In my Women Studies class we got to watch a movie called “Spin the Bottle” and it portrait the whole college experience and a little about Greek Life.  I hate watching those types of movies because the message is that women are a lot more differently than men.  If I have to hear from another feminist that I will be blamed for things more because I’m a woman I will scream.  Yes, I know that if I get assaulted in an ally that I will be blamed because I should have known better, I was wearing the wrong thing, and (my favorite) she asked for it.  I CAN”T STAND IT.  It also frustrates the hell out of me when I see documentaries about drinking and who it always relates to Greek Life.  It is because of these documentaries is way people don’t want to be Greek.  As apart of the Greek community I can’t stand it when I hear individuals who know nothing about Greek Life make assumptions about a world they don’t know.  Guess what when I pledged my sorority I did not have to drink my weight in beer and I didn’t  have to sleep with anyone.  While I was pledging and even when I became a sister, if there was an event my sisters would never buy or give me alcohol.  Of course I would drink with my sisters but we were all smart about it.  There was always someone who would cut you off, drive you home, and watch out for you.  The only time that I got drunk with my sisters was on my 21st birthday and we were all other 21.  Even after I turned 21 we always watched out for each other.  Not everyone who attends a house party not everyone is drinking.  It is sad that there are bad apples that  mess everything up for the rest of us.  Does drinking happen in Greek Life, Yes it does, but we are taught to be smart and aware of everything.  Every experience is different, but take everything with a gain of salt.  If you want to be Greek than be Greek and have your own experiences.

My sorority was founded almost six years ago and we now have enough members to have an Alumni Board.  The goal of this board is to protect the active chapter from themselves.  As the older generation we have experienced everything under the sun and we want to make sure that these girls don’t make the same mistakes.  The board as already created a code of conduct that everyone needs to follow for their own protection.  I’m proud that I’m apart of this board the only think the conflicts that present don’t destroy the board.  To improve the sorority we all want to a retreat for all the new chairs, since everyone who was there as had filled every position.  It is weird that six is actually pretty significant to the organization.  When the sorority was created by 6 founding mothers.  At the first alumni board meeting there was 6 members present.  Finally in September we will celebrating our 6th birthday.  Now I know 666, oh the sign of the devil, but I hope we can create some good in for the sorority.

I have been in this sorority for over 4 years and I have had to rebuild friendships with different sisters.  This time I’m rebuilding a friendship with my ex-little.  The last time I was in Cleveland I saw her at a party and I said buy to her, asked her how she was doing, and gave her a hug.  The next day she contacted me telling me that it was good to see me and to say that she was sorry for everything.  It was so good to hear that from her, so I said that I was sorry too.  While we were talking we made a pact that we will never talk shit about each other and the most important step is that if either of us hears somebody talking shit about the other person they must stop the conversation immediately.  I have added her again to my tree and I promise that when the next pledge class ask me how many littles do I have.  I will say that I had 5 littles that pledged and 3 that are actual sisters.  I have made up with the president of the sorority and we are now good friends and hopefully the same thing will happen with her. HERE’S TO THE START OF A NEW FRIENDSHIP.  Watch and see what happens.

I’m a part of a fabulous tree called the Freak Tree.  Our name comes from the head of the tree, nickname Freak 1 and myself the ultimate Freak, and that is how the name was discovered.  The head of the tree A. is fun, crazy, and wild.  I have a great big E. that is always there for me no matter what stupid things that I do this week.  My first little M. is great.  She only in the sorority of one semester, and we were able to have a lasting friendship.  How great is it that she made me one of her bridesmaids when got married.  My second little A. is adorable and crazy.  I have an interesting relationship with her.  We can both call each other and bitch about our day and then talk about anything.  I have two great grand littles A. and B. and I love them both.  I can relate to B. because everything medical that I have gone through she has as well.  A. is young and crazy.  I love her, she called me so that I could talk to her friend about sex.  She can always make me laugh.  And finally I have a couple of great great littles that are so cute.  I feel so old.  The thing that I love the most about my portion of the tree is that just like our name we are all Freaks.  Sometimes I wonder whether would I be if I didn’t have these wonderful girls in my life.  These girls are the only ones that know the intimate details of my life.  They know when I’m happy, sad, or even sick.  Here’s to the Freaks.

If you do feel that pledging is not for you that is O.K.  Pledging is not for everyone, just make sure that it is the decision that you want.  The connections that you make with the sisters as well as the pledges will stay with you even when you drop.  If you are not ready to pledge for the whole six weeks you always have the option of pledging next semester.  Just to let you know that when pay your dues for pledging you do not get that money back.  

