Chapter 15: Sorority Property on Loan

The following morning was Tuesday, exactly one week since Lisa and her companions started their internment in the Four-Beta sorority. The day would be significant for two other reasons. First, it was the day the pledges would begin going to the university to attend to their academic responsibilities. For brief periods of time, the pledges would get dressed and be allowed to see something besides the inside of the Four-Beta house. That day also was the day the Tri-Alphas would initiate their six summer pledges. In the afternoon the pledges would watch Tri-Alpha pledges’ medical exam and in the evening attend their swearing in ceremony.

Of course, before anything else there was morning PT. For the freshmen and sophomores the day’s PT would be the lower-body workout. Tracy entered the pledge room, and as always, woke up her charges by shouting:

“OK sleeping beauties! UP! ... UP! ... UP! Let’s go ... let’s go ... let’s go!”

While the pledges took turns at the toilet, Tracy unlocked their lockers to allow them access to their running uniforms. She announced that the pledges should take out an extra t-shirt and shorts along with their backpacks, because she planned to take them to the university orientation lecture and summer class registration immediately after breakfast.

Lisa would be the exception and would not accompany the others. Ruth Burnside had sent an e-mail to President Alexandra to inform her that Lisa needed to go to her office.

“Sergeant-at-Arms Heather will escort you, Pledge, while I take care of the others.”

“Uh ... thank you, ma’am.”

The arrangement of going to the Economics Department with Heather did not thrill Lisa at all. Not only did she resent the humiliation of being escorted to her boss’s office, but she also was concerned about the fact that the Sergeant-at-Arms had punished her the night before. If Heather and Burnside engaged in any conversation (which seemed very likely) it was certain the incident would be part of their discussion.

The pledges put on their shoes and carried their uniforms upstairs. As always, Tracy stood at the door and gave each pledge a sharp slap on the bare bottom as she went by. The swats were especially painful to Lisa and Cherine, who were still tender from the previous night’s punishment.

Running with a bruised bottom was not pleasant, but the relief of getting outside and working off some stress put Lisa in a somewhat better mood. By the time the group returned to the sorority, stretched, jumped in the pool, and had breakfast, the four women had mostly forgotten the previous night’s unpleasantness. The pledges picked up their clean uniforms and walking shoes before going upstairs to kneel in the sitting room.

Heather and Tracy entered the room. Tracy was holding four large plastic hangers, which she passed out to her group.

“OK. Here’s the deal on your uniforms. As soon as you come in through that front door, the uniforms come off. If you’re going back out later in the day, you’ll put your clothes on the hanger and put ‘em in the closet. There’s gonna be one exception to the rule about taking off your clothes. If there’s Triple-A pledges in the house you’ll keep your uniforms on. Whenever they’re here, those guys are subordinate to every female in the sorority, and that includes you.”

Tracy pointed to a nightlight plugged in near the closet door.

“This nightlight will tell you if there’s male pledges in the house. When it’s on, there’s pledges here and you’ll keep your outfits on. When it’s off, your uniforms come off. Real simple: on-on, off-off. Get it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“The light’s only for Triple-A pledges. If there’s Triple-A’s in the house but no pledges, the uniforms come off. Either way, just check the light when you come in.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Another detail. Classes and going out in public. Pledge Bernadette, please read what’s on your shirt.”

“PLEDGE. This pledge is property of the Four-Beta Sorority. If found unescorted, please return to rightful owner.”

“Remember, until you swear in as full members, you are property of the sorority. You have no rights, except the privileges we chose to give you. You have no independence and no freedom. You’ll be under our complete control, even when you’re on campus. Under no circumstances can you get out of our sight, which means whenever you’re not in the house you must have an escort. You’re gonna have to take your general requirement classes together and we’ll set up a duty roster for the sophomores to escort you to and from class. Pledge Lisa’s situation will be a bit different, because she’s got a job with the Economics Department. But, we’ve already talked with her professor and we’ve got everything arranged.”

Lisa took a deep breath. They’ve “got everything arranged”. What’s that supposed to mean?

Tracy continued: “Remember your handcuffs and blindfolds? You’ll have those with you for a reason. If you disobey your escort or get out of her sight, she’ll cuff you and bring you back to the sorority house. If that ever happens you can expect to have a VERY miserable night. When you’re on campus the only words that ever need to come out of your mouth are ‘yes ma’am’. Get it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“OK, you now know what’s expected when you’re on campus. If you want to save your butts, you’d better remember what’s written on your shirts.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“PLEDGES! STAND UP!”

