I just looked at the NPHC site, but I have a few questions I couldn't find answers for, if you don't mind me asking. I don't know as much about the NPHC groups as I should.

Does "pledging" mean the same thing? I know a lot of NPC/NIC groups don't necessarily learn the term anymore, but it's the period from receiving a bid until initiating. Does the NPHC do something similar, and is it the term that's illegal or the process?

Thanks!

I think that having a pledge forum would be wonderful!!! theres so many things you go through durring that period you know?

Nichole

I don't mean to sound critical, but if in fact the actions termed as pledging in NPHC groups are illegal, how did they get that way in the first place, I mean so much so that the original meaning of the word is completely different inside NPHC than outside the greek world. What I mean is, if you never had exposure to the greek world in your life and you heard the word pledge, I would think its connotation would be "promise" "oath" "agreement" etc. Examples where pledge is used commonly are the pledge of allegiance (to the flag of the U.S.), the girl scout pledge (on my honor I will try to serve God, my country and mankind and to live by the Girl Scout law), I would assume the boy scouts have something similar. How many other organizations and institutions are there where a new member makes a statement of loyalty to a group or ideal?

I know the NPC and NIC groups started taking the whole idea a little too far by calling new members "pledges" and treating them in a humiliating and demeaning manner, against their national organization's creeds, missions and purposes. Almost all, if not all, have turned this around and use the term pledge for its intended purpose, an oath taken. And the new member is called just that, a new member.

I guess I just don't understand how the word "pledge" got so turned around in the NPHC groups that it would be considered "illegal" to even refer to that term. Do NPHC groups not ask new members to take a solemn oath upon accepting a bid? What do you call that action, an oath, agreement, but not a pledge?

Like I said I don't mean to sound critical. I just think a lot of others, myself included are curious about how it works in other organizations since we seem to so clearly react differently to the word pledge.

I think the NPHC site answers this question when you read through the constitution, etc. I don't want to give any misinformation. But, we don't do bids. Prospectives pursue membership for ONLY one, specific organization. Therefore, prospectives do not put in an application for each sorority or fraternity. Prospectives (through research, etc.) narrow their decision down to a particular organization, as opposed to putting themselves out there to be bidded on by an organization(s).
In terms of pledging being banned in the NPHC in 1990, pledging is synonymous with hazing. That's the gist of why the NPHC members on Greekchat would not have a thread devoted to "pledging." Or the discussion on our thread would be completely different. As my AKA sisterfriend showed earlier, our definitions and processes are different. This is why there may be confusion and we end up talking about two different things (even when using the same terminology) on General Forums such as this one :)

I guess I shouldn't have used the word Bid, not realizing that NPHC doesn't operate that way. I meant when the potential new member accepts an offer to join. NPC calls that accepting a bid, but I guess NPHC doesn't call that a bid. In any event, is there a period of time between accepting an offer to join a NPHC group and an initiation event/ceremony? If there is that period of time, what do you call it? NPC groups usually call it a new member period or program (which used to be called pledgeship). What is the term for someone who has just accepted an offer to join an NPHC group, or do they not have a term at all? Maybe we could call the new category "New Member Period" "New Members" "New Membership" or something similar. What term would best describe this period, assuming we all have it, and not have a negative connotation to any group from a national perspective?

As non-hazing organizations, many members within the NPHC still use the term "pledge." Even this use does not exactly follow the dictionary term of "promise," "oath," or "agreement." Even we have two different uses of the term--I won't get into the differentiation here. Off of the internet, some of your friends in one of the NPHC organizations may get into this topic a little deeper.
If there is true curiosity, visit the Nine NPHC organizational forums on GC or the National/chapter websites. Better yet, www.everythingblack.com is an interesting site to play around. You might answer some questions that you may not have thought you had :) In honor of Black History (which is American History) check out some of the famous members and social action initiatives, too.

Greek Love,
1913

Sometimes it is hard for me to gauge what exactly to say and not to say on threads such as this. Perhaps you should post your humble inquiry in the Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Zeta Phi Beta, OR Sigma Gamma Rho forums. I don't think anyone will go too in depth, but they may shed some light on this topic for you.

ztztas, i hope this clears things up......

in the NPHC we all have a "pledge" (as in oath) and we all "pledge" our lives to our organizations (like pledge allegiance to the flag)..... but when we use the term "pledging" (as in the act of pursing membership) it is synonymous with hazing for us, as someone said earlier and of course hazing is illegal.

most (if not all) of our organizations use the term membership intake to refer to the time frame you were questioning about.

Thanks ladies for the responses. I appreciate your sharing here. I still want to see if we can come up with a common term to propose as a new discussion category. I didn't get a response to this question. What do y'all think?

Well, we don't all have it (like ZBT), but I think "new member" would work fairly well. It may not be the term everyone uses but I don't think it has negative or illegal meanings for anyone.

I just don't think that this term will translate well. Our processes are just different and there really isn't a legal status that corresponds to your pledge period that people are going to be able and/or willing to discuss.

Might as well call it pledging.

Terms
 

What's a DOP and MOP?

Let me ask this, will the NPHC members of greek chat not even want to discuss anything about the new member or pledge period if there were a category for it, no matter what it is called? I just wonder if its too secret or sensitive a topic to be able to discuss anything that happens after the prospective accepts an invititation and prior to becoming a full-fledged member with all rights and priveleges. I would hate for a new category to be opened up and an entire subset of greek chatters not feel comfortable participating. What are your thoughts?

Many groups are forbidden to use the word pledging. I know I wouldn't feel comfortable using it. But it sounds like "new member" doesn't work either. It doesn't sound like there's any one term we all feel comfortable with.

Um ... "the joining process." "Welcome to our GLO." Anything I can think of sounds awkward.

How about, "that post-rush period." ;)

no, anyone that is in the process of becoming a member of an NPHC org will not be able to participate in the forum.... but thats no reason not to have it! and i dont think anyone will feel uncomfortable about it. (there is a rush forum that doesnt pertain to our orgs...) we all know that our systems are different and its cool!