A pledge pin is a common custom of United States fraternities and sororities in which a pin is worn by pledges for the duration of the pledging period, usually during all times not considered dangerous to do so (during sports, etc.). In the context of fraternities and sororities, the Phi Beta Kappa society founded on December 5, 1776 was the first. This organization's earliest emblem of recognition was a silver square medal with the initials S.P. and the date December 5, 1776 engraved on the one side, with the Greek letters ΦβΚ (Phi Beta Kappa) engraved on the other side. This emblem from the first "American Greek" organization would be the first use of an emblem in identifying a member of the organization.
A pledge pin is usually given to a pledge (a new member) when they are first offered membership in a fraternity or sorority. It may be given to them following a ceremony and can be worn until their initiation in which they become a full member.
In some Greek systems on University campuses, pledge pins may commonly be the target of informal 'theft' from other fraternities and sororities of the opposite sex as a means of promoting interaction between each other on campus.
Read more about Pledge Pin: Exceptions
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