The pledges scrambled to their feet.

“OK, get your uniforms on and stick your hangers in the closet. Get ready to move out.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Heather, Tracy, and the four pledges walked to the university. The two officers were wearing Four-Beta logos on their shirts, while the pledges walked behind in their pledge outfits. Fortunately the presence of the two severe-looking sorority officers silenced many of the giggles and comments the pledge uniform might have elicited from passers-by, but still, the message on the shirts was totally humiliating:

This pledge is property of the Four-Beta Sorority...

Tracy took the three freshmen to the campus auditorium to attend an orientation lecture for first year students given by the president of the university. From there they would go to the main gym to pick up their class schedules and from there go to the student bookstore to buy textbooks. Meanwhile, Lisa would spend her first day at work in Burnside’s office.

Heather escorted Lisa to the Economics Department. Once in the building Lisa saw several classmates from her freshman year. Saying hello to them was hard, given what was written on her t-shirt and that she clearly was being escorted by Heather. The two women went into Burnside’s office, where the professor already was waiting for them. Burnside shook Heather’s hand and greeted her in a manner that indicated the two women already knew each other. The professor’s bemused and rather sarcastic expression was not re-assuring at all.

“Good morning, Pledge Lisa.”

“Good morning, Dr. Burnside.”

Heather took out an envelope containing two copies of a contract on Four-Beta letterhead. She passed the documents to the professor, who looked them over. Burnside signed both copies.

“Pledge Lisa, please kneel and read this contract. If you want to continue working for me and also pledge the sorority at the same time you need to concur with this agreement.”

“You ... you want me to kneel, Dr. Burnside?”

“Pledge, you’re not supposed to be questioning orders. I told you to kneel. Now do it.”

Lisa’s heart sank as she reluctantly got on her knees. Burnside handed her the two copies along with a pen. Lisa read:

The directorate of the Chicago chapter of the Four-Beta Sorority agrees to share provisional training custody of Pledge Lisa Campbell with Professor Dr. Ruth Burnside during university summer work hours. This shared provisional custody will allow Pledge Lisa Campbell to fulfill her responsibilities as a pledge to the Four-Beta Sorority, while simultaneously fulfilling her duties as a student aide for the Department of Economic Studies.

This agreement authorizes Dr. Burnside to act in capacity of Pledge Lisa Campbell’s campus escort and grants Dr. Burnside the same authority over her as the authority normally exercised by the Four-Beta Sorority’s Sergeant-at-Arms. As a result of this agreement, Dr. Burnside will submit a written summary of Pledge Lisa Campbell’s daily activities to the Pledge Mistress of the Four-Beta Sorority for entry in the official pledge training log. Because Dr. Burnside is acting in official capacity on behalf of the sorority, her authority includes, but is not limited to, the right to inflict corporal punishment on Pledge Lisa Campbell for any violations of Four-Beta pledging protocol.

This agreement obliges Pledge Lisa Campbell to treat Dr. Burnside with the same deference and respect as she is expected to treat any elected officer of the Four-Beta Sorority and accept her as a campus escort. Specifically this means that Pledge Lisa Campbell agrees to obey any orders issued by Dr. Burnside and to stay within her sight at all times. Pledge Lisa Campbell agrees that Dr. Burnside, by acting as a campus escort, reserves the right to discipline her within the guidelines of the Four-Beta pledging program. She also agrees that whenever she is in Dr. Burnside’s office or private residence, the regulations concerning the Four-Beta pledge uniform will be enforced.

Under this agreement, at the request of Dr. Burnside, Pledge Lisa Campbell will address her as “Dr. Burnside” and not address her as “ma’am”, as normally stipulated in the Four-Beta Pledge Handbook.

Pledge Lisa Campbell reserves the right to report any perceived misuse of authority by Dr. Burnside to the Pledge Mistress of her Four-Beta Sorority chapter. The complaint will be forwarded to the chapter president for resolution. Any command or disciplinary incident determined by the Chapter President not to fall within the guidelines of the Four-Beta Pledge Manuel will result in the immediate termination of this agreement.

If the president of the Sorority determines Pledge Lisa Campbell’s complaint is without merit, a report will be forwarded to Dr. Burnside with a formal apology. Pledge Lisa Campbell will then present herself to Dr. Burnside for corporal punishment.