That sounds pretty much like what our chapter did. Hazing: Destroying Young Lives (Indiana U. If you want to change up some of the traditions (like song or name) do that, but you don't need to disassociate yourself from your family line. Total is the allowable chapter size, including both new and initiated members, as determined by the Panhellenic Council. Ideally, rush is a time for potential new members and sisters to meet one another and see if they would be a good fit. Bringing you the latest on professional naming guides and more. These virtual methods allow both chapters and potential recruits to set their Round 1 decisions. A formal presentation of a new line to campus. Brother A term used by fraternity members to refer to one another. Visit the sororitys website to find a grad chapter in your area. . One Black member said that a sign saying "Token" was held up as she played for her sorority's Intramural softball team, and there have been many reported instances of blackface and racially inappropriate dress and actions [source: Skinner]. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: A sorority is a group or a society for girls studying at an higher educational institute. The women prayed, sang and wrote and recited poetry at their meetings [source: ADPi ]. Additionally, some houses may have names that reflect the local area or region where the house is located. March 5, 2023 12:30 am EDT. Kappa Delta: The name represents the sororitys founding principles of excellence, friendship, and leadership. Sororities are social organizations for women that are open to all individuals regardless of their race or ethnicity. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our I'm on the alpha class, and the rest of the alpha class founders chose names that mean something to them, or are science and engineering related, one is just random. Now get out there, and give your pledges some nicknames thatll really stick. A formal invitation to membership in a particular fraternity or sorority. Each sorority has its own traditions and practices, but in many cases, expect to spend a percentage of each day either with your line sisters, brushing up on your chapter history or doing other mandated rituals. However, the semester that youre on line might not be the best time to enroll in Organic Chemistry. Delta Pi Latte Another coffee-based reference, this one is for those who like their drinks strong and creamy. Alpha Chi Omega, for example, is one of the oldest sororities in existence and is well-known for its ethos of sisterhood and leadership. Members of black sororities often call each other soror instead of sister. The term used to refer to the particular campus or university a chapter is at. Here are some examples of sororities and their respective meanings: Its worth noting that this is just a small selection of sororities and their meanings, and each sorority has its own unique culture and values. Omega Omega Juice What better way to show your love of juice than combining two Omegas together? Phi Mu: The name represents the sororitys founding principles of love, honor, and truth. The umbrella organization for 26 women's fraternities. The idea that sorority life is just about being social frustrates many sorority members, whose national chapters and mission statements stress the importance of scholarship and service. Zeta Tau Alpha: The name represents the sororitys founding principles of love, loyalty, and friendship. Members participate in community service projects such as Adopt-A-School or Make A Difference Day to build their sense of camaraderie while making a difference in the lives of those around them. 2. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) Founded in 1908, AKA stands for service to all mankind and emphasizes leadership, scholarship, and social responsibility. Its a Time-Consuming ProcessThough it varies from organization to organization, you will be on line anywhere from one to three months (and chances are, you will eat, sleep and breathe your soon-to-be sorority that semester). All of this stuff is made up on the fly and can be adapted to suit the needs of the chapter and its members. Audible sounds used by members to acknowledge or gain the attention of other members. But the larger the Greek population and university, the more difficult that goal is. Take a look at some of the sororitys members and go from there. Abbreviations arent out of the question, either. The pledging process is somewhat different for traditionally black sororities. Sorority names and reputations are important for any university student, both current and prospective. A term used by fraternity members to refer to one another. In chapters that have just one little sis per member, you would have lots of small families. Sorority houses are often named after their respective organizations or have unique names that have special significance to the members of the sorority. Some of the most elite sororities that contribute to their respective colleges and universities are Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Delta Delta, Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Zeta and Alpha Phi. Might be hard for people to give you any further suggestions without knowing how your chapter currently names them. The specific line names used by each sorority can vary widely and are often unique to the individual chapter. Is there