Pledge pin

A pledge pin is a common custom of United States fraternities and sororities in which a pin is worn by pledges for the duration of the pledging period, usually during all times not considered dangerous to do so (during sports, etc.). In the context of fraternities and sororities, the Phi Beta Kappa society founded on December 5th, 1776 was the first . [ [http://archives.stupidquestion.net/sq3101.html Stupidquestion.net] ] This organization's earliest emblem of recognition was a silver square medal with the initials S.P. and the date December 5th, 1776 engraved on the one side, with the Greek letters ΦβΚ (Phi Beta Kappa) engraved on the other side. This emblem from the first "American Greek" organization would be the first use of an emblem in identifying a member of the organization.

Exceptions

Some fraternities, such as Sigma Phi Epsilon and Lambda Chi Alpha, no longer have a strict "pledging process;" rather they have "new membership" or "associate membership" levels. These new members are generally still endowed with a pin, though often referred to as "new member pins" instead of "pledge pins."

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