As much as we do not enjoy rejecting girls from joining our organization, it does happen. In this organization majority rules the vote. So do not think that it was one single person that voted against you. The only thing that you can do is walk away from this experience with your head raised high, the same way you came in. Hopefully, you can still walk away with new friends that would not have had if you didn’t decide to pledge. Remember that what does not kill you makes you stronger, so if you do not get into the sorority it is not the end of the world. It happens with every organization at Cleveland State University. I know what is like to kick out one of my littles. I was the final vote on whether she was in or out. I don’t regret the way I voted in the slightest.

Weekend the great mystery of what truly goes on in a sorority. Today the lambda class is going through their weekend. It is interesting how far the sorority have grown, since I was in the delta class. I love all the planing and the hidden secrets that go into having a productive weekend. I remember each pledge class scared for what is doing to happen and all the sisters laughing because they knew what was going on. Weekend is a time for the pledge to prove to the sister that they are worthy of becoming a sister. I love all the stupid things that we make the pledges do that are all in “clean” fun. I remember my weekend and all the fun that I had, sleeping a one bed with my pledge sisters, and getting hit in the face by on of my sisters while I sleep. I love all points of weekends. I have never missed a weekend since I became a member back in 2004 except now. It makes me sad that I can’t be there to have fun with all my girls. Even though I don’t get along with several of the sisters I still miss that I can’t be there. Every event that I can’t be there for I feel less and less like a sister and more like an outsider. I hate feeling this way. It is the price of growing up and becoming alumni. You lose everything that you worked so hard for. I MISS IT ALL!!!!

Now that I’m alumni it is fun to look back at how the sorority used to be and I wish that it was still like that. I pledged Chi Delta Epsilon when I was 19 years old and it was one of the most exciting times of my life. During my pledging I partied with my sisters and new friends that I had just met. I remember not having a care in the world because I had friends that I could hang-out with. I remember all the girls who were over age would go to Harry Buffalo for $2.00 Long Island Ice Tea with my sisters in the middle of the week for country night. Everyone seemed different as well. During that time everyone acted like friends and at times even more like sisters. You could always count of multiple sisters coming to your aid if you were hurting or in pain. As the years pasted I started to grow-up and the party girl image began to fade and I started to become the mom of the group. Today when I still go to parties I look out for all my girls to make sure they don’t do anything that I did when I was younger. At times I wish that I was still 19. Everything seems simpler.

After the last meeting I started to think about goals that the sorority needs to work on.
One of the main goal that the organization needs to work on is rebuilding the friendships within the organization. As all of you can remember during pledging we are taught why this organization was founded. It was because the founding mothers did not like the views and morals of the other sororities on campus. With all the backstabbing and hatred that does on in this sorority it is everything that the founding mothers stayed away from. This needs to be an organization were sisters can come with their problems and feel save and free. If you have nothing better to do than join a group that is based on hate, than you have no business being in this sorority. We are a family and we need to start acting like a family. Personally I enjoyed the birthday card idea. When I talked to inactive sisters they were happy to receive something from the sorority, so that they still felt like they were an active part of this organization. There is a reason that we have a birthday list call or text the sister and wish them happy birthday. Facebook is so impersonal show each other that you care.
The second goal that we need to work on is RESPECT for each others and the traditions that were started by the older members. There is a reason that we have scrolls so that each member knows when they pledged and their level of experience in the sorority. When ever you see older members treat them with respect and it will teach the younger members to respect you as well. Respect each others scroll and understand what challenges each other has gone through to get where you are. Respect what is written in the constitution and operation manual because everything is in there for a reason. Voting is taken very seriously. You all know this.

I just letting you know that I not going to there on Sunday when you get initiated into the sorority, but i wish you all the luck. The reason that i can not be there to see you get initiated is because it is physically and emotionally draining for me. Although i hope that you can strive to make this organization bigger and better than what it is. The older member dreamed of becoming a national sorority and maybe you could do that.
Just because i will not be there on Sunday that does not mean that i have dropped off the face of the earth. You can always call me if you have any question. Don’t let anyone in the sorority try to walk all over you, you have a brilliant mind and this is your opportunity to use it. Don’t think that because you are new that you should just sit in meetings and look pretty. even though you are. If there is something that you want to say, say it. When you sign that scroll book we will be sisters and that bond will never go away.