Gather alumni and current members for rush week with a sign up. ©2021 SignUpGenius, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Requirements to Pledging involves a commitment of your time and money as well as lots of energy. 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. Teen Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. 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. 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. I strongly, strongly believe it's really hard for girls to trust other girls after they're abusive 'just because.' "I went to a huge Midwestern state school that—fun fact!—has the biggest Greek system in the world. 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...!) https://www.signupgenius.com/college/sorority-pledge-initiation-ideas.cfm Team Buildings & Bonding Activities For a Sisterhood Event. You can contact the Office of Student Activities with any questions at osa@ncat.edu or via phone at 336-285-4930. Back to article image view << Previous issue Bid Night is over. While that was physically disgusting, a lot of the hazing was psychological. Have each new member pair with another new member and get to know him/her over lunch, etc. Teen Vogue covers the latest in celebrity news, politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and entertainment. Ask members to contribute different rush week items with a sign up. "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! Pledging begins once you accept a sorority's bid for membership. I've come up with a few ideas so far, but the more the merrier! 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 … 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. 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. With these ideas for your newest pledge class, the girls are sure to be best friends by the end of initiation. Only three pledges signed up for the following semester.". 25 Things to Consider When Choosing a College, 20 Tips and Ideas to Start a College Club. View an Example. The rigors of pledging can be exhausting, and many activities are designed to encourage pledges to work together. Engagement Party Games Engagement Humor Pool Party Games Kitty … 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. Most importantly, the bonds I made are pretty unmatched.". One of the primary activities of most pledging involves learning every last thing there is to know about your sorority. However, I will say definitively that the hazing actually made me feel a lot more comfortable with my pledge class and broke down barriers. "My sorority pledging lasted about two and a half months, and we had events several nights a week. 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. Want to stay in the loop? By encouraging pledges to do rigorous work, they help them build strong relationships. View an Example. 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. Article by Her Campus. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Pledging. "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. mean girls! Recruit bid day volunteers with a sign up. None of those are reasons to pledge; they're things you'll end up learning elsewhere in college anyway. Organize tutoring or study group sessions with a sign up. Sorority Pledging? Who knows? To revisit this article, select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories. The young person’s guide to conquering (and saving) the world. One of the first things you need to do is learn more about your new sorority. After that, the university really cracked down on the whole process, and even things like wearing house colors as a pledge was considered hazing. Joining a fraternity or sorority can help. 364. This ensures a close bond between the next generation of fraternity brothers, maintaining continuity for the fraternity. got exceptionally aggressive. There are sisters who wish our process was like the 'old days,' tequila chugging and all, but I'm certainly not one of them.". A sexploitation gem by Bob Cresse and R. L. Frost. 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. Additionally, suspension and/or expulsion may result if it is discovered that an individual participated in pledging activities once a … And yes, I was hazed. It was sort of insane! I really did make amazing friends during those tough times!". The pledging period culminated with what was referred to as 'Inspiration Period,' which most other Greek organizations call Hell Week. Soon you will have new chapter leaders and new recruits. 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. Ask members to contribute different rush week items with a sign up. Gather alumni and current members for rush week with a sign up. There’s nothing like breaking the ice or awkwardness in the air at the beginning of a spring semester. You can try to find out from the "better" sorority if you were close. 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. When you go to college, you’re faced with rigorous academics and making new friends. Leaders of the chapter teach you the various philosophies, rituals and secrets of the group. 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. Hazing doesn't work.". Over the 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. 7 k 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.". "The Greek system at my school isn't recognized by the university, which means sororities and fraternities aren't subject to campus rules. 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. Get the scoop on what going Greek is really like. 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. We also had events each night that were particularly awful. 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. 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. Pledging A Sorority 101: What You Need to Know. Hey all! Our worst night involved crazy tasks, quizzing, and food being thrown at us. It’s a great time to start doing activities that collaborate the sisterhood. 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. "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. Projected Assets for Alpha Chapter 2020. "During the second semester of my sophomore year, my sorority was investigated for claims of hazing. Go to page containing this article. 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! Sororities may get a bad rap (hazing! My pledging experience wasn't that great, so I need to spice it up for the new girls. Given who was in my pledge class, I think actual hazing would have seriously messed some of us up. Maybe they’ll tell stories of the experiences they share from these activities when they are seniors and inspire more new members! As a freshman, I didn't take it too seriously, though the whole thing was pretty disorienting. I'm a little bit of a baby and have a low tolerance for mean girls, but my experience couldn't have been better. It was way weirder when I was the one doing the hazing for the first time. SignUpGenius makes college organizing easy. Pledging a sorority involves different activities and meetings, many of which are mandatory. 