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

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

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six months doing literature research to support my field research and to develop a plan to<br />

accomplish my goal <strong>of</strong> the completion <strong>of</strong> my dissertation and graduation.<br />

I would like to ask permission <strong>of</strong> this committee to conduct my study as it solely relates<br />

to sorority women. I will provide an overview <strong>of</strong> my study as well as a list <strong>of</strong> proposed questions<br />

that will be used for the study.<br />

Research as It Relates to Ritual<br />

For years we have been telling our women that the ritual is the foundation for which all <strong>of</strong><br />

our groups were founded. In recent years, many <strong>of</strong> us have been developing programs, bringing<br />

in speakers, and teaching our women at national and regional conventions and conferences that<br />

we must go back to basics--back to our foundation, back to our ritual. I have talked with many <strong>of</strong><br />

the leaders <strong>of</strong> the NPC groups and have asked their thoughts and opinions concerning ritual and<br />

what it means to our collegians and our alumnae. <strong>On</strong>e woman said something to me that has truly<br />

had an impact on the direction and the focus <strong>of</strong> my study and I quote: "My Fraternity's ritual truly<br />

was written more for our women today than it ever was for our founders.” The concepts<br />

encompassed in our ritual are so visionary and speaks <strong>of</strong> a time that is more present than past.<br />

They were not afforded many <strong>of</strong> the opportunities that our women are today and yet they<br />

provided a framework for modern day women and also provided a set <strong>of</strong> standards that are<br />

possibly much more challenging today than they were back then.” This statement has helped me<br />

to really think <strong>of</strong> ritual and how our women today view ritual, and truly practice ritual in their<br />

daily lives.<br />

With this in mind, I would like to conduct a qualitative research study that will involve<br />

face to face interviews, conducted by myself asking a list <strong>of</strong> questions that relates to what role<br />

ritual plays in their individual behavior and what they perceive, as to how it relates to the chapter<br />

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