If you don't believe in hazing that's fine. It's a personal decision and I respect that. But if you haven't been through it then keep your mouth shut because you don't know what your talking about. You people who go on and on about how bad it is say that because of the very fact that you haven't been through it. When you go through so much $hit with a group of guys the bond that you share is something that could never be explained, only felt. So don't act like you know what you're talking about or what those of us that have been through it feel. You don't have a clue.

DM, you fail to realize that many of those on this board who oppose hazing were once hazed themselves. Take me, for example. I pledged a local sorority on my campus that forced me to be submissive to them at all times on and off campus; who humiliated me time and time again. And what was that for? It was for nothing! They simply did it because it was "tradition". Needless to say, I depledged and it was one of the best decisions of my life. I don't think I'm a weak person because I left. I was a better person for standing up to those tw@ts. Heck, my own MOTHER never treated me that way...and what gives them the right to do so?

I decided to give Greek Life another chance with AGD--they never hazed me nor did they force me to prove how much I wanted to be a part of their group. Yes the bonds of friendship are there--and what makes you think they're any different from your organization? Do you think that yours are better because you were hazed? Riiiiight.

So I guess you can say that I do know how it feels like to be hazed. I'm just sorry that I let it get that far. My experiences are what formed my opinions...so yes, I do have a clue! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif

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*I'm an Alpha Gam...Yes I am, Yes I am!*

for those of us that think hazing is okay -we will continue to do so.... and those of us who think its wrong, we will not.

we can argue back and forth till we run out of server space, but the point is people will do what they want!

PrettyPoodle6
"The 6th Descendant of Eos"
*no-skating allowed*

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http://www.iun.edu/~sgr/sghrostickfigs.gif Rhoyal Blue and Gold...I LOVE my SGRho!


[This message has been edited by prettypoodle6 (edited February 20, 2001).]

For those of you who think hazing is OK:

Which part of "ILLEGAL" don't you understand?

What is difficult about the concept of "LOSE YOUR CHARTER?"

How is the term "LIABILITY" unclear to you?

Of the "DEATHS" attributed to hazing, which one benefited brother/sisterhood?

And for DM, stop and think for a minute. Do you really believe that we alums (I pledged during the 60's) weren't hazed and don't understand what it means? Do you think that we haven't seen this issue from both sides? Don't you suppose that some of us have had military training or played varsity sports?

If hazing isn't past tense in your national or chapter you're on the road to extinction. The rest of us don't want to join you there.

DeltAlum

AXPAlum--

We were always told that if sisters and new members were doing activities together, then it isn't hazing. The activities should be things that brothers or sisters would be willing to do as well. Just a thought http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

N2
You wrote the same bs in the topic:Anti-hazing has Gone Out of Control. Since you didn't read my last response I'll put here again for you.

I am not going to questions your loyalty or dedication to your fraternity. It does some like your questioning the loyalty and dedication of many others. Am I going to enter your world full of fuzzy pc bullshit? Maybe. I am disgusted by your short sightedness. I might be wrong but this is what I read from that posting.

You were big on athletics and 'Winning is everything, losing is nothing" I personally idn't want to join a cookie cutter fraternity. I guess their intelligence, background, who they are, and what they can contribute means nothing at all. Hell as long as they can throw a football, catch a pass, rush them all.

You would die for your brothers and they are now your wifes bother in laws. Yet many of your pledge brothers youy have not seen in years. Words are cheap what are you excuses for not seeing these "brothers" you have this "special" bond none of us can understand. Don't give me that crap they moved away or maybe they are to busy. Excuses are like a$$holes everyone has one. My brothers and I didn't have be taken to the "edge". I still get together with my pledge brothers on a regular basis and yes I am an alumn.

If your part of a national fraternity why don't you take a look at your mission statement. Do you know what a mission statement is? Does it tell you to haze or take your pledges to the edge. I doubt it.
Maybe your following the mistakes of those before you and are not inteligent or creative enough to promote brotherhood in other ways.

You must go to the ocean to smell it. "Try to explain to someone to who has never seen it. It cannot be done." Your right it cannot be done by someone like you. Your to short sighted, don't have the imagination, or to interested in playing catch to understand it can be done.

I don't share the level your accustome to, I surpass it and everyday I strive to improve upon that.

