Ugh...and I thought high school cliques were bad enough. I'll take the theater geeks over the horrid Greeks any time....

whatevvvvs. she's obviously jealous because they wouldnt let her in.

a cow for a sorority symbol? that is like self parody. is it a thin cow?

Shit, my roomate in college got thrown out of her sorority for being a lesbian. You'd think that would be a plus in a house full of women.

The coffin thing is stolen from a Lifetime movie...wait, did I say that out loud? Damn.

And can someone explain to me the correlation between values in groups of three and cows? Seriously.

wait did they literally throw the dinner into the girls' faces, food fight style? because as far as hazing goes that actually sounds pretty fun. And delicious!

The coffin thing is stolen from a Lifetime movie. Wait, did I say that out loud? Damn.

And can someone explain to me the correlation between values in groups of three and cows? Seriously.

Every year I was a student at the University of Florida, a sorority or fraternity got into trouble for injuries sustained from hazing/manslaughter/rape. As the only person amongst all my friends to not be in a sorority or fraternity, I can assure you that's not necessary. If you go to a school where it is, you fucked up.

And another thing, all the dudes I know from frats are branded, but branding girls is a new level of bizarre. Usually sorority girls are too vain to permanently mess up their skin. These girls must be hood/Jersey Shore.

@if_i_only_had_a_heart: But actually f*cking cows would be pretty funny.

What are the three values? How are they represented by a cow, of all things? I am so confused.

I thought only "historically black" fraternities branded their members . . . geez . . .

[www.deanfoods.com]

They eat these and swill diet coke with bacardi light. Thats why they're mean.

@pre555soul: i think cows get branded, and the girls are the cows, so they get branded. i dont know - its long island

That tip is bs. The tipster sure seems to know quite a lot for a person that wasn't in the sorority. I am not saying this did or didn't happen, but I find the tip to be kind of fishy. The fork thing? How exactly does she know that it is done and what it means as someone who was not part of their organization. Has she seen a mark? Did she see it on her friend? Did her friend explain the meaning? Her "former" friend was supposedly a pledge who could verify events such as the sister dinner which seem to take place later in the semester, but can't verify something that supposedly takes place on the first night, the digging of the graves. Seriously, this story has a ton of holes in it.

Nerds!

@JinxyMcDeath: "And another thing, all the dudes I know from frats are branded, but branding girls is a new level of bizarre. Usually sorority girls are too vain to permanently mess up their skin. These girls must be hood/Jersey Shore."

no, actually, i think it's the same fucking level of bizarre. what. the. fuck.

I don't get the cow/3 thing at all.

@JinxyMcDeath: Fer realz, these girls are NOT the normal sorority types if they're permanently messing up their physical appearances.

And I think it's important to understand the difference between the national sororities and groups like these girls, who are local. National sororities have governing boards that they have to answer to that can punish them for bad behavior and also require a certain amount of charity work per year from all members. Groups like these are just clubs calling themselves sororities because they're all-female - they're completely made-up organizations without a governing body or anyone to answer to, which means they get away with whatever they feel like. Totes different.

@OhBilly: Oh wait, now I get it. Cows get branded. Pledges get branded. Whatever, getting pricked with a fork is a poor man's brand. At my school they did it with a hot iron and it stayed on for life. True story. If you were afraid of that you had to get a tattoo.

Looks like I missed out on the fun sororities. During our initiation week, all we did was read poetry. How boring!

Wow! You Mu's sure know how to Party!

"Phi Ep is a local sorority so they don't have to answer to anyone but themselves."

That's the thing... When sorority and Fraternities don't have to answer to a Panhellenic or Intrafraternal Council (the national organiztions that keep hazing from happening) "local" organizations can do this kind of crap that ruins the reputations of fraternal organizations that have been around since the 1800's... back when young men and women scholars were too classy to think of all this bullsh*t.

@Priam: The tip also doesn't appear to be written by someone with a college education, although I know admittedly very little about Hofstra as an institution.

I was in a sorority for a semester and dropped out because it wasn't my scene, but from my time in it I can tell you that there are a lot of stupid rumors that are completely untrue circulated among the non-sorority population, and this girl seems to just be repeating them. I was never branded, harassed, hazed, or otherwise harmed in any way by my sorority, and neither were any of the girls in other sororities that I know, and I attend a school with a very large Greek system.

@NYM: Did you go to Bryn Mawr?

What people don't seem to realize is that in college, the really good hazing happens not in the frats, but in the marching band.

What do you think happens when you mix the socially ostracized with large quanitities of alcohol? They devour their young.

