Sorority Rituals - Reflections On Rites of ... - Mari Ann Callais

would allow the undergraduates to ask questions of the advisors and alumnae as to why they have
stayed committed to their sorority. They could also share common experiences and their feelings
about the ritual ceremonies. Advisors and alumnae would therefore have a greater awareness of
the important roles that they have in educating undergraduate sorority women about the
importance of the ritual ceremonies.
National Sororities
One of the most important conclusions of this study was that most of the participants had
not been taught about ritual except by participating in the actual ceremonies. In addition, many of
the participants indicated that they would like to understand ritual, not only as a ceremony, but
how what is expressed in the ceremony can assist them in their lives by the way that they make
decisions and choices. National sororities can develop programs and create opportunities for
ritual to be taught not only from the performance aspect, but how it can be applicable to the lives
of their members. These opportunities could help sorority women find balance in their
experiences between social interaction, development of relationships, and the ritualistic aspect of
sorority life. The national sororities might sponsor discussion nights when ritual is explained and
dialogue about the meaning of ritual ceremonies would occur. Many of the participants indicated
that they only participated in the initiation ceremony once a year. The national sororities might
develop a program that explains all of the ritual ceremonies of their organization and what they
mean to the overall sorority experience.
University Administrators
Based upon the participants’ expressed desire for a better understanding of the ritual
ceremonies by their chapter members, university administrators who work with sororities might
want to provide support to those chapters that want to have a deeper understanding about who
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