anything unique about the pledges personality? Alpha Delta Pi: The Greek letters represent the motto We Live for Each Other and symbolize the sororitys values of scholarship, leadership, service, and sisterhood. And there are a lot of them: national dues . Overall, selecting a unique and meaningful name for a sorority is an important task that calls for thoughtful consideration to ensure its success in the long-term. A member of your organization or another culturally based organization that was initiated at the same time you were. jpg:. Some sororities actually don't have houses and meet instead somewhere on campus or another facility. And yes, that includes your songs (and strolls). In addition to the historically African American fraternities and sororities, there are also many other sororities that are not part of the Divine Nine, but still have a strong presence on college and university campuses. If you have video suggestions please click on the link below to submit them! Before you take the Divine Nine plunge, read through our guide and make sure you know all there is you need to know. Others join because they simply like the colors. However, it seems that sorority hazing is getting more violent. Use our t-shirt maker to design your own. With the advice given here, you should be much better equipped to do so. ** My advice has helped many people approach NPHC organizations the right way. Alpha Gamma Delta: The name represents the sororitys founding principles of loving, leading, and lasting friendships. Alpha Phi: The name is derived from the Greek words alpha meaning first and phi meaning friendship, representing the sororitys values of sisterhood, scholarship, service, leadership, loyalty, and character development. When I pledged, we were given a swahili line name and I was given a swahili line name. But first, let's take a look at how these organizations of sisterhood came into being. Sororities like these now fall under the umbrella of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), a congress of 26 national and international sororities. Most groups record this time to the second. The first Greek organization for African American women did not come about until much later; Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded at Howard University in 1908 [source: Alpha Kappa Alpha]. A multicultural sorority encourages not a particular cultural interest, but actively recruits multiple cultures. Much like deciding which college to attend, deciding whether to rush is a personal decision. These sororities are well-known around the world. Is there some sort of theme for this years line? With more than 150 years of history behind it Sigma Kappa continues to inspire generations of young women to live up to their potential while helping those less fortunate than themselves. There are different reasons as to why she would want to branch off whether it's because her family is the largest in the house or the fact that maybe she and her big don't get along (yes, it DOES happen, I've seen it!). A member of a fraternity or sorority who has not been initiated. 3. Marking the transition with a special ceremony, which has been upheld for decades or even a century, is meant to have a powerful effect on the initiate, tying her to a tradition, the ideals of the founders and an idea of sisterhood. In this video, I will describe the process in which line names are created. A national organization composed of four sororities and five fraternities whose membership is historically African-American. So, you've made it through pledging, you've been initiated and you're finally a sorority woman. Know Your HistoryRemember how we mentioned that a significant portion of your time on line would be spent studying? A ritual ceremony that designates the start of a new member process. The most outgoing beautiful girl coming through recruitment will be placed at the bottom of the list if her grades are really bad. It sounds like everyone in her chapter basically fits into one of four "families" and she wants a smaller family unit. Most have a deep meaning to that organization or ritualistic symbol. I asked my friend if she knew anything about that, because she was greek, but she said she had no idea why they were named that way. This isn't the Mafia where you get your own family after you whack enough people & have enough territory. Fraternity and Sorority Definitions (Greek Dictionary). Study up! Here is a list of some well-known academic sororities: These organizations often focus on academic achievement, community service, leadership development, and friendship. Sororities are social organizations for women that are found on college and university campuses, similar to fraternities for men. Please enter the six letters or digits that appear in the image opposite. Your email address will not be published. These days, the recruitment process begins well in advance of the actual events. On college campuses, it tends to be a bigger problem in fraternities, but it certainly also happens in sororities. At other schools, a girl may choose to rush just the sororities she might like to join, based on reputation. Puns are always appreciated, such as Ice-Olated. Wearing a sorority's letters is considered an honor. Ever wondered we assign line numbers? You should probably keep it in line with the rest of your chapter- e.g. Its in all of their mission statements).