#PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY CHANTS FULL#

'Question Are some phrases/words SPECIFIC to certain Greek orgs?' For example, here's a comment from a blogger on an interesting discussion thread about Bglo terms and other customs: 'Sands' - 'A word used to acknowledge other members that crossed over in other organizations or in the same organization, but a different chapter.' 'Greek Definitions' (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York).īglo terms may differ across regions and within different organizations. Contemporarily, that word is sometimes spelled 'sandz'. The ritual and phrase 'crossing the burning sands' is the source of the historically Black Greek letter organization's term 'sands'. We also experienced crossing the burning sands.ĭEFINITION OF 'SANDS' (AS IN 'GREETING, MY SANDS') The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority line that I was part of in 1967 used the comparable term 'went over'. 'Greek Definitions' (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York). 'CROSSING/CROSSING OVER – The point of membership intake process when pledges officially become members. However, it gives this definition for 'crossing/crossing over': UPDATE: MaĬornell University's Greek definition list doesn't mention 'crossing the burning sands'. Read my comments in this post about Bglo pledging/hazing. That word may be banned in other areas and universities, along with the term 'to pledge' and 'pledging' which have been replaced with the terms 'to initiate' and 'initiation'. It's interesting that this list uses the term 'pledge' as a referent for a person who in the process of joining a Bglo. Term also refers to 'Crossing the Burning Sands' Most groups record this time to the second.

#PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY CHANTS FULL#

The term means different things to different groups, but generally means crossing over from being a pledge to being a full member. The Greek definition list that is posted on the internet by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas gives the following definition for 'crossed' that mentions crossing the burning sands': Read the comment below by JSUAKA17 that is found in the 'Definition of Sands' section. I don't know if crossing the burning sands is a part of the post 1990 legal initiation process for those organizations. 'Crossing the burning sands' is an important ritual in the pre-1990 legal 'crossing' ('crossing over') ceremony that marks or refers to a person's membership in a historically Black Greek letter fraternity or in a historically Black Greek letter sorority. THE BGLO RITUAL 'CROSSING THE BURNING SANDS' That said, I also believe that fraternity & sorority songs and chants should only be recited and/or performed by those persons who are affiliated with the specific organization that is associated with that particular chant.

I consider fraternity & sorority chants and vernacular to be cultural artifacts which deserve to be collected, preserved, and studied. Thanks to all those whose organization's chants are quoted in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural and folkloric purposes. A definition of that phrase and comments about it are found below. This pancocojams post features examples of historically Black (African American) Greek letter organizations (Bglos) chants that mention 'crossing the burning sands'.

Phi beta sigma fraternity chants