Hi. I am currently a junior at NIU. This is my third year here and also my third year as a Sigma Chi little sister. So you probably can guess what I am going to write about. This letter is in regard to a column on Nov. 22. I guess what I should first say is that every school has different programs, and also every fraternity within schools has different programs. So when I write this I am talking about the Sigma Chi Little Sister program at NIU.

I will start from the beginning. By the way, I am talking about “the best thing that ever happened to me,” so I might get carried away. Anyway, I was a freshman in my first semester, I heard about this little sister stuff but I knew nothing about it. I had a few friends who were Sigma Chi pledges at the time. They told me to go to rush and to bring friends. I had nothing better to do, so some friends and I went.

We were the first ones there. There were a few guys dressed in suits (very nicely) at the door to greet us. They were very polite. They introduced us to a few little sisters and asked us to sign in. We all received name tags to wear. And everyone there had name tags on too. Then we were told that we could ask any questions we want about the program, and they would be pleased to answer them. They said to meet as many people as we could (guys and girls) and to just have fun.

There was a lot of dancing, which I thought was great because I love dancing. The place started to fill up. My friends and I must have met everyone. We talked to tons of people and danced a lot. When we left we were going to walk home when some of the guys asked how we were going to get home and they insisted that they would get us a ride home. And they did.

Through talking to everyone and asking questions, I found out that this organization was supposed to be a way to meet people, make good friends, always have something to do, have fun, and know there is always someone there if you need anything. Well, I found out it was just that.

It started out with “ribbon pinning”. At this there were all the active guys, pledge guys, active girls and pledge girls. Everyone was very dressed up. Everyone made us feel very important. We got a blue and gold ribbon pinned on us, and we were each given a carnation. Then every guy and girl greeted us with a handshake or a friendly kiss on the cheek. I thought that was wonderful. I really felt welcome.

Then we had our first meeting. At the meeting were all the girls and then one guy (who is the little sister coordinator). We were all given a list of everyone’s phone numbers and addresses in case of anything. We found out there would be many parties, meetings, fun activities, scavenger hunts, sport activities and get-togethers. And as I found out there was just that.

The neatest thing was the pledge books. We all got to design a book with blue and gold colors in anyway we wanted. Then we were to get the signatures of all the guys (pledges and actives) and all the girls (pledges and actives). This was great. I met so many people this way (that is why they do it). Almost every Thursday all the little sisters would meet at one of the girl’s apartments and swap pledge books. We had fun. It was a time to meet other girls, get signatures, and talk “girl talk.” When I read over what people wrote in my book, sure some were just funny, but everyone welcomed me and told me if I ever need anything to call because they will always be there. And again I found out that was true.

Some examples are the following: After Christmas break that semester, my parents brought me back to NIU early in the morning to find out that the dorms were closed until later in the afternoon. They said they couldn’t wait around because they had to be home soon. I did not know what to do—it was too cold outside to wait and I did not have anyone’s address with me who lived in an apartment, so I figured—Sigma Chi.

I went to the Sigma Chi house, the guys were pleased to help me. A few of them met my parents, helped me bring my luggage in and let me stay in one of their rooms. When we got there, he turnd on the TV and asked if I needed anything or anything to eat. And then we just hung-out and talked. Then when the dorms opened, he drove me to my dorm and helped me unload my stuff. I don’t know what I would have done. And there were various different occasions when I was safely walked or driven home from a party or meeting and even given an extra jacket to wear because it was cold out.

Then we had a pledge project. We girls would think of something we wanted to do for the guys or their house (we had fund raisers to help pay for it). So we decided to repaint a bathroom. They had a lil‘ Sigma bathroom. It was for the girls. So we painted it blue and yellow, painted a rose on it and wrote lil’ Sigmas.

Then there is initiation. We were never once made to do anything immoral, improper or something we did not want to do, or drink anything we did not want. There is no hazing! I even remember, we went in twos and there was a part where we were asked to drink a small glass of wine and we were told—If you do not or can not drink this, turn to your “sister” and ask her if she will for you, but don’t worry you do not have to drink it. Then we were given pins. They looked just like the guys’ pins—but a smaller size. Now I was active, but everything was the same, everyone was so nice.

So to sum it all up, being a little sister has introduced me to something wonderful: a group to be in where everyone really cares, where I meet many guys and girls, where I always have someone to talk to and something to do and somewhere to go and where I am made to feel like I really mean something and where I know I will never have to walk home from anywhere (or at least not alone). And where I know I can call them for anything. And it is where I can have a lot of fun laughing, talking and dancing.

I realize I wrote a lot, but that is not even all of the things I can say about this program and all are good things. I have no negative things to say about this program. This is how the Sigma Chi Little Sister program is at NIU and I am a proud member, but because of things like the other girl has said about little sisters, we sometimes get a bad name. I feel we deserve this kind of publicity also.

Maureen E. Buti

Junior

Special Education