The Art of Paddling


paddle

Sterling Heights sophomore Jennifer Howell works on a paddle for her Big during her work shift Feb. 24 in Wightman Hall. 

          Once a symbol of collegiate Greek Life hazing, the wooden “frat paddle” is now a tradition of friendship and achievement for sororities and fraternities at Central Michigan University.

Sororities and fraternities have honed a tradition of their own that transforms the idea of the wooden “hazing paddle” into the “wooden ornament”. The paddle is exchanged during the pledge process. 

When a Greek Life member is assigned a Big or Little, he or she decorates a paddle and presents it to his or her Big or Little. 

“(Paddles) signify the bond between Little and Big,” said Alpha Chi Omega junior Jessica Hatfield. “It shows acceptance into a family and the entire chapter.”

The tradition of the paddle changes slightly from one sorority to the next, and not all sororities partake in a paddle exchange.

Zeta Tau Alpha, does not allow their members to exchange paddles per national chapter rules. 

Phi Sigma Sigma Little Sisters give decorated paddles to their Big Sisters whereas Alpha Chi Omega Little Sisters receive paddles from their Big Sister.

Paddles also signify achievements, such as being an executive board member or turning 21 said Phi Sigma Sigma President Ellie Anderson.

Decorating the wood plank can get expensive.

Hatfield said she spent close to $50 on the paddle she made for her Little Sister, sophomore Faryn Prosser.

Fifty dollars for paint, sequins and rhinestones might seem expensive, but Hatfield said the paddles are special. Most women usually only get one during their time in Greek Life.

“Usually, girls really take a lot of time and kind of decorate them according to their Big’s (or Little’s) interest,” said Phi Sigma Sigma member Lauren O’Leary. “They usually look really cute. They are all different patterns and colors depending on who it’s made by and for.”

O’Leary, a previous executive board member, recalled a paddle she once made for another board member from Chicago.

“She’s a huge BlackHawks fan, so I decorated it in all BlackHawk's colors and I put their team logo on it,” O’ Leary said.

Delta Zeta senior member Taylor Steele said she put photographs of herself with her Big on the paddle she made for her Big.

“We also put anything that relates to the sorority on it like ours (symbol) is the diamond, so I put diamonds and pearls on it, and the Delta Zeta pink and green,” Steele said.

“It’s a little tradition that we’ve always done. It’s a thing between your family tree and between Big and Little.”

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Central Michigan Life Sports Editor

Central Michigan Life Editor in Chief (Summer 2016)

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