Branded Letters

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Today marks the day that every little girl dreams of since the day her mother blessed her with her very own set of pearl earrings, high heel shoes, and sweet- but- sassy personality. Bid Day for sorority life at UNCW allows girls to put their collegiate fate in the hands of anxiously awaiting sorority women who only hope to have a new pledge class formed from the group of their various “rush crushes” developed over the course of the past five days of formal recruitment. After hours upon hours of chanting, smiling, talking, voting, and dancing, girls of UNCW can be associated with a sorority group on campus that they can call their own.

With the recruitment process finally over, letter shirts are undoubtedly going to flood the length of chancellors walk. Girls won’t be able to fight the temptation to brand themselves under the stereotype of such letters; proud to be a part of the group that is associated with the letters sewn onto their shirts. However, sorority members must be fair-warned: this type of attire is a form of branding that should be used with caution and responsibility. The actions you take and words you say as you wear these letters not only represent you, but also represent how you want yourself and your chapter to be perceived by others.

Each sorority on this campus offers something different. From reputation to reality, the young ladies involved in Greek Life all make an impression upon their peers according to how they act when they wear these prized letter shirts. If one girl wearing the letter shirt misses class; all sorority women skip classes. If one girl gossips while wearing the letter shirt; all sorority women gossip.

At least in the minds of those who stereotype.

This kind of branding is not only true for sororities. All organizations create their identity based on the kind of brand they hope to portray through their members. Each person has the power to represent their group as a whole based on how they act individually…creating an instant association built from one impression. The new members of the Greek system on UNC-Wilmington’s campus have the ability to either accept this brand that has been established for their particular organization or to enhance it. The perception of a group is something that can change with simple, consistent actions that are valued and upheld by all members. Therefore, the revealing of Bid Day today should also reveal hope to expand the brand that these women are newly associated with on UNCW’s campus.

-Sally, Jared, Oliver

Comments

18 responses to “Branded Letters”

September 12, 2011

Chris Montero

I support the idea that sororities have their own reputation on and off campus. In the same token I believe that girls who are not leaders look for sororities to establish their identity.

Female leaders create organizations like sororities and corporations for others to follow their footsteps. The founding mothers or fathers of sororities are always on top of the pack but what about the ones who fall in the middle of the pack? What so special about them? What do they gain? Yes sure networking opportunities are there but what about being original and paving your own future?

I think that if you follow trends and directions from sororities without climbing to the top positions in the sororities then you acclimate your brain to follow and depend on others ideas instead of your own. In the real world (no sororities) you don’t have people who tell you how to make money, how to come up with innovative ideas? In the long run is the follower who suffers the consequences of being incompetent and limited.

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September 12, 2011

Molly Jacques

I agree that being in a sorority or fraternity is one of the most forthright forms of branding yourself in college. Those rushing are worried about choosing the “right” sorority. Some girls join sororities to make friends and boost their popularity. Some, do it for the prestige as most sororities require good academics, references, and money. You don’t want to choose the sorority that has the “party” stereotype, or do you? It all depends on what you want to be branded as. Which girls the sororities choose also defines how they want to be perceived. Sororities want to choose the brightest, most attractive, and the best all around. With my experience talking to sorority girls at UNCW they are driven academically, sociable, and contrary to the stereotype actually very nice. I hope to see UNCW sororities continue to set such a positive example as I have seen this year.

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September 12, 2011

Ashlyn Reaves

I never really thought about being in a sorority could be considered a brand or the greek letters you wear as a brand. But it is true that every time you wear them people will be watching your actions so anything you may do or say will reflect the brand that you are representing. This can be an exciting thing, but it is important to think before you act. Overall, being in a sorority is a great experience and after bid day it only gets better!

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September 12, 2011

Nicole Wood

I applaud the writers of this blog. The demonstration of branding is well illustrated and highly expressed from a sorority/public standpoint. I’ve realized how our lives have been consumed with stereotypes and what it means to be associated with a “brand.” Our culture demands a name, and the name gives us a sense of belonging or identification, in which everyone strives to discover. Branding is a form of expression that constrains our lives into patterns. To go against the pattern would be a step out of the box; the box of social norms and expectations. In a way stepping out of the box would be taking the CMM theory on life. Oh, if only…I can’t imagine the world without branding. I feel as if its inevitable and our lives will constantly be in a battle for a title.