You didn't respond last time and I doubt you will respond this time.

Hello Everyone, it's been a while since I last posted, and this topic just caught my eye..

To say hazing is good or bad overall is a real hard one to answer. I don't know about all the different types of hazing going on out there, and I am not an expert on this subject. I can say one thing for sure - if you or someone you know is in a dangerous pledge program, do whatever you can to stop it. I've never been one to say a good old scavenger hunt or camping trip was hazing, but that always included the brotherhood. Maybe that's where the definition becomes "hazy" Is it against the law if the brothers and pledges are involved in the activities together? I mean if it's a big brother - little brother football game, which I have done myself, we never called it hazing.

Well, no one hear is going to convince everyone that hazing is good or bad, so just take some friendly advice. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Don't do anything you are not comfortable with, and graduate on time. Take care, later.

- AXP Alum

KSIGTAZ,

Winning is everything. They spent enormous amounts of money too erect scoreboards.
If it does not matter who wins, why keep the score. I’m not limiting it to the field either.
While you are at work, home, your credit report, your 401k, GPA, or the level of your education. It is all a score and it’s competitive. Winning is a habit! So is loosing. My statement goes to the attitude we are striving to recruit. My Fraternity is not for everyone, probably not for most and never will be. As I said in a previous post, my chapter places many hours in the decision even to issue a bid. We spend 3-4 hours a night for a week in committee and then 12-16 hours in lockdown on the final day until the decisions are made. Generally, we bid 25 to 40% of those requesting. We operate in an open system. My chapter could not exist in a closed bidding system. I believe that the closed bidding system limits the natural selection of the perspectives’ as well as the chapters. I understand the purpose of it, I just do not agree with it. It is similar to affirmative action.

As too seeing my Brothers, I did not say pledge Brothers, I said “I would die for my Brothers still today, many of whom I have not seen in years.” I stand by this. Since I pledged there have been 397 brothers. I do not see them all every year. I do see most of the actives from my undergrad years, every year. Our alumni do not just walk away into the sunset. They mentor the new Brothers during their undergraduate career and support the pledges during their “education”. Being a Brother in my chapter is a lifelong commitment. Since 1986, NO brother of my chapter has had to withdraw from college purely for financial reasons. Our alumni will never again allow an undergrad Brother to fall by the wayside. Today, we have 17 Brothers in tuition repayment and 2 actives on tuition subsidy. To this day, I still turn to my mentors for advice and guidance. Yes, there are those who fail to live up to the expectations and they are dealt with harshly. Even in a traditional family there are black sheep. If you fail too trim the fat, you get lazy and sloppy. The scoreboard is still running.

No, I do not believe that you can explain the ocean to someone who has never seen it. It is just an analogy. I cannot completely explain my experiences and expectations of brotherhood to you or anyone else. Brotherhood in my chapter is more than a word. It has to become part of your soul. My chapter over the years has been very successful in maintaining the standards that the Alumni demand. A large part of the success is due the mentoring programs that were instituted prior to my pledge period. The vision of my chapter fathers has proven to be crystal. One of my duties is to evaluate the pledge period. After initiation, I sit down with every new Brother and discuss his impressions, views, lessons, and experiences. Then I meet them as a group and discuss their newfound view of Brotherhood. I mentioned in another post that they all shed tears when recalling their pledge period and I got blasted from someone for making a pledge cry. They are tears of joy, Brotherhood and love, not of fear. We have changed some of the things we do over the years, but not much. If a tactic does not produce the desired response then we alter or change it. Everything we do during our pledge period is scripted for purpose. A new Brother is not allowed to take part in “education” of pledges his first term as a active. He simply observes. The second time he is allowed to participate, but not Lead and must have a senior Brother with him at all times. Only certain Brothers may Lead, they earn the title and must maintain it. No “education” may take place without a Lead. This accountability and mentoring is what stabilizes my chapter. I see wild swings in other chapters on my college’s campus. Their personalities over the years swings the full scale and sometimes returns. Others never have. The personality of my chapter slides very little.
You said, “I don't share the level your accustomed to, I surpass it and everyday I strive to improve upon that.”
I agree that we don’t share the same level of Brotherhood. We probably don’t even share the same definition of “Brotherhood” and that’s fine. I don’t degrade you for your beliefs and if you truly strive to improve it, then I congratulate you.
I have but one life to live, one life to give, and one score to keep.

