When You Go Greek SL: The Ifs.. Ands.. Buts.. & What Ifs of SL Greekdom

Jan. 09th, 2013- 8:50am

THE IF

Yes.... thats me (Saivee Rho-Amor), the first and only time I've ever pledged in SL. As I was cleaning out my inventory this past week, I stumbled upon a picture that was titled "When U Go Greek SL _02". I thought that it may be my greek alphabet so I opened it and re-lived the horror. I was pledging a sorority, that will not be named, for the first time. It was an experience of mutual firsts, their first line, my first everything as a non-founder. It was a particularly joyous time because my own sorority was inactive as we solidified as a family until versus an organization. However, I was hard-working and dedicated throughout the process... all 4+ months. Yes... 4 months. 

THE AND

Finally, PLEDGE WEEK!! A time where you should be happy and joyous, ready to get down to that final week before crossing, right? WRONG. Stripped... down to my tangos, ao taken away, flexy hair, layered clothes, tube socks and a black mask put over my face. Nameless, faceless, breast-less. Welcome to your life when you go greek in secondlife.

Now, this might break some people but, me and my sister were strong and could handle this part. Sleeping in dark corners, fly infested pizza, taken away from my family and friends & not being able to feed our zooby babies. This was all fine. All in good RP, right? We lasted until Day 4 when we were called "bitches" by one of the founders. And not in a "haha, yea you're my bitch.." way. In a "you're my bitch and I own you from now on."

In my Huey Freeman Voice -------> "We are now entering a n*&&a moment. A n*&&a moment is caused when an act causes a person of color to becoming enraged and ignorant or erratic behavior ensues."

It's important that you weigh-in how much this is worth. "This" being your treatment of people who will potentially be your extended family and, hopefully, friends versus the way they treat you now. Needless to say, we left. Alpha Line OUT. 

THE BUT

Here are the arguments(These are potential arguments from people who feel this is a Pro (good thing) or a Con (bad thing):

The treatment during pledge week if it is negative:

• Pro: They want to toughen you up. They are seeing if you can handle it because being in an org is hard! You gotta be effin tough! You can't take having you feelings hurt?! Leave then!
• Con: How they treat you now will define how you treat you later. Toughness or no toughness. After a long pre-pledge season, they should know you are the best and should be having tasks that uplift you and challenge your skills rather than being rude.

The treatment during pledge week if it is positive:

• Pro: They want to see how you interact in a setting that is both challenging and enjoyable. They want you to be relaxed and comfortable so that your true character is revealed when challenges arrive. They also do not want you to develop negative feelings toward their org.
• Con: They want you to get relaxed and comfortable to "lure" you into their sorority. Case in point: make them feel good and buy their affection.

THE WHAT IFS

So, you've had this horrible experience. You've been treated like crap at the bottom of the barrel. Or, maybe you didn't have a horrible experience and still find your way out the door due to expulsion. Either way, you're on your way out. What may happen next? We have formulated the top 4 possibilities for... WHAT IF YOU FIND YOUR WAY OUT?

1. I Hate Greekdom Effect: We think this is the typical first reaction. And why wouldn't you hate it? Something really horrible happened to you and you feel very outed, duped, swindled, hoodwinked, bamboozled and just down right pissed! Whether you're mad at the org or mad at the lot of greekdom. It's perfectly fine to be in this zone. 
2. Pay Back Is A B!(eta): Beta, the second, the changer. Yea, we all know someone who has done or will do or is even thinking about doing it. That's right. You left took yourself somewhere else! Whether that was to your friends/sisters/cousins/brothers/baby-daddies aunt org, the fact is, you switched. It even happened in Iota! 2 gems on our alpha line, one left in the middle of our process to join another process and crossed over there. 1 Gem remained and crossed as the Alpha Ace :)                                      This is a typical second reaction because you're still mad and you want to go somewhere were people appreciate you. Or, if you haven't been through a bad process, you simply left because you want to or you may be a sorority hopper. Either way, you're not there anymore. 
3. I can do this on my own!: This is why a majority of organizations are founded in SL. Because you feel you can do this better and be different than something you've already been through. Non-surprisingly, a lot of women come from the same sorority and then branch out to found other members, some times taking some members with them. And a lot of men come from the same fraternities. Sound familiar?                                                                                                                            This is another typical reaction but often ends in extreme failure. Oh sure, you may have a few members and you may be able to stay afloat for a while but, will you be successful? Will your organization be prosperous and be able to be progressive? More than likely... not so much. But, it happens!
4. I left, I'm gone, I'm In a Different Org && We are Successful: Whether you've went to a completely new sorority previously founded, newly founded, reactivated or otherwise, congrats on your success! Here comes The Hater Express! Yea, if you've gone through this, you're going to have people who hate you from different sides. Your old org, your org you left, their brothers or sisters are all waiting on you to fail and you didn't! Brush ya shoulders off & keep it moving!

CONCLUSION

Not everyone's experience is the same! This post was compiled of various possibilities of the WORST POSSIBLE and yet, NOT TOO FAR REMOVED of what could happen if you go greek. We would hope that your experience would be nothing like this but, we would not want you to not be prepared. Although, we are aware that this post may ruffle some feathers... we felt that it would be important for us to post this. 

With so many people crossing this winter, we congratulate everyone! Including our own Gamma Line :)

Love, Peace & Greekdom,

Saivee Rho-Amor, Founder & President

Naomi Mocha-Eternal, Founder & President

Awareness IS Key

Iota Sigma Rho SL Sorority is a strictly awareness focused organization. We do not attempt nor do we collect any funds,lindens or otherwise, on behalf of the charities we support. If funds are being collected we cannot take part as an official sponsor

This is why; we have yet to see a Greek organization in SECONDLIFE show their tax identification form from their group to a charity. Further, the likeliness of this happening is very very RARE! We has a whole cannot agree with that. We don't need nor want peoples lindens for these charities.

