Death by Sorority
A National Greek Fraternity Signed My Death Notice
I agree wholeheartedly with Mark Twain, who said that first. Many years ago, as an undergraduate student, I was officially certified as dead, but I am really quite alive, thank you!
Sorority life nearly killed me, at least on paper!
Happy Beginnings
As a college freshman, I enthusiastically participated in the sorority rush. My friends and I enjoyed being courted by all the right houses. We were duly impressed by the tales of philanthropic programs, charitable donations, and volunteer efforts. Mostly, we probably hoped we might gain advantageous social connections by linking up with the right people.
Finally, on Pledge Night, we hovered in our dorm rooms and waited for the candlelight processionals to arrive.
One by one, each sorority came calling, announcing the names of the girls they would invite to join. When my favorite group called my name, I could hardly stand it. I was so excited! I flew into a sea of happy hugs.
Moments later, blindfolded and bound by the wrists to twenty other naïve freshmen, I was led through a muddy field to an unknown location. The hazing had begun.
The Wake-Up Call
Caught up in tradition, our entire pledge class banded together and endured humiliating rituals, beer showers, raw egg shampoos, and worse.
Finally, our initiation day arrived. Veiled in secrecy, we promised lifelong loyalty to the sisterhood.
The following weekend, I strolled into my boyfriend's fraternity house and found one of my sorority sisters trying to seduce him.
So much for sisterhood!
Dead or Alive?
Final exams came and went, and summer arrived. Reaching my home, along with my sanity, I decided to resign from the sorority. That fall, as soon as the term began, I typed a letter to the chapter president.
My resignation was accepted, on the condition that I pay the fall membership dues. I refused to do this, of course.
Three months later, when I got home, an official-looking letter awaited me on the desk in my room. Stamped as registered mail, it bore a familiar symbol over the return address. It came from the national office of the sorority.
Puzzled, I sliced the envelope open with one finger. What was inside? A death notice with my own name embossed on it!
Was this a threat, or simply wishful thinking?
Many years have passed since then, and I am very much alive!
Published by Linda Ann Nickerson - Featured Contributor in Sports
Linda Ann Nickerson brings decades of reporting and a globally minded Midwestern perspective to a host of topics, balancing human interest with history, hard facts and often humor. View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentI just became a sorority sister this past semester at college, and can honestly say that my process was not even remotely this embarrassing. I'm guessing that you pledged quite some time ago, when things were different. There are many strict anti hazing laws, and many national organizations have very strict hazing laws too. While a local sorority can do anything they want to pledges, a national one has many rules and boundaries. This story is not necessarily fair, because it took place long ago, during a different time.
This doesnt happen anymore except in extreme cases because of strict anti hazing laws that were passed this decade. Sorry for that experience though, if I saw my sister sorority doing that I would def speak up.
This story is true. Certainly, the certificate could not have been official and notarized, but it was a death certificate nonetheless. Of course, no coroner would have signed off on it . . . . but what a tacky way to say goodbye.
i highly doubt it was an official death certificate, or anything that offensive. No organization (especially the people from the national headquarters) would behave in such a manner. Shame on you for your lies.
Was it a death threat or an unofficial death certificate as to say you are dead to us? Geeze...sororities are dumb.
I am going to be scared to death when my girls go off to college!