Announcement reflects greek tradition

It is Monday night and the lights dim in the Delta Gamma Sorority dining room.

Sisters light a candle and pass it from table to table.

Not knowing who is going to blow it out, soft whispers begin to travel throughout the room anticipating the exciting announcement ahead.

Then Delta Gamma President Michelle Stewart receives the candle and blows it out.

She stands up and announces her pinning to Delta Tau Delta Fraternity member Merrick Tracy.

"It was very exciting to finally be able to tell my sisters," Stewart said. "It was really hard to keep it a secret.

"They are all very happy for me."

Because of tradition, pinnings, as well as engagements, are kept a secret in greek houses.

Every year several members of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln greek system publicly announce their feelings and commitment to each other.

"I think it is one tradition in the greek system everyone enjoys," said UNL Greek Affairs Director Linda Schwartzkopf. "There is definitely a long tradition of pinnings and engagements among our houses."

Schwartzkopf said a pinning occurs when a couple exchanges initiation pins and announces their feelings for each other to members of their respective houses.

After a couple's engagement announcement, the house celebrates the marriage proposal, she said.

Kelly Hoffschneider, Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity member, said he will never forget his recent pinning to Angie King, Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority member.

"It was really a neat ceremony if you think about it," Hoffschneider said. "All of my brothers gave Angie flowers and then both houses exchanged traditional songs."

Although each house's traditions vary, Schwartzkopf said the significance of a pinning is the same.

"It signifies a promise between the couple," she said. "It's the next step in courtship - a pre-engagement if you will."

But Stewart said her pinning was not a pre-engagement commitment. Instead, it was a way to show her commitment to Tracy.

"It was a celebration of us," Stewart said. "We really like each other and get along great. For the time being, we will wait and see what the future holds."

Hoffschneider said the symbolism behind a pinning is different for each couple.

"But if anything, it is the bond you share with your house passed on to the one individual who you care the most about," he said.

"It is a strong bond between two people that will last a lifetime."