We want to be recognized as sisterhood that is focused on bring the needs of veterans and veteran efforts to light. Not as an organization that is taking money or try to raise a certain amount of money that will more than likely be spent on tiers or items.

We will continue to morally support any and all groups. But fiscally, it is not within our best interest to support any monetary charities within second life. We urge all groups to consider focusing more on awareness. With this in mind, we look forward to the continued efforts of all our Partner In Service.

- Sigma Gamma Sigma
- Alpha Kai Delta
- High Society
- Alpha Alpha Kappa
- Rho Beta Gamma
- Chi Eta Rho
- Nu Gamma Rho

Thanks for everything!!

Iota Sigma Rho Leadership!

"Ahhhh", says the intelligent woman, "I think I wanna rush! What do I do?!"

Congratulations! You have made a very wise choice! You said "I think", instead of "I am!". It's moments like this that make or break whether a person is up for sorority life! We've all been there. We see the decorative jackets, the hand signals, the calls and, of course, the strolling! But there is more to sorority life then that. A LOT more. Joining a sorority should be a life long commitment chosen with great care. For each woman, a different journey unfolds as she takes her first steps into Greekdom.

Ready to see if you've got all your checks on the check list?! Let's see!

☐ Attended a "Go Greek" Night or "All Sorority" Day?
    These are events coordinated by partner sororities that allow different bidding ladies the opportunity to get to know them better. Each lady walks around to the different booths/areas/houses and gets to know a little about that particular sorority before moving on to the next one. Games are usually played or raffles drawn! It's a great event to socialize and to see if you hit it off with a certain org!

(so lets say you missed this chance or their are no "Go Greek" Night or "All Sorority" Day. (P.S, Iota Sigma Rho Sorority is one of the first to have arranged "Go Greek" Events!))

☐ Research, Research, Research!!
    Don't just go on their website or go on their Facebook page. Go to their Open House event or Charity event. Seeing is believing and if you can see how they interact with each other, other orgs or by their activities, then you may have saved yourself! Remember that web pages are set up to entice! It's going to show allll the good stuff you want to hear. Wanna find out how things REALLY work? Befriend a member and ask for the truth!

☐ View EVERY organization.
    This is vital! Just because your mom, cousin, baby daddy's niece, babysitters aunt was in Nappa Kappa Psi doesn't mean YOU must be. You may be shocked to find that most legacies that follow that path may have a sense of pride but an even deeper sense of regret. Sororities change throughout time and just because it was fitting for one does not mean it's fitting for all. Nepotism in sororities, especially in smaller chapters can be a great pain and cause deep rooted "cliques" which often force members to switch chapters or become inactive all together!

☐ Time to Socialize!
    OK, so you've decided on event parties too much and the other doesn't party enough? No? Ok, then it's time you look at their itinerary. If you're the life of the party and you LOVE to go shake it on somebodies floor, then look for the organization that suits you. If you're more service oriented and you like long hours of community service and development, then find that sorority that caters to that need. Either way, at this point, you gotta be going out! Find out what they are doing. If you see something you don't like... go to it! Make SURE it's not for you. Nothing is wrong with swinging by!

☐ Uh Oh! You've been spotted!
    While you've been watching them, they've been watching you too! You didn't think they wouldn't right?! This is what we call being "approached". An organization contacts you and wants various information about who you are, what you like to do etc. So the question is.... "what do you do?!"
          1. Don't freak out! They can smell nervousness on you!
          2. Be YOURSELF! Relax, breathe, take a deep breath and let it all out!
          3. Don't waste time. You've researched, you've looked at every one, you've gone to all their informational meetings, you've socialized. If this is the organization that does that thing that you don't' like, then don't' hesitate to be polite and express disinterest in that thing.
          4. Give them a chance to rebuttal. This gives you a chance to see if this comes up often or if this completely took them by surprised.
          5. Don't be afraid to be as critical as they are. Remember, it's not them choosing you. It's you choosing them, as well.
          6a. If they offer you a bid (which in most cases this is the most common), then you have a chance to politely deny the bid. Maybe this org isn't the one you wanted exactly.
          6b. If they offer you a bid and this is the sorority you were thinking of joining, CONGRATS! Take the time to ponder on this decision or another org that you may potentially like unless you are absolutely sure and feel comfortable! You are well on your way to being a well-informed lettered lady!
          6c. If they DO NOT offer you a bid and instead express that they don't feel like their organization is the right one for you, then take it as a experience. Cattiness can come out at a moments notice. Don't be afraid to share this experience with others who are thinking of rushing as well. Their is a great wealth of knowledge to be shared and experience is the best teacher.

☐ DECIDE!
     So you've researched, you've talked to members, you've looked at all organizations, you've socialized and you may or may not have received a bid yet! The next step is to decide! Not on what organization but on if this is the life for you! If the answer is yes, go ahead and apply to the top sorority FOR YOUR on your list! If you've followed the steps above, you may have already impressed them with your depth of knowledge, your fancy feet, your casual relaxed swagger or your chic looks!
     If the answer is no, then congratulations! You just took a step that many women who come this far won't dare do. You have a great sense of self. And you just spared yourself a life-long commitment that you are not ready for.



In conclusion, is this all you need to know to rush? NO! Their are several things that can be shared! But, it's better for you experience it for yourself. We hope that the knowledge gained from this blog post is helpful for those interested in Greekdom. Period. Not as a promotional tools used for ISigRho! Got any questions? Wanna add on?! Contact us! Have fun and happy journey!

- Iota Sigma Rho Leadership