I have to agree with pretty poodle on this one. If you want to get hazed, you will get hazed. If you don't won't to, You won't. It's as simple as 123. YOU ARE THE MASTER OF YOUR DESTINY.

The worst thing about this board is all the lying that goes on. Yes, it is against all fraternities and sororities bylaws to haze, but lets face it, it happens. I joined a fraternity and im glad the way our pledging program was designed because like someone stated, it brought our whole pledge class together. We lost a few, but if they couldnt handle it because they were weak, im glad we found that out before they got in because i dont want just any scumb weakling in my fraternity. And i know now ur gonna say "ur a loser for wanting to belong to them and therefore put up with pledging"...well NO!!! I knew them before pleding and i liked the brothers that i knew. If pledging didnt exist anybody would half-heartedly join a fraternity or sorority without even wanting to be in it. After my class was done...we werent humiliated or anything, we were proud and WE knew that we wanted to be a part of this brotherhood and THEY did as well. Nothing in life comes easy and if it does, it's not worth much...remember that.

BaCarDi,

Are you talking about pledging or hazing?

There's a huge difference. Pledging is a process we all go/went through.

Hazing is not just against fraternity/sorority rules -- it's against the law.

I don't think its any coincidence that BaCarDi just registered the day of this post and has made no other posts. Seems we may have another infiltrator in our midst.

amycat412,

I suppose then that the first day you posted here you were an infiltrator?

DeltAlum,

If the Delt is "Delta Chi", then you still have at least one chapter that subscribes to the hazing belief. I am not a Delta Chi. But I am very close to the DC reps on my Alumni IFC and we have compared some "notes" on pledge education.

I would put the Brotherhood of any chapter that has a defined and purposeful education program up against say, a LCA, who does not even use the word "pledge". Now that is just a club with Greek letters.

BaCarDi,

As usual, you get what you pay for. A very wise man once told me, "Don't ever be afraid to buy the very best. You will always be happy with it."

N2,

"Delt" is Delta Tau Delta. And I suspect we have some backward chapters somewhere who still haze. When we find them, we close them down.

DeltAlum

I have to disagree here. First, I'm sure you could find at least one, and probably several more, chapter of ANY fraternity that is just "a club with Greek letters." And secondly, just because we don't feel like breaking the law to "bring our brothers together" doesn't make us a club with Greek letters. You can't just walk into one of our chapter meetings, sign your name and be a brother. You have to be selected by the brothers. You have to go through the AM period, and you have to go through ritual. And big deal if we don't use the word pledge. It was gotten rid of because of the negative connotation people like you give it, so you can thank yourself for LCA getting rid of the word pledge. People like you ruined it.

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Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

No, but I posted positive messages not negative ones promoting stereotypes the NPC/NIC/NPHC have been working towards changing as poster BaCarDi has. All I ask is that people be respectful of the forum and community in which they post.

BaCarDi is right about one thing-- Nothing good comes easy. And IMHO, hazing is the actives taking the easy way out. Fostering respect and love and friendship, fostering a FRATERNITY amongst members, that is what is hard work.

[This message has been edited by amycat412 (edited March 14, 2001).]

these threads make me laugh, basically because hazing is becoming more and more a hush hush thing due to risk management and hazing education throughout the country.

The reason I laugh is because it's only a matter of time before the chapters that haze get caught and are either brought up on charges--because it IS illegal, or their charter is taken away.

It's pretty sad when people feel they have to resort to illegal activity to have 'fun'.

You guys can say whatever u want, but i know that i have more respect for someone who went through something and worked hard for it rather than just was given his letters. And by NO means do we at any time endanger our pledges or touch them, but they do have to put an effort and work hard to become a brother. If they cant handle it, we have other fraternities that will take them whose pledge program is much easier and suited for their weakness.

BaCarDi,

Glad to see someone else here trying to keep a Brotherly perspective on things.

I always find it so interesting that the people that want to brag about how strong their brotherhood/sisterhood is because of hazing and how their membership means so much more to them because they were hazed are never proud enough of their letters to tell us the name of their organization.

Those advocates of hazing tend to talk about the strong versus the weak... I contend that it takes a much stronger chapter to not give in to the temptation to haze and a much stronger new member to stand up against those that attempt to haze.