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September 13, 2011

Holly Edwards

It must be stressful to be in a sorority, especially when you are wearing the letters. It is true that you are no longer representing yourself, but the whole entire sorority when you are wearing those letters. After watching “The Persuaders” I realized how much marketing and advertising is everywhere. I didn’t even think about sorority’s until now. The main reason they wear the letters is not to show that they are in a sorority but to advertise their sorority, especially to new freshman who are itching for new friends, a place to feel included. It’s genius, really. I’ve learned that you can never really run away from advertising or branding, it will always be there, even in the form of sorority shirts.

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September 13, 2011

Brooke Keller

I could not agree more with this post. It is known that sororities and fraternities are involved in branding. Each sorority has their own narrative and motto that they are supposed to uphold. For example, Sigma Alpha Omega sorority focuses on Christian ideals and traditions. With that being said if I see a girl stealing from the book store and she has Sigma Alpha Omega letters stamped on her t-shirt, she is not a good representation of her sorority. When girls have their Greek letters pressed on their shirts, totes and planners they are branding themselves with that organization. I completely agree with the advice that was given warning girls that this branding should be used with caution and responsibility. I really enjoyed reading this blog.

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September 13, 2011

Sarah Lively

As a member of a sorority myself, I find this blog to be very true. In my chapter we are always discussing to wear letters only when looking your best, and to be aware of the actions you take while wearing them. After all, you do not want to be a disgrace to your chapter or represent it in a negative way. Bid Day is a great day for each chapter at UNCW, as we look forward to the talents our new members will bring. As practically most everything in life is a brand, we hope to promote UNCW Greek Life positively and prove not everyone is like the stereotype.

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September 13, 2011

Jessica Saunders

From a woman in the UNCW greek community, I am fully aware of the stereotypes and branding that come with joining a sorority and wearing your sororities letters. However, once you are apart of the sorority you learn the real meaning behind those letters and the sisterhood that comes with wearing them. The sisterhood that comes with it is not easy for many people to understand. I agree that sorority women need to be careful with what they say and do in their letters. Many sororities have clauses in their sororities constitution that state you are not allowed to use profanity, drink alcohol, and/or do anything suggestive and vulgar while wearing your letters. There is a problem with people stereotyping the whole sorority because of one girl. How would non-greeks like the fact that people still stereotype them based on who their friends are and who they hang around. The only difference for greeks is the obvious letters that define our “social group.” Stereotyping and branding will always happen but to be associated with any sorority and to wear those letters have a very sacred meaning that no matter what anyone says or believes, the women of the sororities know what they really stand for.

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September 13, 2011

Alexandria Kapczynski

Sorority letter shirts come with a great deal of brand association. Being a greek woman, I can vouched that the sororities that do the best during recruitment (have a higher return rate of potential new members to their events) are those with the most distinct brand message. The top tier of the greek community send the most relatable and clearest message, they consistently stick to their product and niche market. One cannot merely market “Sisterhood,” because their are eight other organizations who claim the same thing, there has to be an element that distinguishes your particular group, sets them apart and above. Not only do women wearing greek letters across their chest run the risk of adding to an already preconceived notion and stereotype, but they also chance causing damage to their brand by not adhering to it confines.

-Alexandria Kapczynski

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September 13, 2011

Kirsten Kalsky

I can honeslty say that I have never looked at Greek Life here at UNCW in this way. When I notice someone wearing a shirt with greek letters on it I do not necassrily group them I just take notice to the face they like “greek life.” Although I do not think it is for me I do not judge, but when someone wearing greek letters shows up extremely hungover to class you start to pass judgement. This is an interesting way to see this as branding.

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September 13, 2011

Bryce Koonts

It is so easy to forget that we ourselves can be walking billboards. With so many institutions of learning and charitable organizations flooding the world with t-shirts and baseball caps its almost unavoidable that one of these items will eventually end up in a mug shot.

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September 13, 2011

camerondailey

Today while walking on campus, the sidewalks were flooded with girls wearing lettered shirts. I knew this would be the case, but it was interesting to see some girls that I wouldn’t associate with a particular sorority wearing certain letters. My friends and I joked, “She must be a legacy,” as one girl walked by.

