I'd love to see some numbers that showed whether shorter membership periods did in fact cut down on hazing incidents. Back when almost all sororities went to the 6-8 week new member period, cutting down on hazing was pretty much the only reason we were ever given for it. Has it helped any? We still hear all kinds of stories ever year about hazing.

I've got 2 big problems with the short programs. First, the fact we don't have grades before we initiate members, at least for Freshman which is about 90% or more of our pledge classes. The "threat" (for lack of a better word) of holding someone over for initiation if they don't pull grades is a huge incentive to get them to study.

Second, there simply isn't enough time for them to learn all about the Chapter and org's history, values and beliefs. We used to attend Pledge meetings once a week for an entire semester. I find there is so much that our newest members don't know about ADPi.

But, our nat'l org finally figured this one out. We're rolling out a new program for continuing membership education. The first year of membership will focus on sorority stuff, just like the old program used to do in addition to time management, study resources on campus, etc. Each year following we'll provide educational programming tailored to their year in school on topics that should be relevant to them. For example, seniors may have a workshop on business etiquette while sophomores will attend one on financial management. All members are welcome to attend any of the other workshops offered, but they will be required to at least attend the ones for their class.

As I said, it's new and we'll have to see how it works out. Juggling more membership education sessions is going to be tricky for both the facilitators and the actives. But the groups will be smaller and should be easier to manage. We've also added an officer to help our Mem Ed VP handle all this.

When I said they were treated like pledges, I meant that they would have to do activities or missions as a class, which has since been abolished. Also for clarification, we do have a New Member Educator(usually the BDD) who helps the new initiates study the material or whatnot until they are comfortable with it. They will have already been initiated but it kind of helps to keep it in their heads I guess. In regards to hazing, you are right. Abolishing pledging does not mean that hazing won't happen. Obviously I am not at liberty to reveal our initiation procedures. Hazing is a very fine line though, because practically anything can be considered hazing, especially nowadays.

I look at pledging as the funnest thing that I would never want to do again. We used to pledge the whole semester then initiate the following but do to changes at nationals we are supposed to follow a 90 day pledge period now

90 days?!?! Hot damn!

slight hijack- do you think this helps your members understand the ritual better?

We don't have a four week period of New Initiates, but we do have a time when we go over ritual with the New Initiates and I think it does help them understand it and remember it. We usually have one or two meetings to review ritual and new girls meet with their bigs to go over stuff.

There is nothing wrong with having pledge classes do activities, if said activities have a purpose.

Remember that the purpose of pledge/NM programs is educating and training those pledge/NM to become full and active members of their organization.

In my Fraternity, pledge classes are expected to plan and carry out a service project. Many chapters also have them do a fundraiser and a fellowship event. This is done as a way of teaching the pledge HOW to plan and carry out an activity. And sense we are a service fraternity, doing service is what we are all about.

emb021, this is to true.

Education of National/Local and working and getting to know each other together for those who have no clue who the person is standing next to them. This can and should be done in a controlled manner without hazing of any form.

When We used to have Pledge Classes, they had their own Officers and Planned an Activity for the Chapter. Of course, they Had the Pledge Trainer to over see so it didnt get out of hand.:)

It may have been a party or a Charity Event but it was something that they did on their own. Giving experience and working together was a very big thing to bring them together as a group.

Of coruse, we do not do that any more. Also, each class made a Very Big Paddle with Names and Class Name on it. But since it simulated a form of hazing, that was outlawed.:( They Hung in the old house and Alums would come back and show their family where their names were on them. Similar to a Composite, but It Was Theirs Alone!

Ah, Sometimes The Good Old Days!:)

We have a similar practice. Except it comes in the form of some sort of chapter party/sisterhood event for everyone. Since half of my sorority experience involved planning, coordinating and volunteering for events, this was good practice. And it teaches the future of the house to work together. At least that's how I view it/justify it.

