Jaymi Light - Indiana University



Jaymi’s online threads

Item 1: Website Message Board/Song:

Clarification (on Song Lyrics)/Love Songs

The Thread on “Candle Pass Lyrics” is located on the Alpha Delta Pi National Website () in the member’s only section under “Message Boards.” The message boards are used by members, current and alumnae, for suggestions, new happenings, traditions and clarifications, as well as other topics. Members of Alpha Delta Pi use these message boards regularly. Members communicate through usernames and can reveal their identities if they choose to. In terms of what is discussed, it is typical for a sorority to sing a song and pass a candle if one of their members gets promised or engaged. The first Alpha Delta Pi member prompts the question:

Thread: Candle Pass Lyrics

| kimberlyannduncan |

|Joined: 21 Dec 2004 |

|Total Posts: 3 |

|Candle Pass Lyrics | |

|Posted: 01-21-2005 10:34 PM | |

|Does anyone have the lyrics for the candle pass song when someone gets dropped, promised, or engaged? It begins "God gave the wisemen their |

|wisdom and to the poets their dreams..." |

|Loyally, |

|Kimberly Duncan |

|Delta Mu- Sam Houston State University |

| alicia |

|Joined: 17 Sep 2004 |

|Total Posts: 59 |

|Re: Candle Pass Lyrics | |

|Posted: 01-21-2005 11:32 PM | |

|This one's in the ADPi songbook, Sing Sister Sing. |

|Here's the text: |

|Many chapters have sung this song and its source is unknown, but it continues to be a favorite, partly because of its use as a serenade. |

|Frequently it is sung at wedding receptions to an ADPi bride. |

| |

|Lyrics: |

|God gave the wisemen their wisdom |

|And to the poets their dreams |

|To Father and Mother |

|Their love for each other |

|But he left me out so it seems |

|I wandered 'round broken-hearted |

|Thinking life was an endless affair |

|But when God gave me you |

|It was then that I knew |

|He had given me more than my share |

| polarpi |

|Joined: 25 Dec 2004 |

|Total Posts: 5 |

|Re: Candle Pass Lyrics | |

|Posted: 01-23-2005 01:00 AM | |

|Wow, our chapter never sang that song! That's gorgeous, and now I need to sit down with the songbook sometime and check out the other songs I |

|missed out on! :) |

| adpigirl |

|Joined: 21 Dec 2004 |

|Total Posts: 25 |

|Re: Candle Pass Lyrics | |

|Posted: 01-23-2005 04:34 PM | |

|I've never heard of that one. When I was a collegian and even now as an alum, we sing Pass It On when we do a candle passing. |

| |

|The lyrics to Pass It On are as follows: |

| |

|It only takes a spark |

|To get a friendship going |

|And soon all those around |

|Can warm up to its glowing |

|That's how it is with ADPi* |

|Once you've experienced it |

|You want to see** |

|The love it brings*** |

|You want to pass it on |

| |

|I wish for you my friend |

|This happiness that I've found |

|You can depend on it |

|It matters not where you're bound |

|I'll shout it from the mountain top |

|I want the world to know |

|That ADPi has come to me |

|I want to pass it on. |

| |

| |

|Okay as for the astricks, I did that because the lyrics I learned are different than what my Alpha book has them. |

| |

|*Love (not ADPi) |

|**Sing (not see) |

|***It's fresh like spring (not the love it brings) |

Commentary

This thread is a discussion about the songs sung for members in the chapter who have become “official” in a relationship through a promise ring, lavaliering, or formal engagement. The song that is discussed is used at Alpha Delta Pi chapters all over the country, as evident by the postings from Alpha Delta Pi members in different chapters. Before the songs are sung, current sorority members gather into a circle and hold hands. They sing either the first song discussed, “God gave the Wisemen their Wisdom…” or “Pass It On,” while a candle is passed around the circle. The candle passes through the circle three times before the woman who is promised/engaged/lavaliered blows out the candle, therefore revealing that she is the woman who is, in fact, promised/engaged/lavaliered.

These message boards allow members to connect and clarify information, as shown through the original thread that asked clarification for a specific song. Through this connection, other songs were brought up and allowed information to spread from one chapter to another. The songs in question are love songs and have an air of marriage about them, which is appropriate for the occasion. The woman will let everyone in her sorority know about her relationship status and they will all celebrate her promising/engagement/lavaliering.

