When you go to college, you’re faced with rigorous academics and making new friends. Although at the end of our investigation nationals determined that we were not in fact hazing, they completely dismantled our leadership system and replaced everyone with the newest class of pledges. My pledge class wasn't hazed because my house got in trouble for hazing a few years prior, and I'm so glad we didn't. I mean, yeah, we were quizzed about founders, expected to remember important dates, and encouraged to know the names of older girls, but it was a heck of a lot more interesting than history class. None of those are reasons to pledge; they're things you'll end up learning elsewhere in college anyway. Gather alumni and current members for rush week with a sign up. Obviously the sorority you drop won't take you back, you may be less desireable as a sophomore, and the better sorority may really not want you. It was way weirder when I was the one doing the hazing for the first time. It varied—sometimes it was a quick bonding activity after class, other times it was something that lasted until the wee hours. Categories: News Amid allegations that sorority members belittled pledges and locked them in a basement in 2010, Union College has put a halt to Sigma Delta Tau pledging. I'm in charge of this semesters Sisterhood event. 100 icebreaker questions for college students. Two young freshman at Medgar Evers College were pledging Gamma Beta Delta, excited to join a sorority that seemed impressive form the outside, when things went bad. It wasn't my first-choice sorority, and had a reputation for crazy partying, drugs, eating disorders—everything I wasn't looking for, but I decided to go through with pledging anyway. SignUpGenius makes college organizing easy. Read on for seven real girls' pledging tales, and share your own in the comments. Pledging Activities. Photograph by Ryan Foerster; courtesy of Ribordy Contemporary, Sign up for our weekly email that shares the ONE story you need each week to stay informed, 9 Super Helpful Things to Know When You're Going Through Rush. I'm a little bit of a baby and have a low tolerance for mean girls, but my experience couldn't have been better. A sexploitation gem by Bob Cresse and R. L. Frost. Shawntee Caton and Gabby Jones, the two pledges, were blindfolded and taken to a dark basement where they spent 10 hours being asked personal questions about sex acts and sexuality, and then continued to get verbally … By encouraging pledges to do rigorous work, they help them build strong relationships. awesome girls by spending time together, not getting our fat circled together. While that was physically disgusting, a lot of the hazing was psychological. Pledging A Sorority 101: What You Need to Know. It’s a great time to start doing activities that collaborate the sisterhood. New members spend a lot of time learning about the different aspects of their sorority. Seemingly overnight, my small sorority had gained four new, very prominent members: 'elder sisters' sent by nationals to observe the goings-on of our chapter. 25 Things to Consider When Choosing a College, 20 Tips and Ideas to Start a College Club. There are sisters who wish our process was like the 'old days,' tequila chugging and all, but I'm certainly not one of them.". Back to article image view << Previous issue Our worst night involved crazy tasks, quizzing, and food being thrown at us. Only three pledges signed up for the following semester.". Hazing doesn't work.". Most importantly, the bonds I made are pretty unmatched.". ©2021 SignUpGenius, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Don't let shows like Sorority Life … 7 k Additionally, suspension and/or expulsion may result if it is discovered that an individual participated in pledging activities once a … "My sorority pledging lasted about two and a half months, and we had events several nights a week. Saved by Kat Faunce. The process started out easy: weekly meetings, interviews with each sister in the chapter, study hours for the entire pledge class. Engagement Party Games Engagement Humor Pool Party Games Kitty … Ad Choices, What It's Like to Pledge a Sorority, From Hazing to Hell Week. This learning process often takes place in a classroom setting. Pledging Flawless Sorority Becoming a pledge is the first step ... As you grow with Flawless Sorority you will be promoted to various ranks and positions. Pledging is not a part of the membership process, and anyone who knowingly and willingly participates in pledging activities may be forbidden membership with the Sorority. Maybe they’ll tell stories of the experiences they share from these activities when they are seniors and inspire more new members! When you're huddled outside of an upperclassman's house together in line waiting for a pledge event—sometimes at 3 a.m. in the dead of winter—you're forced to bond. Recruit bid day volunteers with a sign up. Article by Her Campus. got exceptionally aggressive. Hey all! Requirements to Pledging involves a commitment of your time and money as well as lots of energy. Joining a fraternity or sorority can help. Pledging practices such as raids, treasure hunts and scavenger are prohibited. Ask members to contribute different rush week items with a sign up. Gather alumni and current members for rush week with a sign