To sum up chivalry in the 21st century, one could simply say, it’s changed. Luckily, tradition trumps change as the Greek system paves the way.
Romanticized notions of monogamy and devotion can be found in a number of the Interfraternity Council fraternities and Pan-Hellenic Council sororities on LSU’s campus. These organizations participate in ceremonies designed to illustrate a public commitment to one’s significant other and the relationship, known as lavaliering, or pinning.
A fraternity member lavaliers his significant other once he decides he wants to be in a serious relationship. A lavaliere necklace given to a significant other displays a monogram of the fraternity’s letters; each of the letters rep- resents something only members of the fraternity know.
When a fraternity man gives his significant other the badge he received during his initiation, the process is known as pinning. Pinning a significant other usually indicates the couple’s plans to become engaged.
These fraternity men are fair game, and the ceremonies aren’t limited to members of the Greek community. There is, however, a second ceremony for women who are lavaliered and/or pinned if they are a part of a sorority.
A candle passing ceremony with the sorority member’s sisters occurs. Members sit in a circle and pass a lit candle around until the honoree blows
out the flame. The number of times the candle is passed indicates the celebration- once for lavaliered, twice for pinned and thrice for engaged.
The act of lavliering and pinning has died down in recent years due to lack of interest and knowledge of the ceremonies explained recent LSU alumnus Grant Tolbird. Those who still perform the ceremonies are usually juniors and seniors in college who are getting ready to move to the next chapter of their lives.
Tolbird and his Pi Kappa Alpha brothers serenaded Tolbird’s girlfriend, Danielle Kelley, during her pinning in August 2012. Tolbird invited Kelley to the Pi Kappa Alpha house where the men fell to one knee and sang their ceremonial “The Dream Girl of Pi Kappa Alpha” song.
“It sounds sweet, but it wasn’t the prettiest thing you’ve ever heard,” Tolbird said with a laugh. A few men forgot some of the words as pinning isn’t an everyday occurrence.
Kelley and her Zeta Tau Alpha sisters sat in a circle in a dark room, sang a song and passed around a lit candle to reveal the pinning to her sisters. Kelley blew out the candle once it was passed around twice and celebrated her “very honored” feelings with her sorority sisters.
Changes have been made in chivalry that both women and men have adjusted to, but who’s to say a romanticized tradition can’t triumph?