[17883] in APO-L
what's in a name?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (JimBeKind)
Mon Dec 8 04:04:44 1997
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 03:56:28 EST
Reply-To: JimBeKind <JimBeKind@AOL.COM>
From: JimBeKind <JimBeKind@AOL.COM>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
ON: Sun, 7 Dec 1997 23:53:25 EST
A MESSAGE BY: Vivs Scott Laliberte <lalibr@RPI.EDU>
RE: whyfor you call your pledges NIBbles?
ASKED:
" Why do so many chapters call the "Brotherhood Initiation Ritual"
inductions?"
------------------------------------
OK-- a moment for a proud alumnus to brag:
My home chapter, Lambda Omicron has even funnier names for our ceremonies--
What you call induction of rushees to pledgeship-- we call "Initiation."
What you call initiation of pledge members to brothers-- we call "Activation."
Problem?? NONE. Slight confusion when discussing them at National Conventions,
conferences, etc..., but our names have held for years. AND I MIGHT ADD-- the
chapter-- at West Virginia University-- has maintained an active membership of
over 100 brothers for about 12 years now-- they have also, without fail,
received the Bartle Award for excellence in Chapter Programs(only Alpha Rho-
UT/Austin shares this honor), and (OK- when I was President) won the A.N.
National Service Award, the J.F. National Historian's Award (2nd time), and
most recently won the Man-Mile Award in Phoenix!
So it is "You say "Po- tay- toes" and I say "Po- tah- toes." Really of little
consequence-- as a member of several national committees/staffs-- I know I
speak for many fraternity leaders when I say-- call your ceremonies whatever--
just HAVE them....often! (And for the RD's, SecChairs, and National Office--
report them...timely!)
More of a small concern to me are the posted "nicknames" for pledges/brothers,
and the term "NIBbles" itself-- as they seem to go against the fraternity's
Membership Policy or Pledge Standards/Guidelines-- which call for references
to pledge members as only "pledges" or "neophytes"-- and active members as
"actives" or "brothers." The nicknames could be considered "hazing." [See Jim
duck and cower in fear as he raises the dreaded "H" word.] I just wonder if
continued due to T-radition!-- if they couldn't be eliminated harmlessly. Let
the (friendly) discussion begin......
In L, F, and S--
- Jim Hahn, 3-term Past President
Lambda Omicron Chapter
West Virginia University