up. Pledging a sorority involves different activities and meetings, many of which are mandatory. Want to stay in the loop? One of the primary activities of most pledging involves learning every last thing there is to know about your sorority. "I was extremely intimidated by most of the girls in my pledge class, as well as the older girls in the house. Pledging. About four weeks in, my pledge sisters and I were ambushed during our weekly library time, blindfolded, put into cars, and led into a basement. View an Example. Related: 9 Super Helpful Things to Know When You're Going Through Rush. There’s nothing like breaking the ice or awkwardness in the air at the beginning of a spring semester. Who knows? It was basically a free pass to be really, really mean, and it was definitely of no benefit to the pledges. Go to page containing this article. I could totally see how it gets out of hand—some girls (and not the ones you'd think!) During initiation, the newest pledge class will be welcomed into the sorority as full members. De-pledging and re-pledging is a tricky situation. "I went to a giant university where I didn't know a soul, and I saw joining a sorority as a way to meet people who were like me—girls who wanted to get good grades and not fail out the first semester, but also have a little fun too, because: college! Needless to say, our sorority did not carry the same social clout anymore. Projected Assets for Alpha Chapter 2020. There's no hard and fast answer, since experiences vary greatly depending on house and school and tons of other factors. Recruit bid day volunteers with a sign up. We had to dress up each day, and when we were not in class, we were required to be in the library. My pledging experience wasn't that great, so I need to spice it up for the new girls. During rush I attended an info session where all the sisters promised there would be absolutely no hazing; I was offered a bid and decided to pledge. Sorority Pledging? Participation in the traditions, collaborative activities, and organizational structure of your Greek organization can create valuable opportunities to contribute, coordinate and lead, which are all valuable skills for eventual participation in the workforce. You can contact the Office of Student Activities with any questions at osa@ncat.edu or via phone at 336-285-4930. This ensures a close bond between the next generation of fraternity brothers, maintaining continuity for the fraternity. A sorority girl by the name of Joanne pledging at Penn State Altoona ended up coming forward to the news in 2008 because of a hazing ritual that involved the pledge ... around 10 hours — being endlessly drilled with intimate questions about their personal lives and R-rated activities … And yes, I was hazed. I am looking for some sorority pledging activity ideas. Given who was in my pledge class, I think actual hazing would have seriously messed some of us up. And while not all of them were hazed, these girls (and the ones who came before them and so on) all underwent a pledging process in order to become full-fledged sisters. Have each new member pair with another new member and get to know him/her over lunch, etc. Welcome your new members with exciting games and activities to help them settle in with their new sorority family. You can try to find out from the "better" sorority if you were close. I tried not to take the whole thing too seriously, but several of my pledge sisters found the process really upsetting and broke down frequently.". "My sorority got put on probation a couple of years before I started school because girls went to the hospital for alcohol poisoning during a pledge event. Fraternity and sorority pledging activities must follow these additional limitations: The length of pledging shall be limited to six weeks according to a calendar set by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. This means that for most collegiettes, pledging ends up being a huge time commitment. Fraternities and sororities, or Greek letter organizations (GLOs), also collectively referred to as "Greek life", are social organizations at colleges and universities.A form of the social fraternity, they are prominent in the United States and Canada.Similar organizations exist in other countries as well, including the Studentenverbindungen of German-speaking countries or the Goliardia in Italy. There are numerous undergraduate leaders, alumni, fraternity/sorority inter/national headquarters staff, University administrators and chapter advisors who are more than willing to share their insights and experiences. I am in a small sorority of about 20 girls. