<p>Okay, I haven’t read every single post, but I do not recall anyone saying there is anything wrong with those who choose not to join a sorority. In fact, there seem to be quite a few posts stating the opposite-that since those individuals see no merit in the system, then it shouldn’t even exist.</p>
<p>I think girls who have no interest in joining a sorority should follow their heart without being criticized for it, and I also feel that a girl who chooses to join a sorority should be able to do the same without also being judged. Joining a sorority is simply one of many ways college girls try to meet other girls, make friendships, find a way to belong.</p>
<p>As to why people dress up to go to Church, Synagogue or Mosque? I believe there are two reasons that I can think of: One is respect for the institution. The other is more ephemeral: Dressing in a special way shows the division of everyday to the special. I am not religious but I wanted to say sacred instead of special. No, I don’t think that God judges on whether you’re wearing Gucci, Prada or Walmart. But I think that in the moment you are aware that the experience in the house of worship sets this moment of the week aside from the mundane.</p>
<p>I don’t think anybody has ever suggested sororities shouldn’t exist (maybe you could cite someone?). Some people have criticized the process of rush and how girls are selected, and there is a difference of opinion there, but I don’t see anyone calling for a ban on Greek life, or negating a girl’s right to choose her path.</p>
<p>And no, nobody has said there is anything wrong with not joining a sorority, but people have suggested that girls that don’t know how to dress according to certain standards (which sororities can teach) are not well-prepared for professional life and the outside social world, which is what I dispute.</p>
<p>I agree. My own D has no interest in rushing even though she knows how much I enjoyed my own sorority days.</p>
<p>I don’t recall any of the sorority women I knew ever criticizing anyone for not joining. There was however a group of women on my campus who were very anti-sorority and very vocal about it. Interestingly they had no problem with fraternities, they were all fraternity “little sisters”. Suddenly several of these girls went through rush senior year and pledged. A little surprising, but no one criticized them for that either.</p>
<p>I do not think that not joining a sorority makes you unprepared fashionwise for life outside of college. What I disagree with is the notion that it is wrong to have standards. The HR person is going to judge you based on how you look as you come through the door. The person at the social event is going to decide if they want to meet you based on how you look. And to deny to that clothes, haircut/color, and brushing one’s teeth (for example, I do not think that people who don’t brush their teeth don’t join sororities) doesn’t matter is just wrong.</p>
<p>Ellebud—the criticism of “the list” (see the link, not the expurgated list here) was directed at the expensive labels required for rush. Tory Birch shoes, satin ok as long as it is Dolce and Gabanna. Somehow this has denegrated into an argument against some sort of ficticious student who does not bath and whose parents will not even send them to school with a pair of khakis (which,ironically, as the original list points out are strictly VERBOTEN)</p>
<p>I was elected sweetheart of my BF’s fraternity. I as as close to some of them as I was to members of my sorority.</p>
<p>musica - I didn’t read it that way. I think the Tory Burch was mentioned as an example of style and the Dolce & Gabbana mention was obviously in jest as it went along with the satin comment, layers of spanx and New Year’s Eve. I hadn’t realized that anyone thought they were really saying that people should wear D&G.</p>
<p>Edited to add - no one looks good in khakis either.</p>
<p>I think MANY things can be read into the original list…it sure has internet legs. My brother, a photo editor for a NY fashion magazine, just included in an email to me, with the header “hahahahahahaha”. They apparently are considering a parody spread on the thing.</p>
<p>Whenever someone sets themselves up as the fashion police, they are asking for it. We really DO have to dig up a classic '80s list as mentioned previously. What bugs me is how this discussion has devolved into two camps. Those who follow the sage listed advice and khaki wearing, unshaven, un showered, plastic shoed neanderthals who just do not care about the comportment of their daughters (in front of the Pope no less!)</p>
<p>And, i know for a FACT, that in Vatican City khakis are a hot new look. :)</p>
<p>Now, now musica, I was talking about JEANS in front of the Pope, not khakis. (in fact, khakis were mentioned as…oh, forget it.)
And as far as a “hot look” in Vatican City is concerned…oh, forget that as well…</p>
<p>Cartera - don’t you remember from SNL, “Delta, delta, delta, can we helpya, helpya, helpya?”?</p>
<p>Lol, the Pi Phi email didn’t say that girls were required to wear Tory Burch. Where do you get that from? It was an EXAMPLE of a look, not a label requirement.</p>
<p>No one SHOULD criticize this. I was commenting on not judging/criticizing someone for joining or not joining a sorority. In the case I cited, I just found it interesting that a group of people who were very negative about sororities (and very public about it) ended up pledging.</p>