September 19, 2007
Recently a student
asked me why aren’t
freshmen allowed to
pledge. The question caused
me to think back to my
college years when so many
freshmen were pledging. We
had one freshman on my line
and she is still active today.
I told my students that as
freshmen they are usually
away from home for the first
time—out on their own and
experiencing life as an
“adult.” There’s so much
that you will be becoming
acquainted with as you start
coming into your own.
The Divine Nine (Alpha
Phi Alpha, Iota Phi Theta,
Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta
Sigma and Omega Psi Phi
Fraternities and Alpha Kappa
Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta,
Sigma Gamma Rho and Zeta
Phi Beta Sororities) have rich
and impressive traditions.
Their histories and those
who hold membership near
and dear realize the awesome
responsibility that comes
with membership.
As freshmen, you need
time to get yourself acclimat-
ed to this thing called the
“college experience” before
you take on the identity of
one of these organizations.
Sometimes it’s just as hard
for the upperclassmen, espe-
cially if they were introverts.
The pressure can be over-
whelming and that’s when
you end up with people
going to the extreme and
doing things that could end
up hurting someone.
I guess the most hurtful
thing is when folks become
members and deny member-
ship to others because of
petty, stupid things.
It is really appalling to
hear tales of women being
denied because they dated
someone who also dated a
member of the organization
or because someone “thinks
she’s cute.”
For me, the highest insult
and most asinine reason for
rejecting a member has to be
because that person’s
mother, sister, aunt or grand-
mother is a member.
Sorority members will
say, “She thinks she is going
to get in just because she is a
legacy.”
Well shouldn’t she? And
why shouldn’t she, especial-
ly if since she was a young
child she has heard about the
sorority, attended functions
and grew up being around
members and wearing the
“my mommy” and “my
sister” shirts?
Thousands of girls around
the world look forward to the
day when they can become a
member and refer to their
family members as “soror,”
only to find that some of
these “sisters” they had heard
about as long as they could
remember, would treat them
like a stranger going for not
only people who know little
or nothing but also people
who actually may have
rejected their own legacy-
hood for your organization.
So what is the message to
these young ladies who get
in and want to burn the
bridge after they cross?
Get a grip. Think about
karma because if you honor
your commitment to the
organization and stay active
your entire life, you will
want your daughters, sisters
or nieces to join with you.
You’ll hear all kinds of
excuses. “Oh she’s a slut,
she is trash.” “She’s not
BLANK material.”
Sadly some making the
assertions need to be looking
in the mirror!
Sure there are going to be
some people who are ques-
tionable and their behavior
leaves much to be desired.
I’ve always told my mother
that the world is full of
deviant people so why would
I not think that some of them
are related to me!
Still there are so many
young ladies and young men
who have been judged
harshly and called out of
their names as they were
rejected.
What about those young
ladies who are upstanding
and exhibit high moral
standards and become
members and turn into
freaky deaky? What about
the ones who have issues that
you just don’t know about,
until they become a member
and all their history comes to
the forefront?
My point is that those who
are in a position should not
suffer from amnesia.
Remember how it was when
you were trying to get in.
Ladies, one thing you can
do is to make sure that you
are a lady at all times.
Protect your image and your
reputation. Understand that
these organizations were
founded on Christian princi-
ples and don’t forget that
academic excellence and
community service are the
very foundation of the orga-
nizations.
Do the right thing and
hopefully these young sisters
and older ones will do the
same!
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