But then again, I wasn't hazed so I must not know the TRUE value of Greek Membership.

[This message has been edited by AlphaXiGirl (edited April 12, 2001).]

Well, this is a PUBLIC forum. If members admitted that their org hazed then they would be 'puttin their bizness out there' and could face repercussions (sp?) since many national officers are regulars on this board. It is called 'discretion'.

If they are indeed doing something illegal and/or against their orgs national policy, it WILL come to light. If they identify themselves and their chapter as hazers, it's like someone walking into the police station and admitting having committed a crime; they KNOW they will be arrested.

Think!




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MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913

I wasn't hazed in any way during my pledge period--like some other posts I've read, the bigs always asked us whether we felt comfortable doing something and to speak up if we didn't. we were also guided by 'parents' (i luv my pledge mom, she's the best)who advised us about requirements and led us every step of the way. i've heard very credible "hazing" stories straight from its sources from other chapters (although their nationals forbid it of course)...Many times I've had a friend pledge XYZ and knock on my dorm room at the wee hours of morning looking tired and is just seeking a friend to support him and encourage him to keep on. I mean, I could only say, "i cannot speak for you...if you feel that this is such unnecessary stress physically and emotionally, then quit. it's up to you to decide but whatever you choose i'll always be here for you"... and when i go visit XYZ's house or attend a function of theirs, i do notice that they seem to have a strong bond between the actives and pledges, although a stronger bond between members of the same pledge class. So i guess hazing DOES create a sense of unity in a way but i dont agree to it to the point where they endanger lives or humiliate someone to a great extent....I mean i wasn't hazed at all and we have the same strong ties in our organization. I guess you really can't change a chapter's practices if that's what they have been doing for years and if they're unwilling to do it, then they won't.

PS: some hazing examples that I've been told: something to do w/ goldfish (eep), 48 hours of sleep deprivation, physical activities such as a "long gym class" w/ jumping jacks, push ups, etc.

Two more chapters have been closed due to hazing. DKE at Washington and TKE at Ohio State.

In the DKE case, this happened while the chapter, university and national are facing wrongful death litigation for a suicide which was allegedly caused by a "hell week" type of initiation.

Chapters that haze lose charters.

Its against the law.

Still.

DeltAlum

Not that I'm looking to start anything, but I would like to enter in an opinion with respect to what's legal, against the law, or right. Just because something is against the law, it doesn't mean that it's wrong or right. Don't forget it wasn't that long ago that students were fighting for civil rights, which wasn't legal for everyone. I don't think all hazing is right, but at the same time, not all of it is wrong. There is a fine line between what should and should not be allowed. Yes, I do feel that events that lead to wrongful deaths of pledges are something to check out, but I refuse to believe that absolute complete hazing is wrong. Hell, the government doesn't even follow its own rules with the military, what kind of example is that setting for the rest of us ?

Honestly, there are a million other things out there and people break laws all the time. It's difficult to set standards for something like hazing, but there needs to be a better solution than just saying "you can't do anything." Look how well it's working already, do you really think just saying it's illegal is enough of a deterrent? It's time to start thinking of better ways to stop the bad hazing while teaching young americans about the risks and dangers involved with drinking and senseless violence.

And one more thing, what the heck happened to the naked olympics at princeton? I loved reading the stories about them each year, but it's been quiet recently.... Later!

RUgreek

Yup.

There are lots of dumb laws/rules. And I was in college in the 60's and remember the Civil Rights struggle as well as the anti war movement very clearly.

But that doesn't change the fact that, right now -- in this place and time, if your chapter is caught hazing -- you'll lose your charter.

Unless you can change the law and/or the rules. And some probably need to be changed. It's not going to happen, though, as long as people keep getting killed or beaten -- and as long as the litigation and liability issues remain.

