[24324] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] Toast Song
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Zachary Curtis)
Wed May 26 08:06:05 2004
Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 23:01:14 -0400
Reply-To: Zachary Curtis <Zachary_Curtis@UMIT.MAINE.EDU>
From: Zachary Curtis <Zachary_Curtis@UMIT.MAINE.EDU>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In-Reply-To: <40B3D03B.4090605@wolfnetfx.com>
I have been watching this debate for a couple of days now and have finally decided to share my opinion.
I know that with my chapter the Toast Song is used sparingly at best. It is sung in the fellowship circle at the end of rituals and is used to close important meetings. Our pledges are also taught the words to the song as an important part of
their pledge education. In my opnion, the song isn't viewed as overly important part of our chapter. For us, the Maine Stein Song means a lot more. If you walked by us at a Nationals you would know this. We're the group with the napkins on our
heads.
A song is just that. It's what you make of it. Whether it says loyal brothers, sisters, men, kin, cousins, uncles, aunts, or nieces and nephews doesn't ultimately make a chapter weaker or stronger. It just makes them unique from each other.
As has been mentioned before, chapters already have their own version of the Toast Song. Sigma Xi is no different. Changing it with legislation will not change this reality. If anything, it will make the differences more wide spread.
My solution is to remove the toast song from being an official part of the National Fraternity. If individual chapters wish to continue on with the tradition, they will. It will also give the individual chapter the choice on whether or not this
song is worth this long discussion.
Zachary J. Curtis
Senior Public Administration Major
VP of Service, Alpha Phi Omega, Sigma Xi Chapter
University of Maine
