The Idea: Many organizations such as my own, Sigma Nu Fraternity actually have other names that they have gone by in their history. For example one of the original names of Sigma Nu was actually, Legion of Honor.
The Background: As there has been for so many years, a very distinct stereotype exists about greek letter organizations, namely fraternities and sororities. So much so that I fear sometimes this stereotype becomes the brand itself to some groups and instead of trying to fight that image they actually try to live it. So why not revert back to some of the names our groups had before they took on the greek letters. While the letters do mean something, a phrase in Greek that is meaningful to our members, the name, Legion of Honor, I think speaks even clearer to what we are really about.
I have thought of this as well, but I don't think a name change would do any good. Many non-Greek fraternal organizations carry just as bad of reputations (in some ways worse), such as Skull and Bones, Farmhouse, Masons, Elks, Club, Knights of Columbus, etc. All of these organizations mean different things to different people and I bet you would find someone that thought each group was nothing but a drinking club and some chapter that was in fact nothing but a drinking club. Unfortunately fraternities are tied together in a publicity sense and must all work together to improve their image.
Posted by: Charles | January 07, 2009 at 01:27 PM