Civilians in my days were called Gamma Delta Iotas…Gosh Darned Independents (the actual words are mortally sinful - I’ll keep ya out of hell). And, to let you know “they” were in on it, they wore GDI letters on sweatshirts.
In addition, fraternities on campus had their own personalities. Sometimes those personalities weren’t universal - you could be the Animal House at your college, then road trip to a different chapter and they’d be bookworms. Thus, putting your fraternity on your CV was , for most people, a Bad Idea (unless you were in a “buy-a-frat” situation, eg AGR was the “fraternity” for the Agriculture majors-no hazing or pledging).
Th other element at play here is the personality of a chapter can morph over time. My chapter is nothing like what we were in the 80s. That’s probably a good thing - fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son. But if this girl thinks other Zetas will automatically hire her, she’s likely being sold a bill of goods by the actives AND alumni.
“Chi O...Chi O....it’s off to bed we go....”
Thanks for the history lesson. One question - do you think most fraternities were more rowdy, ill-behaved, etc. in the 1980s and 1990s than they are now? Or is it worse now?
I was AGR at Colorado State. When, I pledged (1983), there was hazing, to a minor degree and a hell week which basically involved significant lack of sleep.
Today, that is strictly forbidden with no initiation period.
Best part was the Little Sisters which were like a women’s auxiliary to the house. Many were sisters to my frat brothers. They organized dances, were secret Santa’s and etc.
Several marriages resulted from this close interaction. Sadly, this does not exist today.
MFO