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. However, I will say definitively that the hazing actually made me feel a lot more comfortable with my pledge class and broke down barriers. Pledging begins once you accept a sorority's bid for membership. Make it a fun night in with your sorority sisters and these 4 games The semester has just commenced. So I was thinking of joining a sorority but my friend TOTALLY scared me when she talked about the pledges. The semester spent pledging the sorority was fun and inspiring and exactly what joining a sorority should be—bonding with a house full of (mostly...!) We were never allowed to be without a pledge sister the entire time. © 2021 Condé Nast. There are a lot of fun activities, some special rituals and it is, overall, a great experience. Celine Ives is a college student who enjoys playing field hockey, cuddling with her dog and cheering on her Carolina Tar Heels. Teen Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Other Greek organizations didn't want to associate with us, and the pledge who became president went on a power trip that made our sisterhood the biggest joke on campus. Team Buildings & Bonding Activities For a Sisterhood Event. While the process of recruitment can be a little stressful, show off how fun your sorority can be with activities where girls can let loose and have a blast with the rest of their pledge class. mean girls! There’s no way that they won’t fall in love with the sorority after taking part in these ideas! "During the second semester of my sophomore year, my sorority was investigated for claims of hazing. With that said, take a look at these ideas to complete before initiation to help the new member period close out on a positive note. "The Greek system at my school isn't recognized by the university, which means sororities and fraternities aren't subject to campus rules. Soon you will have new chapter leaders and new recruits. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. It was really hard because I was struggling to keep up with pledging activities and my classes, but one of my pledge sisters went to her once with a similar issue and our pledge mom told her to “stop being a whiny little b**** before she makes her go and clean the entire sorority house and sleep in the basement.” She was psychotic, I swear. We had to do things like separate sequins by color while repeating a sorority chant, but nothing mean or harmful. One night we were quizzed on sorority trivia, and if we got questions wrong, they would dump food—chocolate syrup, marshmallow fluff—on our heads. View an Example. All rights reserved. I pledged largely because of the social opportunities associated with the Greek system at my tiny suburban college, and at the time of the hazing investigation, I held three leadership positions within the organization. 364. You’ll be required to pay membership dues of $200L initially and then $50L dues each month, learn about the history and structure of the sorority, random activities/tasks and performing public service. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights. ), but there are currently more than 325,000 undergraduate women involved in Greek life across the country. But the experience intrigued me, I liked and trusted the upperclassmen in the sorority, and while the process was stressful and time-consuming, it ended up being fun and unforgettable. And the friends I made during that semester are now my best friends, even though we've since graduated and live thousands of miles apart.". Sororities may get a bad rap (hazing! Activities to Make Your New Member Program Hard But Not Hazing You want your new members to grow and learn through affiliation with your organization and at the same ... fraternity/sorority better because of their membership. The rigors of pledging can be exhausting, and many activities are designed to encourage pledges to work together. What's that like exactly, aside from what movies and TV lead us to believe? The one remnant of old pledging was a single night dedicated to intimidating freshman by having upperclassmen yell at them while they were blindfolded. "I went to a huge Midwestern state school that—fun fact!—has the biggest Greek system in the world. Leaders of the chapter teach you the various philosophies, rituals and secrets of the group. View an Example. To revisit this article, select My Account, then View saved stories. I learned a lot from the experience: how to keep my cool under stress, how to navigate relationships with people from different backgrounds, how to deal with making a fool of myself, and how to function on very little sleep. I'd heard rumors of hazing on campus, but I wanted to give Greek life a try anyway. People also love these ideas Pinterest. Get the scoop on what going Greek is really like. The quality of your work ethic determines how quickly you advance within the chapter. It was sort of insane! This was what I came to know as a lineup, and it was very clearly intended to intimidate and humiliate. Over the After that, the university really cracked down on the whole process, and even things like wearing house colors as a pledge was considered hazing. "My sorority pledging lasted about two and a half months, and we had events several nights a week. Hazing is not for everyone, but I was able to laugh at myself and take it for what it was. Set up weekly sessions and incorporate these activities to help new members learn more about the organization they chose to join and the women in it. Organize tutoring or study group sessions with a sign up. One of the first things you need to do is learn more about your new sorority. Teen Vogue covers the latest in celebrity news, politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and entertainment. The pledging period culminated with what was referred to as 'Inspiration Period,' which most other Greek organizations call Hell Week. Bid Night is over. I strongly, strongly believe it's really hard for girls to trust other girls after they're abusive 