Random side bar: I dated a ZBT for some time a few years ago. Granted they were a colony, but I SWEAR their "pledge" period lasted longer than 72 hours. I know because I remember my sisters stealing pledge pins from them! (Crazy practice that used to occur A LOT a few years ago.) All my bf at the time said was that they didn't haze and that new members went to meetings. The BDD would hold meetings with the new members at different times, and then maybe a month or two later they'd get initiated.

I think that setting a bunch of new members loose to plan their activity, whether it is philanthropy, social, sisterhood, etc, is asking for trouble because they are not familiar with the structure, rules, budgets, etc. of the organization. I think it is much more helpful to involve them on the chapter's committees so that they are working directly with initiated members in planning all of the events for the chapter, as they will be once they are initiated. Then they can learn with the role modeling of older sisters.

Dee

I don't think in the case of pledge class projects that the pledge class is ever "set loose" and does everything completely on their own. That's what the pledgemistress and the girls' big sisters are for. We had to plan a blind date party and make something (we made a giant floor pillow) for the chapter room...we cleared everything we were doing w/ our pledge mom first.

IMO it makes the pledges feel like they made a difference if they can look at something and say "I did that" during their first semester of involvement, rather than just shoving them onto a committee where they might not feel like they're even making a dent. No matter how much we try to erase "divisions" there is still a division between pledges and initiated sisters, and I think it's a disservice to the pledges to expect them to feel comfy with the whole sisterhood right away and jump into committees, speaking up etc. It's better for them to test their wings with their fellow pledges first.

hmmm......

I guess I am revealing my age a little here, but I went through RUSH and loved it. I was then a PLEDGE and loved it. I was a PLEDGE for a whole semester, and then a month into 2nd semester, and I loved it.

I thought being a pledge was awesome. We were special - it was like going to a party everyday - meeting new people, getting little gifts, enjoying activities planned for your benefit. What a dream world we had for a semester!

I don't know much about the shorter cycles since that came right after I graduated, and I am sure it has some great benefits. I think a huge drawback, as another GCer mentioned, is the lack of grades before initiation, especially if you are initiating freshmen. I don't think the system was broken, but like everything else, a few people found a way to spoil it for everyone. Those same types will find a way with the shorter cycles too.

Actually yes. Sigma Kappa kinda outlines each week of a 'suggested' outline of topics to cover in each meeting: finances, scholarship, Panhellenic, our officers, membership, philanthropy and learning our history plus time for fun stuff like a dance, projects etc.... the nice part is ritual is explained slowly and as is our history both your local chapter and the national organization.

The nice part is the 4 new initates meetings after a member is initiated since if they have questions about ritual (and more of formal chapter is explained etc....) or anything really they can do it with their pledge sisters and it is more comfortable group they have gotten to know where they might feel dumb asking in a group of 75 women.

One of their first tasks is to design, and have produced, their pledge class shirts (they dont get stuff on bid day). They also have to create a social activity for the chapter, find and carry out a service project, and organize a fundraiser. This is all on their own as a pledge class. But the catch is that they are *supposed and encouraged* to go to the actives that hold those chairs and ask for guidance, help, or suggestions, and also to listen to the suggestions of others in their class. It really builds teamwork, and really lets you know how it feels when someone doesn't fufill their promise. The group tasks are important...these girls are going to be together (in most cases) for 4 years, and in their senior year, they are going to be carrying the sorority, and it's better to have 9 solidified shoulders carrying the load as opposed to 1 or 2 superstars. Basically, we plan for an "end of the world"...if they were the absolute last class to ever be initiated, would they be able and prepared to carry out the functions of the sorority until graduation? And if the answer is "no" then we first look towards the active chapter, and the education process. What is flawed there? Where have we failed these girls? What have we not given them?

and if it comes down to a personality clash, then it is time for a gavel session, and when that happens, it's no holds barred, and we're staying till we're dead or crying.