there is nothing good...true...and right about abuse...just because you are a black organization does not mean you are good...true...and right...bglo's go above and beyond for the COMMUNITY...so why is it that when it comes to it's members...it's o.k. to temporarily throw all semblances of aims and goals out the window for the sake of "molding" solid and in theory "life-long" members?

proof positive right here...i never downed pledging...i am against ABUSE...there is a big damn difference...and when people speak against it...all of a sudden they are seen as being against PLEDGING...you are right...this can be debated all day and all night...but until someone steps up and actually makes a concerted effort to truly do something about it and not just put a band-aid on it and say that everyone that takes issue with the process is against pledging and doesn't want to "earn" their membership...people will continue to go round and round to no avail...i am not against PLEDGING...i am against abuse..."if people want something badly enough-and for the right reasons, they'll be willing to pledge"? if people want something badly enough-and for the wrong reasons, they'll be willing to endure ABUSE...be willing to break every principle your organization stands for...and be willing to lower their moral and spiritual standards for a fleeting reward...

[This message has been edited by SableCherub (edited June 14, 2001).]

I agree with what you've said. People will be people; they'll mess up a good thing every time, because they just don't think.

We can debate pledging until we're both blue in the face; but the fact remains, if people want something badly enough-and for the right reasons, they'll be willing to pledge. If what they're interested in pledging is worth it, the pledge process will enrich their lives, enhance their ability to deal with people, and appreciate the value of real community service and leadership-specifically the value of time-management(and WE ALL know how valuable that skill is). The pledge process would include a community service project-one that's real and measurable-from the planning to the evaluation stages. It would include networking. It would include using the skills that the prospective member came to college to master(i.e. marketing).

The physical aspect of pledging can be as beneficial to the prospective member as the above-as long as it's done properly.