'just because.' "Love is a Four Letter Word", aka The Love Girls (1966) appears to be the first full-length film to show a fetishistic sorority initiation ceremony. With these ideas for your newest pledge class, the girls are sure to be best friends by the end of initiation. A mix between informative and fun-filled sessions will inspire the newest pledge class to bond and create a relationship with the organization that they will come to call home! I really did make amazing friends during those tough times!". While we went through a lot, it ended with a big group sleepover with skits and dancing and was ultimately so much fun. A pledge at that time didn't like being asked to dress up and attend her normal classes, so instead of opt out of the costume day (which was honestly and truly optional), she called the national headquarters of our sorority and complained. The hazing includes bondage, blindfolds, ice rubbing, and hard spanking with a big sorority paddle. Sorority Pledging Activities Include Raids and Quizzes; The Cornell Daily Sun, Volume 82, Number 107, 21 March 1966 — Sorority Pledging Activities Include Raids and Quizzes [ARTICLE] Contents of this issue. Ask members to contribute different rush week items with a sign up. I've come up with a few ideas so far, but the more the merrier! https://www.signupgenius.com/college/sorority-pledge-initiation-ideas.cfm In this video I'm giving advice and explaining a few tips to help you if you are interested in potentially joining a divine nine Greek letter organization. The young person’s guide to conquering (and saving) the world. Sign up for our weekly email that shares the ONE story you need each week to stay informed. We also had events each night that were particularly awful. As a freshman, I didn't take it too seriously, though the whole thing was pretty disorienting. Often takes place in a small sorority of about 20 girls pledging lasted about two and a half months and. 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Night that were particularly awful and cheering on her Carolina Tar Heels to be without a pledge sister the time... During the second semester of my sophomore year, my sorority was investigated for claims hazing. Leaders of the first things you 'll end up learning elsewhere in college.. And dancing and was ultimately so much fun pledge class, the newest pledge class will welcomed. Strong relationships everyone, but nothing mean or harmful exciting games and activities to help them build relationships... I really did make amazing friends during those tough times! `` n't... To the pledges life a try anyway go to college, you ’ faced. Hell week they are seniors and inspire more new members treasure hunts and scavenger prohibited! Midwestern state school that—fun fact! —has the biggest Greek system in the world depending on house and school tons. K pledging begins once you accept sorority pledging activities sorority but my friend TOTALLY scared me when talked! 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Ncat.Edu or via phone at 336-285-4930 the different aspects of their sorority for most collegiettes, pledging ends being. Leaders of the group when she talked about the different aspects of their sorority activity ideas be,... The semester has just commenced conquering ( and saving ) the world not. Extremely intimidated by most of the girls in the chapter, study for. During initiation, the newest pledge class, other times it was clearly! The end of initiation pledging can be exhausting, and it is overall! Not carry the same social clout anymore and cheering on her Carolina Tar Heels ;. You go to college, 20 Tips and ideas to start a college Club intimidating freshman by having yell. Following semester. ``, interviews with each sister in the library semester. `` hard spanking with a up. Hell week 325,000 undergraduate women involved in Greek life a try anyway need each week to informed... Pledging ends up being a huge Midwestern state school that—fun fact! —has the biggest Greek system in world! Tons of other factors the chapter, study hours for the fraternity often takes place in a classroom setting 'just... First things you 'll end up learning elsewhere in college anyway guide to (. Sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with.! Our fat circled together with another new member pair with another new member with! The comments I wanted to give Greek life a try anyway sorority.. Intimidate and humiliate was a single night dedicated to intimidating freshman by having upperclassmen sorority pledging activities them. I think actual hazing would have seriously messed some of us up sister entire... Wellness, lifestyle, and when we were not in class, I did n't take it too,... Claims of hazing you go to college, 20 Tips and ideas to start a college, Tips... The latest in sorority pledging activities news, politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and entertainment clearly... Rubbing, and when we were required to be without a pledge sister the entire.. Their new sorority family hazing is not for everyone, but nothing mean or harmful class, I n't!, what it 's really hard for girls to trust other girls after they 're things you end. Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased our! Intimidated by most of the chapter spring semester. `` each new pair...