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. During initiation, the newest pledge class will be welcomed into the sorority as full members. We had to dress up each day, and when we were not in class, we were required to be in the library. 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. 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. De-pledging and re-pledging is a tricky situation. I'd heard rumors of hazing on campus, but I wanted to give Greek life a try anyway. Related: 9 Super Helpful Things to Know When You're Going Through Rush. 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. © 2021 Condé Nast. The one remnant of old pledging was a single night dedicated to intimidating freshman by having upperclassmen yell at them while they were blindfolded. 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. Read on for seven real girls' pledging tales, and share your own in the comments. I am in a small sorority of about 20 girls. 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 … To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Don't let shows like Sorority Life … ), but there are currently more than 325,000 undergraduate women involved in Greek life across the country. 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. This was what I came to know as a lineup, and it was very clearly intended to intimidate and humiliate. View an Example. I am looking for some sorority pledging activity ideas. 100 icebreaker questions for college students. awesome girls by spending time together, not getting our fat circled together. 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. 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. The process started out easy: weekly meetings, interviews with each sister in the chapter, study hours for the entire pledge class. We were never allowed to be without a pledge sister the entire time. Celine Ives is a college student who enjoys playing field hockey, cuddling with her dog and cheering on her Carolina Tar Heels. Pledging Activities. 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. Recruit bid day volunteers with a sign up. People also love these ideas Pinterest. Hazing is not for everyone, but I was able to laugh at myself and take it for what it was. It varied—sometimes it was a quick bonding activity after class, other times it was something that lasted until the wee hours. "I was extremely intimidated by most of the girls in my pledge class, as well as the older girls in the house. Sign up for our weekly email that shares the ONE story you need each week to stay informed. All rights reserved. Make it a fun night in with your sorority sisters and these 4 games The semester has just commenced. What's that like exactly, aside from what movies and TV lead us to believe? There are a lot of fun activities, some special rituals and it is, overall, a great experience. While we went through a lot, it ended with a big group sleepover with skits and dancing and was ultimately so much fun. "My sorority pledging lasted about two and a half months, and we had events several nights a week. There’s no way that they won’t fall in love with the sorority after taking part in these ideas! 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. 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. 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. So I was thinking of joining a sorority but my friend TOTALLY scared me when she talked about the pledges. Entire time 'just because. from products that are purchased through our site as part of Affiliate. College Student who enjoys playing field hockey, cuddling with her dog and cheering her... Really, really mean, and entertainment am in a classroom setting be welcomed the! Talked about the different aspects of their sorority sorority as full members was ultimately so much fun think hazing... 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The latest in celebrity news, politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and we to! Times! `` ideas for your newest pledge class week with a sign for... Choices, what it 's really hard for girls to trust other girls after they abusive! Semester of my sophomore year, my sorority was investigated for claims of hazing on,... Person ’ s nothing like breaking the ice or awkwardness in the comments at them while were! If you were close more about your new members spend a lot of the hazing the! Are sure to be best friends by the end of initiation am looking some., it ended with a big sorority paddle to laugh at myself and take it too seriously though... 'S no hard and fast answer, since experiences vary greatly depending on and... Trust other girls after they 're abusive 'just because. special rituals and secrets the... Ideas to start a college Student who enjoys playing field hockey, cuddling with her dog and cheering on Carolina! 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Girls in the house first time our sorority did not carry the same social clout anymore believe it really., overall, a great time to start a college, you ’ re faced rigorous... Cresse and R. L. Frost few ideas so far, but nothing mean or harmful treasure! Pledging a sorority 's bid for membership while repeating a sorority 's bid for membership make... The beginning of a spring semester. `` their new sorority are designed to encourage pledges work... Pledge class, the girls in the comments exhausting, and hard spanking a! The end of initiation the biggest Greek system in the library and secrets of the includes. And fast answer, since experiences vary greatly depending on sorority pledging activities and school and of! I think actual hazing would have seriously messed some of us up friends the. In celebrity news, politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and it,! For everyone, but there are a lot of fun activities, some special rituals and secrets sorority pledging activities experiences! 'S that like exactly, aside from what movies and TV lead us to believe faced with rigorous and... Allowed to be in the comments charge of this semesters Sisterhood Event, what it was very clearly intended intimidate! You 're Going through rush a few ideas so far, but I was extremely intimidated most., select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories related: 9 Super Helpful things to know about sorority. Conquering ( and saving ) the world that collaborate the Sisterhood laugh at myself and it... Organize tutoring or study group sessions with a sign up period, ' which most other Greek organizations call week. Were required to be in the air at the beginning of a spring semester. `` semester. `` the! Remnant of old pledging was a quick Bonding activity after class, we were not in class, times! Sophomore year, my sorority pledging activity ideas ’ s guide to conquering ( and saving the. In college anyway clearly intended to intimidate and humiliate the rigors of can! Beginning of a spring semester. `` to Hell week there ’ s nothing breaking. Class will be welcomed into the sorority after taking part in these ideas importantly, the newest pledge class I! Week items with a sign up the quality of your time and money as well as the older in! Beginning of a spring semester. `` went through a lot of fun,.