@tunamelt: This one time at bandcamp....

The bullied become the bullies. She will be the worst boss ever someday.

These chicks are laughable. If they were in a sorority in the deep south they'd be eaten alive.

Whatever. All frats and sororities are wack, fake secret societies designed to MAKE MEMBERS TOW THE LINE and STAY IN LINE. Not enough rules for y'all already in this "Land of Liberty"? Join a crazy club and get some more so you WON'T HAVE TO THINK FOR YOURSELF AT ALL.

There needs to be some sort of hazing ritual here when a commentator gets a star. Water-boarding? Tea-bagging?

@tunamelt: Join the band, go for free! Join the band, go for free!

Once a Trojan...

Fight On!

@digitalsmoothie: YES! you're right. that was an especially good lifetime movie.

@JinxyMcDeath: I think the term "scrappy" used to describe the type of chicks in the sorority is all you need to know.
What would make more sense is taking these pledges 6 blocks west of Hofstra and dropping them off in the middle of Hempstead, next to the whore house. Let's see how scrappy they are then.

@MartyPants: The only cost is your dignity. And your liver.

Fight on!

Are you in the USC band?

Sororities performing hazing rituals? Why I never.

In my opinion, all females between the ages of 15 and 25 are evil, so they fit into this category.

@Richard: You would think so, huh? Ironically enough, my poetry overload happened at UW-Madison. I know---I didn't believe it at first, either.

@tunamelt: Dear lord, now you've got me thinking about the cultish Yale Precision Marching Band. Those people were insane.

@ohheyhey: It is, indeed, amongst the classics, even if featured none of Melissa Gilbert, Tracy Gold, Meredith Baxter-Birney, Swoozy Kurtz, Kate Jackson or the queen of LMN herself, Judith Light.

@MKonbanwa: Seconded.

Honestly, most things I've believed or heard of about Greek life have turned out to be true. And the whole 'national board' thing is special pleading. Consider the Alpha Tau Omega meatheads at the state school I attended, who seemed to have quarter-well-drink-fueled brawls with other fratboys and 'independents' every weekend right outside my student ghetto apartment. I'm pretty sure that's a national organization.

That reminds me, there's not enough hazing on this site. More hazing, please.

Yeah, there are some people, even whole fraternities or sororities that haze or pull otherwise dumb-ass stunts, but stereotyping, even when it comes to the whole 'Greek' thing, is never fair. And yes, sororities can be exclusive, some on my college campus were, but more than half of my college friends were from outside my sorority. Very few of us were rich girls; most of us worked our way through college. We were never harassed or abused or told we were fat.

Still, what this sorority does with the whole branding thing is bullshit and they should be ashamed, but the girls who let themselves be subjected to branding are ridiculous as well. I wouldn't let anyone near me with a hot utensil that was intended to scar me for life. If the 'bonds of sisterhood' had included getting forked in the vag, you can bet I would have fled very quickly.

Your site and others are giving way to much credence to these silly rumors. Phi Epsilon has been part of Hofstra for 70 years. This behavior that is being reported could not have taken place over all these years without someone else having reported it. The pledge program has remained true to its roots. At no time is food thrown at anyone, we don't dig our own graves and I don't think any person in their right mind would let another person mark up their body with a brand. People de-pledge all the time. It's never been a big deal. I'm sure there are many out there that can attest to that. As an alum 15 years out (but still close to the organization), I have to laugh at these allegations. I guess it makes for good reading and good television. I feel sorry for the organization that does do much for their philanthropy, but I feel even sorrier for this individual who is obviously craving her 15 minutes of fame.

I went to DePauw University, a college which was 75% Greek (Independent myself) and shit like this did happen among the big national houses. The KKG house at DePauw had several members expelled from college and was put on probation in 2001 for burning pledges with cigarettes. I'd have revoked their charter, but the school feared pissing off alums. It made 20/20. So don't give me this "these girls don't count" bullshit.

All the positives of Greek life--friendship, networking, charity--can all be found in spades in organizations and activities which aren't built around humiliation, booze, and bullshit rituals. Greek hosuing really are no better than loan-shark rings.

