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

Panhellenic Conference recognizes the need by universities to evaluate the organizations that
they host on their campus; however, NPC does not always agree with the type of information that
is being assessed. Further, NPC is concerned that pursuit of some of the information infringes on
the sovereign rights of the national organizations. In the future, more studies may be conducted
involving sorority women and assessing the impact that the sorority experience has on
undergraduate sorority women.
The challenges presented in this study are critical to the overall quality of the sorority
experience. Organizations such as sororities that promote themselves as value-based
organizations must have a balance between the social aspect and the deeper experience. So the
question remains, does ritual have an impact on the behavior of sorority women or not? This
study demonstrates that ritual might have an impact on behavior; however, it does not always
appear that there is a clear understanding by the sorority women as to what role ritual may play in
their daily lives. It seems that in some ways the ritual is a part of the sorority experience. The way
that the women believe in the sorority and what it stands for is not always because of the ritual.
In some ways, to the sorority women, it is more about the sorority experience as a whole and not
necessarily the values stated in the ritual. Sorority members understand various aspects of the
ritual, but it may be that the standards or the rules of the organization guide behavior more than
the ritual. By offering programs and assistance that would educate undergraduate sorority women
as to the role that ritual has in their overall experience, the balance of the experience may be
more meaningful for them. To many in and outside of the sorority world, the sorority experience
is often superficial and social. The ritual ceremonies are the bonding component that establishes
the individuality of a particular sorority. If sororities are going to continue to contribute to the
lives of their members, then teaching the importance of the ritual ceremonies and the richness
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