on where you are and what organization you're talking about! I'll be back to teach more soon.
xo.Jay
Monday, June 21, 2010
The First Installment!
Hello blogging world!
I am going to just do my first post explaining what this blog will be used for and how I am linked to the Greek community.
Obviously, when you go to college or university you're there to earn grades that promise you a good future. But like in high school, it tends to be the friends and extra curricular activities that make it that much more of a special time. Greek organizations provide an excellent environment to hone leadership skills, personal development goals, and time management planning. Furthermore, Greek life has been a tradition on Canadian campuses. Many famous faces and celebrities and been a part of the lifelong experience that is joining a sorority or fraternity!
This blog will point out what's fact and what's fake with the stereotype that has shadowed the Greek community for so long, from what sororities and fraternities are to what occurs during rush, mixers, philanthropies, etc.
Now why am I even slightly knowledgeable enough to tell you about these things?
I am a sister of Xi Delta Theta Sorority, Alpha Iota class, located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Xi Delta Theta is a local sorority that consists of girls from Carleton University, University of Ottawa, and Algonquin College. I have gone through the rushing, pledging, and pinning periods and have experienced the Greek life. Even though I've been in the sorority a short time, I know what the Greek community is and how amazing it can make your life.
So come along with me and ask me anything you want to know about being Greek!
xo.Jay
I am going to just do my first post explaining what this blog will be used for and how I am linked to the Greek community.
Obviously, when you go to college or university you're there to earn grades that promise you a good future. But like in high school, it tends to be the friends and extra curricular activities that make it that much more of a special time. Greek organizations provide an excellent environment to hone leadership skills, personal development goals, and time management planning. Furthermore, Greek life has been a tradition on Canadian campuses. Many famous faces and celebrities and been a part of the lifelong experience that is joining a sorority or fraternity!
This blog will point out what's fact and what's fake with the stereotype that has shadowed the Greek community for so long, from what sororities and fraternities are to what occurs during rush, mixers, philanthropies, etc.
{Xi Delta Theta Sorority Winter 2010}
Now why am I even slightly knowledgeable enough to tell you about these things?
I am a sister of Xi Delta Theta Sorority, Alpha Iota class, located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Xi Delta Theta is a local sorority that consists of girls from Carleton University, University of Ottawa, and Algonquin College. I have gone through the rushing, pledging, and pinning periods and have experienced the Greek life. Even though I've been in the sorority a short time, I know what the Greek community is and how amazing it can make your life.
{ My Big, Lydia (left), and I}
So come along with me and ask me anything you want to know about being Greek!
xo.Jay
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