Babies.

I just have to vent about something. It is about a practice that is becoming more and more prevelant in the Greek community and it is something that makes my skin crawl more and more every time I hear it.

Sororities are calling New Members "babies." "Baby Hooties, Baby Squirrels, Baby Phis, Baby Xis, Baby Ivys... I have heard it all. And I hate, hate, hate it. Some Sisters may say that it is a term of endearment and affection. New Members may claim it makes them feel special. So our gifts, time, and most of all letters don't make you feel special? WHAT?

Can you imagine how calling an 18 year old college freshmen a "baby" sounds to a non-Greek? We sound ridiculous! We are constantly striving to gain credibility in so many people's eyes and this is one thing that is killing that!

Through Recruitment, we seek women who are going to add to our Chapters. We are searching for qualities such as leadership, character, involvement... none of which a baby has. Babies are infants who know nothing and do nothing (that sounds harsh but come on, it's true!). Yes they are cute, but let's be honest... they aren't quite ready for college.

By calling our New Members "babies" we are essentially saying that we are not going to hold them to the standards that we ourselves live by. They are free to be immature and childish and its totally ok with us. Actually, it is expected for them to be that way. Then, once they become Initiated Sisters we act all surprised and upset when they do not step up and take ownership of our Chapters. It is always the youngest New Member's Class fault when something is not going right. WELLL.... of course they are having problems!! We don't teach them right from the start what it is that we expect and need from them. We are not molding them into the Sisters we expect them to be. We are too busy calling them and treating them like "babies!"

Also, by calling them "babies" it separates them from the initiated Sisters. I promise you, nothing good comes from this. We need to focus less on our New Member classes and shift our focus to strengthening our Chapters as a whole. We wear the same letters, live the same Ritual, and should be united as a Sisterhood, not as New Member classes.

How is this OK with you, Sisters? It shouldn't be. New Members are not "babies." They are women we have selected to wear our letters, live our Ritual... let's PLEASE treat them like it.