We've all seen the movies and heard the horror stories about pledging a sorority. Pledging, however, is a time honored tradition among sororities, and there is an actual process behind it.
When a sorority chooses to accept a new member, that new member is called a pledge. The pledge begins the process of becoming a full member of the sorority by learning about the sorority itself. A pledge must learn the entire history of the sorority they are looking to join, and all of the facts important to its members. Educational sessions and meetings are mandatory for pledges, meaning that they do need to commit a serious amount of time to the process.
Although many people think of hazing when they think of committing to a sorority, it really is a minimal if not non-existent part of the process. Many campuses have rules against hazing, and even for those who don't, the hazing process usually just consists of the pledges having to wait on the full members.
One of the most memorable parts for many pledges of the pledging process is the big-little bond. Every pledge is assigned a “big” meant to signify a big sister. The big sister teaches and helps the little sister through the process, and these bonds often last a lifetime.
Once the pledging process is complete, the pledge has the opportunity to fully commit to the sorority. They honor this as a lifetime commitment, and receive a pin with sorority letters. Many sororities use nametags, which now are available in a magnetic form, so as not to destroy their clothing.
Being a part of a sorority opens up doors and opportunities by creating lifelong bonds between members. The pledging process is meant to educate hopefuls on the seriousness of this commitment, and give them the opportunity to decide against participation if they feel they are not ready for the commitment required.
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