But, this also says a lot about sororities. Sororities celebrate and encourage relationships and shun being independent. They continue their traditions from earlier times where women were encouraged to go to college to find a husband. Neither song seems to be a specific sorority song but just a general engagement song fitted for a sorority’s use. The book mentioned by one of the Alpha Delta Pi members, Sing Sister Sing, is an Alpha Delta Pi songbook for the chapter’s music chair. The book contains songs collected over the years from various chapters, as well as songs that date back to the very foundation of the sorority.

Item 2: Anonymous Message Board:

Sorority Gossip/Opinions

The thread is about the sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, at Indiana University. The thread is located on the university gossip website, , where Indiana University students can post threads about anything, ranging from Greek life to what’s heard on campus, all while allowing students to keep their anonymity. There is an evident hostility against Greeks from GDIs (God Damn Independents), as well as hostility amongst the Greeks. This is shown through this thread about Alpha Gamma Delta. Anyone is allowed to respond so there are responses from sorority girls, fraternity men, and GDIs.

| |

| |0% |#Replies |

| |JUICY |13 |

|AGD |2 votes | |

| |940 views | |

|any thoughts, what | | |

|does everyone think | | |

|about them....... | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|04-20-2008 | | |

|Hide All | | |

|Replies   Reply     | | |

|Indiana | | |

|University | Greek | | |

|Organizations | | |

|RE:AGD |

|Gross |

|04-20-2008 |

|RE:AGD |

|their new pledge class isn't terrible.   |

|04-20-2008 |

|RE:AGD |

|they are really nice, genuine girls. |

|04-20-2008 |

|RE:AGD |

|amazingly sweet girls... Anyone who tries to deface their character are just insane or haven't met any of them..  Seriously... I |

|have not met a more sincere group of girls... |

|04-20-2008 |

|RE:AGD |

|They seem like they are all really nice girls! |

| |

|& Annie Stephenson is the shit! |

|04-20-2008 |

|RE:AGD |

|We already have met them. Not good looking AT ALL. GDI > AGD |

|04-20-2008 |

|RE:AGD |

|The reason quiznos closed.... They ate all their food |

|04-20-2008 |

|RE:AGD |

|You all shit talk them on here soo much, but they really are all super nice girls and they do not all fit the stereotype.  Stop |

|judging and get to know people before you say anything about them. |

|04-20-2008 |

|RE:AGD |

|"they really are all super nive girls" FAGGGGGG they are gubers and should be treated as such |

|04-21-2008 |

|RE:AGD |

|Annie is the shit...best thing that ever happned to AGD |

|04-21-2008 |

|RE:AGD |

|Hey Phi Psi douche bag you spelled goober wrong. |

| |

|04-21-2008 |

|RE:AGD |

|They may have had a reputation in the past for whatever reason, but i think they are really sweet and their new pledge class |

|isn't bad |

|04-22-2008 |

|RE:AGD |

|Alpha Graba Donut...truer words were never spoken... |

|04-22-2008 |

| |

| |

|Commentary |

| |

|This thread about Alpha Gamma Delta is a common one on . A variety of Greeks and non-Greeks ask for “thoughts” on |

|specific sororities and fraternities, allowing people to respond with posts on that thread. In this case, a person asks for |

|thoughts on Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority at Indiana University. As shown by the responses, the thoughts range from nice to vulgar |

|and mean-hearted. Proper grammar and spelling are not evident as everything is very informal and mistakes are everywhere. Because|

|the posts are anonymous, people say whatever they want about Alpha Gamma Delta and cannot be identified. Each post can be voted |

|as “Juicy” or not, increasing the “Juicy” factor on the website. This thread is not anything to gossip about so the “Juicy” |

|factor is at zero but the views are at almost a thousand. Because you cannot determine a pattern of who’s viewing, who’s posting,|

|and etcetera, it is difficult to determine a lot about the thread. |

| |

|But, from what has been said about AGD, as they’re called, there are mixed feelings about the sorority. Some remark that their |

|new pledge class, who are mostly freshman and sophomores that have just joined the house, are cute and nice, while others say |

|that they have a lot of fat girls in their house and that they’re “gross.” The one response about Alpha Graba Donut, demonstrates|

|the nicknames that Greeks give each other. In this case, Alpha Graba Donut indicates that AGD’s are fat and love to eat. Other |

|examples include Chi-Hos (Chi Omegas), Visa Visa Mastercard (Kappa Kappa Gamma), Phi Mooo (Phi Mu), Easy DZs (Delta Zeta), STD |

|(Sigma Delta Tau), amongst others, indicating (usually falsely) characteristics of each chapter. |

