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  #1  
Old 09-04-2012, 10:03 PM
ADPiEE ADPiEE is offline
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Hand signs

I'm sure this topic has been addressed but I couldn't find it. I know we've had our hand sign (the diamond) for decades and I remember Theta having one also when I was in college 20 years ago...and maybe Tridelt too. Has everyone always had one or are some of them kind of new? Seems like every group has one now and I don't remember that back in my day. Just curious
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  #2  
Old 09-05-2012, 09:42 AM
MysticCat MysticCat is offline
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Originally Posted by ADPiEE View Post
I'm sure this topic has been addressed but I couldn't find it. I know we've had our hand sign (the diamond) for decades and I remember Theta having one also when I was in college 20 years ago...and maybe Tridelt too. Has everyone always had one or are some of them kind of new? Seems like every group has one now and I don't remember that back in my day. Just curious
I don't remember anyone outside the Divine Nine having hand signs back in my day (30 years ago). If any NPC orgs did have them, then I have to think they weren't commonly used where I was. I had never seen any of them prior to Greek Chat.
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  #3  
Old 09-05-2012, 09:53 AM
AnchorAlumna AnchorAlumna is offline
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I was a regional officer back about 13-14 years ago. I noticed that at campuses with a big Divine 9 presence, NPC chapters were beginning to use hand signs. Those at campuses with a small Divine 9 presence, no.
So hand signs are very recent.
In that job, I did a LOT of reading - constantly - of various handbooks, and discovered that Delta Gamma has an official whistle and even an official signal with your handkerchief. I doubt that hand signs have been officially recognized, but ways to note your membership or recognize sisters go back 100+ years!
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Old 09-05-2012, 10:11 AM
MysticCat MysticCat is offline
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Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna View Post
In that job, I did a LOT of reading - constantly - of various handbooks, and discovered that Delta Gamma has an official whistle and even an official signal with your handkerchief. I doubt that hand signs have been officially recognized, but ways to note your membership or recognize sisters go back 100+ years!
Love the hankerchief sign! Can it be shared or is it secret?

Based on the reading I've done, whistles and calls were once very common for both sororities and fraternities. I think most if not all groups had them, and may still, even if they're not used much anymore.
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Old 09-05-2012, 11:22 AM
AnchorAlumna AnchorAlumna is offline
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Love the hankerchief sign! Can it be shared or is it secret?
I doubt it or the whistle is secret - it was in a non-secret officers handbook. I don't remember the handkerchief signa exactly...it was something about how and where you held it to your face.

LOL at somebody doing that today. My mom left me several very pretty handkerchiefs, elaborately embroidered or festooned with lace, and thinner than Kleenex, with orders to use them at her funeral instead of tacky Kleenex. At the time, though, it was the last thing on my mind.
I'm sorry, Mom.

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Based on the reading I've done, whistles and calls were once very common for both sororities and fraternities. I think most if not all groups had them, and may still, even if they're not used much anymore.
You're correct - I remember reading that along with the explanations.
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Old 09-05-2012, 11:29 AM
WhiteDaisy128 WhiteDaisy128 is offline
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Here are some of the whistles:

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Old 09-05-2012, 09:48 AM
amIblue? amIblue? is offline
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We didn't have them when I was in college. (20ish years ago)
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Old 09-05-2012, 10:18 AM
amIblue? amIblue? is offline
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Kappa has a whistle. I couldn't whistle it, but I know there is such a thing.
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Old 09-05-2012, 10:23 AM
ADPiEE ADPiEE is offline
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What is the divine nine?
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Old 09-05-2012, 10:28 AM
naraht naraht is offline
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What is the divine nine?
Divine nine = NPHC.
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  #11  
Old 09-05-2012, 01:31 PM
ADPiEE ADPiEE is offline
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I love the whistles--i've never seen that!
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Old 09-05-2012, 01:33 PM
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honeychile honeychile is offline
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I love the whistles--i've never seen that!
It was in one of our publications - maybe Sisters? Did you note the "Alpha Delta Phi"?!
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Old 01-29-2013, 07:47 PM
exlurker exlurker is offline
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http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2013/0...itment-period/

A pic is with this article ^^. Nearly everyone seems to be doing a hand sign (?). Looks / looked odd to me. I'm still not entirely sure what it's all about, but I'm sure it's just great.
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Old 01-29-2013, 08:18 PM
thetalady thetalady is offline
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http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2013/0...itment-period/

A pic is with this article ^^. Nearly everyone seems to be doing a hand sign (?). Looks / looked odd to me. I'm still not entirely sure what it's all about, but I'm sure it's just great.
Sigh.... yes, they are making the Theta sign. Many of us older alumnae really dislike this, me included. Really does not look lady-like at all. Please stick with the kite, ladies!
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  #15  
Old 01-29-2013, 08:41 PM
chi-o_cat chi-o_cat is offline
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Sigh.... yes, they are making the Theta sign. Many of us older alumnae really dislike this, me included. Really does not look lady-like at all. Please stick with the kite, ladies!

I also like the large 2-person kite with a third person sticking her head out the middle. I probably didn't describe it well, but it looks cute. My significant other's cousin is a Theta alum, and she's at that age where her friends are getting married every other month, so she's always posting pictures from weddings where she & her Theta sisters are making kite hands.
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