At SUNY Cortland, Greek life is an important part of campus, and one of Greek life’s key traditions is “Big-Little.” This tradition pairs new members with older sisters who serve as mentors and guides. The process starts with new members going on “ivy dates” with different sisters to find a good match.
The Ivy date process lasts for about 3 weeks, with one date per week. These dates let the sister and the new member chat and see how much they have in common and if they get along. After 3 weeks the new member educators pair the girls up on what they think fits best.
Once the pairings are finalized, Littles receive baskets filled with their favorite snacks, Alpha Phi apparel like hoodies and sweatpants, and hand-painted canvases. Sorority merch is passed on for years and years, making it even more special to own. Bigs spend time putting these baskets together to make them personalized to their favorite colors, and snacks. Pairings are announced about two weeks before the official “Big-Little Reveal” to give Bigs time to prepare.
Every Little has a Big, and each Big has their own Big, creating family lines within the sorority. Typically, a Little is a freshman, their Big is a sophomore, their Grand-Big is a junior, and their Great-Grand-Big is a senior. These family lines provide support and help new members meet others across different member classes. Sometimes, a Big may take on two Littles, making them “twins.”
The Big-Little Reveal is a big event where all members gather to celebrate. Each reveal is different—when I got my Big, she was wrapped in gift paper with my name on a poster board in front of her. On a countdown from three, we all unwrapped our Bigs at once. Last year, when I became a Big, all the Littles stood on one side of a door while the Bigs stood behind it. At the countdown—3…2…1—REVEAL! The doors opened, and we met our Littles. This year’s reveal consists of each fam line having a reveal theme with matching shirts to fit the theme and the new girls find their matching sister. Themes consist of “wild about my little” with a cheetah print theme and “ my little is the cherry on top” with cherry shirts. On Saturday March 29th, Alpha Phi will celebrate their annual big-little reveal in this year’s own unique way.
The Big-Little process is more than just a fun tradition; it strengthens the foundation of the sorority.and helps new members feel welcomed and supported. It ensures that new members always have someone to turn to for advice, encouragement, and friendship. It also helps bridge the gap between different member classes, reinforcing the sense of community within the chapter.
For many, their Big-Little relationship extends far beyond college, turning into lifelong friendships. Whether it’s helping with academics, offering advice on life decisions, or simply being a trusted friend. Bigs and Littles create lasting memories that make the sorority experience even more meaningful.
This tradition makes Cortland New York feel just like home. While away at college it is very easy to get homesick especially as a freshman but once you are in your “fam” that feeling goes away. The big little process is a stressful few weeks but overall is one of the best days of the year within our sorority.
Big little is just another reason to get involved in Greek life and find your forever home.