An important part of the history of Beta Zeta chapter of Pi Lambda Phi is its auxiliary group, the Official Friends of Pi Lambda Phi (usually referred to as "Friends" or "OFOPLP"). The Friends were a manifestation of the personality of the fraternity during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The Friends started in 1976 as a way for PiLam to legitimately allow a
female pianist to participate with its team in Greek Sing. By the
following year, there was movement afoot to organize the women who
associated with the brothers. This culminated in an actual initiation
ceremony in 1978(?) for about a dozen(?) women. The ritual was secretive,
highly symbolic, and based on the Pi Lambda Phi brotherhood initiation
ceremony. Initiates received a Pi Lambda Phi Greek-letter recognition pin.
Friends were also assigned a "big brother," just as a pledge was, and their
names were included on the family tree painted as a pledge class project in
the
The OFOPLP was positioned as an alternative to other fraternities' "little sister" programs. It paralleled how the PiLam pledgeship of that era differed from that of other frats. At a time when other pledges might be tied naked to the Morewood Gardens flagpole, PiLam pledges received their pledge pins in a quiet ceremony attended by brothers and Friends, followed by a single champagne toast.
Similarly, there were few requirements put on OFOPLPs. In fact, a Friend
technically wasn't even
Friends provided additional support for Spring Carnival booth and buggy teams. They drove for the men's teams and participated in their own all-women push teams, though they, like their male counterparts, had difficulty overcoming the handicap of an acrylic fur-covered buggy. Friends were especially important in Greek Sing. PiLam chalked up a multi-year string of first- or second-place victories in mixed competition, with OFOPLPs providing lyrics and accompaniment as well as soprano and alto voices. The Friends also collectively needlepointed a large rendition of the Pi Lambda Phi crest as a gift to the chapter.
Although the OFOPLP was emphatically not a "little sister" program -- a distinction particularly stressed by some of the members, the Friends were in many ways very much "little sisters" -- in the most basic sense. As a Friend, a woman acquired not only her assigned "big brother," but a network of virtual big brothers -- men who could be counted on for company, protection, friendship, escorts, muscle power, or any of the other attributes one might expect from a "real" big brother. A Friend was always safe at 1057, and the house always offered a comfortable place to hang out.
In fact, while many Friends dated brothers, many others didn't. Many dated independents (male or female); some were even pinned to men at other fraternities! An unaffiliated man dating a Friend was very likely to receive a bid to join PiLam.
Likewise, Friends weren't required to limit their Greek affiliation to PiLam. OFOPLPs represented a cross-section of independents and C-MU sororities (primarily Delta Gamma and Chi Omega).
When the OFOPLP became more organized, they had their own officers. There
was also the position of "pledge mistress." In spite of the title, this
position was actually intended to "mother" the pledges and give them a
female point of contact to discuss all kinds of things. I believe that
initiated Friends were allowed to
Today, many sororities and other women's groups prohibit or certainly denigrate participation in "little sister" programs. I believe that their opinion would change of [sic] the Friends program of the late seventies were the model. Women in the program were not chattel or property; they were viewed as one of the chapter's chief assets.
Some Friends have gone on to marry PiLams and even bring little legacies into the world. Many others have not. Yet we still, though visits, e-mails, and our own memories, feel a part of this very special chapter of Pi Lambda Phi.
February 1997