DeltAlum

Delta Alum, very well stated! In this sphere of time live by the rules or get punished! But the problem is, that in these situations, all Greeks get punished! It is never just a certain Frqthernity/Soroity in trouble it is the whole of Greekdom! If one does, then we must all do! That is the perspective to the uneducated out in the world of DAH!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

My sorority doesn't haze, but we new members must show respect to the elders. We do this by: giving up our space on the couch if there is no room and we sit on the floor. We stand for alumnae. We show our support for our house through simple gestures. I'm sure we do more, but they aren't coming to me right now. Any way the elders in the house have earned it and they are the ones who have kept our house running. This year I will be a sophomre in the house so the new girls will be giving up their seats. I believe we earn privelages being in a sorority is a privelage not a right. The elders keep us in the house by showing how much they care for the house and that includes not hazing us. If girls were hazed chances are many would deactivate and ASA wouldn't exist on my campus. Simple non abusive hazing is ok- i.e making the new girls pick up the mess after spring formal so the seniors wouldn't have to. I think that is okay.
I have met fraternity members who were hazed and said it gave them more respect for their fraternity. SO maybe guys are different, but I know I couldn't put up with be abused.

It's still hazing. When they become members instead of pledging, hazing doesn't magically disappear. Things like that are against LXA policy because it creates separation of classes. I'm not saying either way is right or wrong, just saying it isn't any less against the rules once they become members. It's just like hazing isn't limited to greeks. It happens in sports, military, clubs, and even high school. At my high school, after Dazed and confused came out, they started doing that stuff to the incoming freshmen. I'm not sure what they do now, but I know my cousin snuck home after the last day of school so he wouldn't "get it" Luckily, he lives accross the road from the school.

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Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

I don't see any harm in what your chapter is doing either, but surprise surprise, those activities are classified as hazing. The only difference is that you are describing what new members do when they enter the sorority, not what pledges do. So I guess on that note, no one could get in trouble, right?

Two years ago I would have strenuously disagreed with the "hazing is good" sentiment; now, however, I'm beginning to have second thoughts. As a brother in the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at Princeton University, I'm thoroughly aware of the strict prohibitions set on hazing by most international Greek organizations. During our fall rush this past year, we chose to emphasize this policy with our prospective rushees and ended up with the sorriest bunch of pledges I've ever encountered. On my campus, at least, it seems as though the best male Greek prospects WANT to be hazed--they want those hardships precisely because enduring them becomes a badge of honor and a source for rueful and hilarious "Remember whens...". I'm certain that explanation of hazing policies to potential pledges will be the crucial issue in planning our chapter's strategy for this coming fall's rush; I'm not so certain of how we'll resolve it. My own experience has been that a rushee who wants blanket assurance that he will not be hazed or otherwise f***ed with is not truly committed to making ANY of the sacrifices necessary to complete a successful pledgeship. I wish that weren't the case at Princeton, but it is.

Comments or questions are welcome.

Andrew Martin, Princeton '02

{Artimis: Edited single word for content}

[This message has been edited by Artimis (edited August 06, 2001).]

I would like to know what you mean by how you haze? If is than you sir give me another as in swating or do mean by making the rushees learn about the International and local history, or make them do study time, or what? Please enlighten the rest of us!
If they have to swill so much alcohol then please inform us, or have to go out and do dangerous things then please inform us!
I for one would like to know if you do all of the abusive things then woe be you, if not then the best to your house!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

Lil_G,

Because I am not free to discuss the issues that I have here in public. The anonymity allows the free (or somewhat freely) open discussion. The public discussion of anything that my chapter does in our pledge period is strictly prohibited. The bottom line is the fact that you want to know my e-mail address. What possible reason could you, or anyone else, have to know that?

I have no desire to have a private conversation with anyone outside of my Brothers on the subjet of this board. The risk is simply too large.

Andrew,

You are correct. You can search this site for my previous post to place my comments in context. My chapter is at a mid-sized private university. Our pledge period is virtually unchanged in 30+ years. Our reputation on campus is that our pledge period is a "bitch", and it is. Of course its behind closed doors now, but the word gets out each and every year. We do nothing to dispute the rumors, by design, while admitting nothing. The result is that those who are looking for a free ride don't even bother to get involved. The line to get in our door is always fairly long. We usually only pledge 40% or so of those requesting bids. The bottom line is that by allowing the rumors to persist and the fact that it is known the we are very selective, we attract the very best.