-Cameron Dailey

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September 13, 2011

Ashley Oliver

When I started reading this blog I expected be one of two things, either criticism or praise of sororities. I was surprised when I realized it was neither. The idea that the actions of sorority members while weariing their sorority’s t-shirts are reflections of the the sorority itself, is very logical. I can understand that girls who had recently pledged their sorority would look at older members as a guide of how to think and behave. Wearing your sorority’s t-shirt shows your belief in its brand. This is not to say that every member of a sorority is the exact same as every other member. However, by pleding into a sorority you are in at least some way buying into its brand.

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September 13, 2011

Joseph Marshall Johnson

I completely agree with this. I myself am a fraternity man on campus and I know that I cannot afford to screw up in class or out in public. Most greeks are told if you are going to be wearing your letters on campus or in public you must be on your best behavior and even if not wearing a shirt or a bag with your letters you are always representing your organization. Unfortunatley, due to movies like “Old School” and “Animal House” people tend to already brand greeks as people that do not care about anything and all we do is drink. Overall, going greek is one of the few great ways to get involved on campus and to make yourself a better person it’s sad though that just a few people can ruin things for everyone.

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September 13, 2011

Hunter Wilson

As a member of a Fraternity on campus, I am actively aware of how I act when I am wearing letters. I tend to be more polite, more outgoing, more courteous. I am consciously advertising myself in the best way possible, trying to make a better impression for not just Greek life, but my individual Fraternity as well. This conscious branding works the other way as well. I purposely do not wear letter shirts during the first week of classes. Why? Well, I don’t want my professor to think that I am a stereotypical “Frat guy”. It’s an unfortunate reality that society tends to look down on the Greek life. When my friends find out that I am in a Fraternity, they say “You don’t seem like a Frat guy.” While this makes me appreciate what I’m doing for the Greek stereotype as an individual, it is troubling to know that Fraternity men have lost the association with being known “gentlemen”.

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September 13, 2011

Zach Abramo

I completely agree with everything that is written here. As a student in Greek Life here at UNCW, I have quickly learned that you are judged on your letters whether you like it or not. Anything wrong that you do, doesn’t only look poorly on you, but on the organization you are representing on your shirt. On the other hand, if you do something right then you make your organization look good. It’s a shame that so much stereotyping goes on but that’s life and sometimes you just have to deal with the cards that you are dealt.

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September 13, 2011

Shannon Sweeting

It seems to me the authors are stereotyping. For one not every sorority woman owns pearls, high heels or has a sassy attitude. I also wouldn’t say collegiate fate, because no matter what sorority you’re in your fate is not in the hands of your sisters, how you do in your classes is completely up to you, and not surprising to me sororities hold the highest GPA’s of all organizations. Also recruitment is not finally over; recruiting is never over for sorority woman we recruit 365 days a year. How we act will recruit girls for the rest of Wilmington’s existence. Also girls are not just associated with the letters sewn onto their shirts, they are associated with a tradition that has lasted probably longer than anything most people can say they could be a part of. Also sorority woman also know that they are not just worried about what they do, act or say while in their letter shirts, we are worried about what we do, act or say everyday because if you’re in a sorority people know it regardless if you’re in your shirt that day. In aspects with marketing I would say that the Panhellenic council did a phenomenal job of marketing. Clearly everyone campus wide knew that fall sorority recruitment was going on. With all that being said, every person should have the same mind set as sorority woman, you are branded when you put on your UNCW shirt. Try and represent it well.

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September 13, 2011

Tyler Smith

I can relate to this post being an athlete. UNCW and the athletic department try their best to make our athletes appear like the most intelligent well-rounded students on the campus. While many athletes do their part to uphold this, there are always a few that screw up, be it in the classroom or with the law. As soon as this happens, everybody jumps to the conclusion that such and such team is a bunch of party animals, or another team is a bunch of idiots. Even if you are not a member of a team on campus, everyone is placed into stereotypes that stem from their gender, hometown, race, or even hair color. Greek life stays under a microscope because of the way tv and the media has portrayed it since the days of “animal house”. I had a friend from england who came to visit me and all he wanted to do was drink beer out of a red solo cup because that was how he associated college life and especially fraternities. So while frats/sorrorities are an easy example, we are all being quickly and sometimes unfairly judged and branded on our actions.

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