V' J. i!.
friday, September 29, 1978
daily nebraskan
page 7
VWne o 7f f fe sister's 9
challenged and defended
By Sue Brown
Posters line residence hall walls and
sorority foyers inviting women to "be a
little sis," as many UNL fraternities
announce the start of their little sister
rush programs.
According to various fraternities which
have little sister programs, the organiza
tions are of both a service and social
nature. Little sister programs are open to
women from sororities, residence halls
and off -campus housing.
Although 16 fraternities have little
sister organizations, Jayne Wade Anderson,
coordinator of sororities, fraternities and
cooperatives said there is no recognition
of little sister affiliations by national
sororities. According to Anderson, this
is an agreement made at the National Pan
hellenic conference.
Anderson said she feels that "these
auxiliary groups are not legally sound."
She said she is concerned that a woman
might someday ask for actual membership
in the fraternity.
Own members capable
"I guess that I have a lack of under
standing why it is imperative for an
organization to have assistance when it
has members who are perfectly capable of
providing it."
n U .11 j., ..i : J f rr.ii r
i dimcucwiC vice-picMucni ivciiey ouvvca
said "Nationally, sororities do not look
upon little sister organizations as a legiti
mate activity." This refers to an activities
resume, sent to an individual's national
sorority headquarters, in which case, little
sister affiliations would not be accepted.
Bowen also suggested that little sister
organizations might split the pledge class
because several pledges may be little sisters
to different fraternities. Bowen said it is
especially important for freshmen to
initially "channel their energy and efforts
towards the sorority or university."
According to the members of little
sister organizations, rush consists typically
of three parties, the first of which is held
at the fraternity in an effort to get
acquainted with fraternity members and
other little sisters. Additional parties range
from picnics to wine and cheese tasting
parties to scavenger hunts.
Size varies
Little sisters from the fraternities inter
viewed said the number of women a fra
ternity will elect to have as new little
sisters depends on the amount of women
going through rush, how many little sisters
are active in the house, and the size of the
fraternity.
Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity on east
campus traditionally has kept its little
sister program small; membership is
currently at 24 members, said Teresa
Vance, little sister rush chairman.
"Everybody knows everybody else,"
she said. "They develop real brother
sister relationships."
According to Vance, the "Rho-mates,"
as they are called, help the fraternity mem
bers decorate for parties, participate in
charity drives such as Honey Sunday, and
frequently come to visit at the house. Such
activities are common among other little
sister programs on both campuses.
Taste of Greek life
Vance, a Burr-Fedde resident, said she
believes she has had a taste of both Greek
life and dorm life. "Of course there's the
social activities," she said, but added she
also feels the security of a home.
An Alpha Tau Omega little sister, who
did not wish to be identified, said she feels
that little sister programs have "all the
advantages of a sorority without the time
and money commitment." She was able
to meet women from every sorority house
as well as other independents. She also
said it is one of the best ways to promote
interaction between the sororities.
"We are really sisters to the guys," said
a little sister of a city campus fraternity.
"They can talk to us about girlfriend prob
lems or even ask us to help them pick out
a gift for their mom - to get the female
point of view," she added.
Eight UNL fraternities do not sponsor
a little sister program.
Bylaws conflict
According to Bill Singer, secretary of
Phi Delta Theta, a little sister program
would be impossible at this time because
of the national by-laws of their fraternity.
There would be a possibility of starting
a little sister program if the laws were
changed at national convention, but it
is not often discussed because of the
existing rule, he added.
It is the preference of Phi Gamma Delta
fraternity not to have a little sister program
according to fraternity president, Jeff
Williamson.
"We believe it takes a lot of work to
have a good one," said Williamson, "not
that we wouldn't be willing to do the
work."
He said his main concern is whether
women really feel a little sister program is
worthwhile after their freshmen year.
Although apathy after freshmen year
was the reason several women interviewed
quit their organization, the problem of
too little time seemed to be a common
factor.
"I just didn't have the time to go to all
the functions, let alone go over to the
house to visit. I felt like I was letting the
guys down, so I got out," said one woman
who quite in her sophomore year. She
did admit she was happy as a little sister
and still considers some of the fraternity
members as close friends.
Another said that no matter what any
one else thinks she believes little sisters
are in essence "a dating pool for the
guys." She added that although some
women may have enjoyed such social
advantages, she did not have time for such
an organization when there are other
activities to get involved in on campus.
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