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Bid Night Brings New Pledges Now Peacefully!

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

Editors Note: Due to technical difficulties and other issues, the event was unable to be covered in it's entirety. Pittsburgh Standard regrets the error of not having full coverage of all sororities but is thankful for a Chi Omega sister who texted me regarding the exact time when everyone will be going to Amos Hall.

As Campus Crusade for Christ and Cornerstone were having a fellowship gathering of brothers and sisters in Christ, on a Wednesday night of Jan 27, hundreds of sisters from sororities gathered outside the William Pitt Union to show support for the new pledges that would enter their fold.

Now the big sisters will have a responsibility to shepherd the new pledges as a good shepherd takes care of his flock. This means every sister should protect the new pledges, that excitedly entered their fold, from hazing, under-aged drinking, bad-partying etc.

The community of Greek Life should be thought for it's Service, Excellence,  Acceptance, and Leadership, as I like to call it S.E.A.L,  to raise up new pledges who would become part of that S.E.A.L. who in turn can help replicate those virtues in other people's lives.

They should experience a community of love, caring, and sharing. The S.E.A.L of Greek Life as I like to think about it reminds me of F.A.C.T as my senior pastor Hugo Cheng of Pittsburgh Chinese Church Oakland (PCCO)- Oakland International Fellowship (OIF) has mentored me about.

It stands for being Faithful, Available, Compatible, and Teachable within a community where the focus in the Christian community is upon Christ to help make F.A.C.T a reality.

I have found when F.A.C.T is acted upon, it will encourage S.E.A.L more powerfully to influence other people's lives in a positive way.

So when the big sisters are faithful, available, compatible, and teachable with the new pledges, they will be excited about service, excellence, acceptance, and leadership. 

If the principles of biblical Scriptures were applied on how to mentor and shepherd a new flock, that would be ideal. The new pledges will be blessed and experience God's love and trust in their new community.

Even though the verse below applies to elders, pastors and church leaders who shepherd the congregation members of their flock, the principles can be applied in sororities and fraternities when new pledges join their flock.

^"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:2-3, NIV)

The night before Bid Night, it was good to see couple of sisters from Chi Omega communicate over Market Central meal emphasizing community bonding, sharing, and caring. These were the Chi Omega pledges of Fall 2009 who became Chi Omega sisters to help nurture a new flock who would join them.

Chi Omega is only one sorority but there are eleven other sororities that can emphasize the F.A.C.T of S.E.A.L.

Sorority sisters were excited to run to Amos Hall after they found out who their new pledges would be. As they waited to get in, some members of sororities posed for pictures.

Chi Omega sisters wait outside Amos Hall!

Delta Phi Epsilon sisters wait outside of Amos Hall

Kappa Delta sisters wait outside of Amos Hall

Video footage coming soon

"Sorority Sisters Seek Pledges Promoting Loving Leadership!" (Sept 16, 09, 2:37 p.m.)

"Applauding Amos Hall’s Habitability, Sorority Sisters Report Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!" (Sept 15, 09, 1:33 a.m.)