| |

| |

|Item 3: Anonymous Message Boards |

|Sorority Gossip/Opinions |

| |

|The thread is about all the sororities at the Indiana University campus and prompts fraternity men on the Indiana University |

|campus to respond on which sorority is the best and worst to pair with. The thread is located on the university gossip website, |

|. |

|Worst sorority to |0% |#Replies |

|pair with!!! |JUICY |5 |

| |1 votes | |

|lets hear it now |1736 views | |

|that little 5 is | | |

|over which soroity | | |

|would be the best to| | |

|pair with!! | | |

|ALSO lets hear WHICH| | |

|ONES | | |

|ARE the worst TO | | |

|PAIR WITH! | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|04-17-2008 | | |

|Hide All | | |

|Replies   Reply     | | |

|Indiana | | |

|University | Greek | | |

|Organizations | | |

|RE:Worst sorority to pair with!!! |

|gay |

|04-17-2008 |

|RE:Worst sorority to pair with!!! |

|I heard Zeta was never at PiKapps. And that Phi Psi loved Kappa |

|04-17-2008 |

|RE:Worst sorority to pair with!!! |

|obviously somebody in phi psi posted this... when will you learn that you look like tools trying to promote yourselves on this |

|site... |

|04-17-2008 |

|RE:Worst sorority to pair with!!! |

|I heard that phi psi DID NOT like kappa that much at all |

|04-17-2008 |

|RE:Worst sorority to pair with!!! |

|zeta they never show |

| |

| |

|Commentary |

| |

|Threads concerning the Little 500 and pairings amongst Greeks very common on . Pairing amongst sororities and |

|fraternities is very important to Greeks at Indiana University and each Greek organization has specified officers in the house |

|specifically for pairing. Little 500 is the “Greek Week” of other universities and Greeks begin pairing for it a year in advance.|

|So, determining what sororities were the best and worst to pair with allow others to see what sorority or fraternity they should |

|try to pair with for the next Little 500. At this time, it seems that the fraternity Pi Kappa Psi has been writing a lot of |

|posts, as shown through the comment on this thread about phi psi promoting themselves on Juicy Campus. For the Little 500 this |

|year, Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority (“Zeta”) paired with Pi Kappa Phi (“Pi Kapps”), and Phi Kappa Psi (“Phi Psi”) paired with Kappa |

|Kappa Gamma (“Kappa”). Fraternity men and Sorority women who responded to this thread heard different things about the success of|

|the pairing, but there seems to be no definite response from either sorority or fraternity mentioned. This says a lot about Juicy|

|Campus and its ability to create and spread rumors, which can be promoting or demeaning. |

| |

| |

|Item 4: Anonymous Message Boards |

|Sorority Rush Opinions/Suggestions/Advice |

| |

|The thread is about sorority recruitment at the Indiana University campus and prompts sorority women on the Indiana University |

|campus to respond to the query whether if it’s hard to get into a “good” sorority as a sophomore. The thread is located on the |

|university gossip website, , where Indiana University students can post threads about anything, ranging from Greek|

|life to what’s heard on campus, all while allowing students to keep their anonymity. There is an evident hostility against |

|Greeks from GDIs (God Damn Independents), as well as hostility amongst the Greeks. This is shown through this thread about |

|sorority recruitment. Anyone is allowed to respond so there are responses from sorority girls, fraternity men and GDIs. Some |

|responds are actually helpful while others are rude and inappropriate. |

|Rushing as a |50% |#Replies |

|Sophomore |JUICY |5 |

| |2 votes | |

|i was wondering how |1011 views | |

|hard it really is to| | |

|get in a good | | |

|sorority as a | | |

|sophomore | | |

| | | |

|04-15-2008 | | |

|Hide All | | |

|Replies   Reply     | | |

|Indiana | | |

|University | Greek | | |

|Organizations | | |

|RE:Rushing as a Sophomore |

|I went through as a sophomore this year and my rush group was all sophomores. Girls got in everywhere! My advice to you is to |

|stay positive and don't let comments about sophomores not getting good houses get to you, because this just isn't true. Sure |

|there are houses that I went to that being a sophomore seemed to hurt me, but at almost all of them I was rushed by a girl who |

|went through recruitment as a sophomore herself, and in my pledge class I'm not the only one. You will hear this a thousand times|

|from just about everyone, but things really do work out in the end : ) Oh! and don't forget "good" houses really are subjective, |

|just find the one that's the right fit for you! |

|04-15-2008 |

|RE:Rushing as a Sophomore |

|You have to be willing to suck a lot of dick if you want to be in a house. I am talking at least double what freshman suck |