On my campus, our sorority is not the biggest nor most popular, but is viewed as one of the most secretive, with the tightest closed doors. We don't reveal any part of our ritual to anyone. We also have a national no-hazing policy, and are both the first and the loudest to say it. We are proud of our traditions, which have remained the same since the start of our sorority. We are also proud that WE DON'T HAZE. we don't feel that it is necessary, nor right. You can and should have a brotherly/sisterly bond by sharing ritual, the most special part of your GLO. Ritual should be the bond that brings your pledges/new members/members/alum together again and again. When I pledged, if anyone had asked to to do anything that I didn't like, or tried to tell me hazing was ok, I would have dropped right then. As an Alumnae, I still feel the same way. I won't try to tell those who believe hazing is ok that they are wrong. I would just say that I am sorry. I'm sorry that you couldn't enjoy the bonds of brotherhood/sisterhood without resorting to something as degrading, harmful (not necessarily physically) and sad, as hazing.

to whomever thinks that hazing is bad. Shut up! It's people like you that are going to cry and whine about every hardship that comes your way. Don't you realize that hazing is what separates the gdis from the greeks?! You have to go through the appropriate rites and traditions, like everyone else before you. In addition, to get something good, one must go through some difficulties- otherwise everyone would be doing it! And don't even attempt to compare slavery and hazing. nuff said

Brandeis,

Hazing is illegal. It is against the rules of every National Greek organization we're aware of.

Taken to extremes, it has killed people.

And, by the way, on this forum, we try to show some amount of respect to our fellow posters whether we agree with them or not. Just as I'm sure you would not care to be told to "shut up," neither do we.

"Nuff said."

DeltAlum

Hardships (ie pledging) can be endured w/o hazing. They are not the same!



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MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913

N2

As you are blessed with anonimity (sp?) on this site, tell us what your organization does that is considered hazing, but is an essential part of your brotherhood. You go on and on about how great and strong it makes your chapter but you don't say what it is.

As I don't recall see your chapter name or university and you have said your email is not listed, why don't you just tell us what you do?

I don't condone, or agree with it
But I can attest to Physcological Manipulation experiments, and various experiments in general behavioral physchology that Hazing establishes a cognitively dissonant belief that the final goal is so much greater than it otherwise would have been due entirely to the act of hazing. It's not the getting beaten part, or does it even have to be anything physical, as long as getting through it is VERY VERY difficult.

Very basic examples are
you get a brand new car for free or
you save your money working for 5 years to get one not as good

which one do you take better care of....the one you bought, because you convince yourself it's better because you just really put yourself out a lot to even get it, and even if before you knew it wasn't better, that perspective shifts and you now believe the one you bought was better.....the theory of cognitive dissonance as it backs the validity of his statement.

However, hazing also demoralizes basic principles concerning my founding, and I imagine the founding of most all other fraternities/sororities. It cannot create true brotherhood because no one can want to see there brother in agony so much that he will put him there himself. It creates this strong brotherhood, but as the theory of CD implies, it creates it on false pretenses. You convince yourself you and your brothers are tight, because if you're not...then why the hell did you endure the pain. A startling reality before your eyes! This isn't me talking, so don't take it too personal, it's the theory of cognitive dissonance against you hazers and hazees. So quit beating people..this isn't eye fr an eye...it's your brothers! would you hit your real brother or father to make him respect you more? hehe, probably not!

Cory

To all you people who are against hazing, I can say that I see your points. But honestly, I pledged last semester and was hazed. every sorority and fraternity on our campus hazes hard and are proud of that fact. The only fraternity that doesn't haze their "new members" are a joke on campus. go anywhere and you'll see their letters written on bathroom walls or elevators with the words fake or sucks after them. What I'm trying to say is that they have zero respect. You can't just start your own fraternity and have people join or being Greek would not be special. What's so great about it if anyone with money could "join". that to me is buying your friends. I am proud of the fat that I pledged hard. You cannot possibly know how close I am to my pledge sisters. They are my best friends and now that I am watching the current pledge class from this side, I realize why everything was done to me... to build the bonds between the girls and their pledge sisters. You people keep saying that hazing puts distance between pledges and members. This is not accurate at all. I love every one of my sisters, the only thing pledging did was make me rely on my pledge sisters for strength during pledging. I know what it means to be a sister. Without the pledging you are simply joing a club in which anyone with extra cash could get into. My sorority believes in quality, not quantity in girls. My whole point is that pledging creates a bond between sisters or brothers that no one can understand unless they themselves have went through it.