I think maybe people should do some research before they slander the name of a GREAT sorority who has done some wonderful things for Hofstra and the community. I am an alumni of this so-called cult. And these rumors make me laugh. We have been around for 70 freaking years still using the same program. So thousands of respected, intelligent women. And yes all those rumors were around when I was there, no more true then. And this girl quit after four days, so how does she even know anything? SHE DOESNT. There is no "hazing", Phi Epsilon treats their incoming members with the utmost respect. We are not even allowed to drink/be intoxicated around any "pledge". This girl is crazy and I am sad to see so many people just believe any old rumor or person. PS I didnt buy my friends, I paid to attend events. The friendships were free, and the best.

the cow thing: HAAA HAAA!!!! Now I've got to put Animal House on my Netflix!

ok so im on this to defend one of my best friends. i unfortunately am in mass and cannot be with her in new york thru this terrible time in her life. for all the people leaving comments who think courtney is lying you dont know what your talking about. ive known courtney since i was in junior high. shes been one of my best friends sincee then she is a happy funny loving person who im proud to call my best friend all she loves to do is have a fun time with people who love her. shes a complete goofball and when i hear she wanted to pledge a sorority i thot it was a joke. i personally think girls are terrible people most of the time and living with them wud be hell. for courtneys duration in pledging i completely lost touch with her. shes my best friend and we talk every day if we can and to not hear from her in weeks i was worried. luckily one of my other best friends goes to hofstra too and filled me in on what was going on. when courtney actually had the tme to sit down and tell me the nightmare life she had been living all i cud do was cry. this girl is my sister and wud never lie to me about something like this. the hazing they subjected them to was turning courtney into a person she has never been. she didnt think the sorority was going to be so serious about pledging but they were and she freaked out about it. she didnt like sitting around being a miserable person watching people she had become close with be subjected toextreme cruelness it wasnt her and it will never be her. shes not a mean person at all she doesnt have one ounce of hate in her heart. these girls literally disgust me to subject someone i love with my whole heart to such disgusting things. you all make me sick and i hope they make other people sick. i wish so badly i could be there for courtney rite now she is a strong person and right now shes weak and in pain everyone who supports courtney please keep her in your prayers

@kristenx0x15: WTF?
LOL!
NAMBLA.

@pssshwhatever: No, that very much read like it came from a person with an education from Hofstra. I'm surprised I could function after 4 years at that university.

I don't remember anybody from that sorority from when I was there, but I thoroughly distanced myself from the greek life.

It's a shame seems like she would have like the sorority life, [media.tumblr.com]

team holt!!! im behinddd you baby i know your strong and i know you can get this. i know so many people arent supporting you but those people dont know you and i know they would think completely differently if they knew you. i lovee you so much you no the fantastic 4 is completely behind you. we love you so much and cant wait til your home away from that hell hole. i love you baby.

WHAT DOESNT KILL YOU
ONLY MAKES YOU STRONGER.

TO ALL THE PHI EPS AND FOR THAT POOR GIRL: FIRST OF ALL...it doesn't matter if Phi Epsilon was around for 70 years. It doesn't matter how many Ronald McDonald Houses you've donated/worked with, it doesn't matter how many Hands Across Hofstra celebrations you've participated it, how many Greek Week's you've played softball in, how many thousands of dollars you may have raised over the last 70 years for your local philanthropy...nor does it matter how many bright, beautiful young woman are now out in the world keeping your black and gold sororital secrets. It doesn't even matter how "safe" you all are now that you've yet again lied to Denis and Hofstra about your non-hazing practices. What does matter is that you brand yourselves with a fork, you DO sit for hours during pledge events and scream at your pledges, you DO deny them outside friends, etc. while becoming "new members" and you do, at times, physically exert force on girls during the pledging process. I was in a sorority at Hofstra...and a "top" one might I add if that roots me in a position to speak this way. I lived with two Phi Eps and being that they were my best friends, and we told eachother everything, and all three of us were pledging at the same time...I know what they went through and even what I went through. I was in their "craft" room. So lets stop the silly games, the lying, the excuse me, PROTECTING and just admit that for once, you went a little too far--no matter if the girl is crazy or not...you have to admit...that after having your finances stolen, a stripper amongst your crew (that forced everyone else not to have an awesome Greek Sing since you didn't want the boys to make fun of you for Erica, and several other skanky characters...it's bound to catch up with you at some point. It may not happen now, but one day, the atrocities of Phi Ep will be exposed. Coming from a sister who went through a more "relaxed" pledge program...I know.

I'd rather be branded by a Chanel logo.

@tunamelt: Goodness no. I stupidly focused my efforts becoming a Song Girl because I was a dance major, pageant girl from way back.

Then I grew up, left, and studied journalism.

Now I'm about werdz.

Women who make general statements about how all girls and young women are "evil" might consider going to school, any school, to hone their critical thinking skills. If you think all girls are evil then maybe the fault is yours. Think about it before you do us all a disservice.