|04-15-2008 |

|RE:Rushing as a Sophomore |

| |

|That's not true. I suck a lot less dick now that I'm in. Of course, there's more of a presumption now that I'm "all access", so |

|the brown-eye gets a little more play than before, but at least it's not in my mouth. That's just gross! |

|04-15-2008 |

|RE:Rushing as a Sophomore |

|a lot of houses can only take so many sophomores, so while i wouldn't tell you to it's hopeless, you'll be fighting for a smaller|

|number of spots than the freshmen. just rush, be yourself, and you'll end up where you're supposed to. |

|04-15-2008 |

|RE:Rushing as a Sophomore |

|you really have nothing to loose by rushing, sophomore or not, so i'd at least tell you to go through 19 and see what happens. if|

|you feel like its not working for you because of your age, then drop. but if the biggest factor a house is going to judge you on |

|is your year in school then they're honestly not worth your time and you wouldn't want to be there anyway. theres a good number |

|of sophomores in my pledge class and it really makes no difference except that they'll live in 1 year less and we'll have to miss|

|them our senior year. :( only drawback |

This thread about sorority recruitment for sophomores is a rarity on Juicy Campus. Most people ask for thoughts about sororities and fraternities, which are the best, worst, etc., and pairings for events. It seems that people don’t ask about recruitment because they won’t get an accurate answer. They’ll get answers like the two inappropriate ones in this thread. As shown by the responses, the thoughts range from nice to vulgar and mean-hearted. Proper grammar and spelling are not evident as everything is very informal and mistakes are everywhere. Because the posts are anonymous, people say whatever they want about sorority recruitment and they cannot be identified. Each post can be voted as “Juicy” or not, increasing the “Juicy” factor on the website. This thread has a “Juicy” factor of 50% probably because there are genuine answers to the sophomore’s question about recruitment.

The views are over a thousand. Because you cannot determine a pattern of who’s viewing, who’s posting, and etcetera, it is difficult to determine a lot about the thread. In terms of sorority recruitment at Indiana University, the process is extremely competitive and tiring. It is extremely hard to get into a sorority because girl must be given a bid to a house after four rounds of recruitment. Of the 2,000 girls that go through recruitment, less than 1,000 receive bids. It is especially hard for sophomores to receive bids because sororities like to have freshmen members, for space and monetary reasons. It is possible to get into a sorority as a sophomore but not as hard to get into one as a freshman. Some of the posts in this thread address that. But others, the more vulgar and inappropriate one, address sorority recruitment’s competitiveness in a disgusting and sexual manner. These posts are assumed to be from fraternity members due to their nature (even the one that says that “now I’m in one”) and follow the typical sorority stereotype that sorority girls are easy and they’ll do anything with a fraternity in order to get a good pair.

Overview

The documents collected about Greek life at Indiana University ranged from official sorority songs to sorority recruitment stories, thoughts about sorority houses to what sororities are the best to pair with. I chose to pursue message boards on official sorority websites to the gossip website, Juicy Campus. The official sorority message board was innocent compared to Juicy Campus. This demonstrates how powerful anonymity is and shows the difference between public and private websites.

The first message post on Alpha Delta Pi’s website is limited to members, is closely monitored by the organization, and your identity is revealed by your username, which is posted, and the fact that the organization can look you up and threaten your membership in the sorority. The other three messages are anonymous and located on a public, popular website, known for starting rumors and degrading gossip. People are too scared to say anything when their reputation and identity are at risk. But this website allows these people to say whatever they want without that risk. The posts allow me to illustrate the current status of the Greek system at Indiana University, as well as evaluate sororities’ and fraternities’ reputations, and to tune into gossip about each house and the recruitment process. These posts further indicate the rivalries amongst the fraternities and sororities of Indiana University and show how important a sorority’s reputation is to pairing and general views. I have gathered that the themes of rivalry, sex, and girls have not changed, despite official social norms to the contrary.

Once again, these posts from Juicy Campus are very disappointing for the Greek community because they are supposed to be setting an example to incoming freshman as well as the rest of the campus. They are supposed to live up to the morals set forth in each house and in each person individually, but these posts just show how shallow some members of Greek Life are, and how quick to judge they are. Unimportant things such as pairing have a huge impact in Greek Life today rather than philanthropy and Greek morals. This website is embarrassing and it’s unfortunate that people in Greek Life talk about each other negatively and start rumors that have damaging effects.

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