Quote:
Originally Posted by shinerbock
Well, believe what you will, but there most certainly is. Maybe I don't know enough about other regions (although I'm fairly well traveled), but from what I can tell, in no other region do greek systems hold the clout and prominence that those in the South do. There is much more tradition involved, much more power involved, and often times much more money involved. I'm not putting down other region's greek systems, but the emphasis on greek life in the south is immense, and I really don't think that is refutable. Regarding hazing and pledging, I think there may be a difference, but I'm not sure. In the south, hazing is most commonly for constructive purposes (lineups, putting pledges in difficult situations and requiring them to work together to get out of it), and I don't know what its for everywhere else. I think in there probably is a different aspect of pledging in the South, one that focuses on becoming a gentleman, dressing appropriately...almost a cotillion for students. They may do this other places, but like I said, I don't know.
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I've read most of this thread before I put my two cents in and I will qualify my statements by saying I AM from the North, and I AM from a small chapter. I also have only been affliated with my GLO for one year... however I have done alot of research into standards that my GLO sets and those of other organizations, and I have friends in alot of different organizations... have i covered my ass yet enough for everybody on here cuz y'all like to jump down people's throats....
I PERSONALLY believe that the "strength" of some southern schools has alot to do with parents. There seem to be alot more legacies and/or people whose parents were greek in a different organization. These parents most likely went through some crazy hazing and are more likely to counsel their kids that "it'll get better" or "it's worth it" than parents who either never went greek or even never went to college and just don't get greek life period, never mind "getting" hazing.
And furthermore, hazing is NOT a southern issue, let me tell you. I won't use names of organizations local or national, tho it's NOT mine. but hazing happens up here, and everyone knows it. Groups have been derecognized by our university for it. And our once decently sized greek system here has disappeared as anti-hazing laws have appeared and cracked down over the years.
Hazing acc. to FIPG is a huge list of things... and hazing in undergrads minds is another thing. what it boils down to is personal respocibility. Do what you want to do, as long as you are willing to take ANY POTENTIAL concequences. Example: If you know an organization is going to haze the hell out of you and you sign a bid, then you become a dropper and rat everyone out, you're just an idiot. you knew what was coming to you. I'm not saying it's right. But use your brain. and YES i think 18 yr olds have a brain. it may be hormone filled and alcohol addled but hey it's there. use it.
I also think that the north and the (more affluent) south have different cultures, and i respect that. up here we don't have cotillion, junior league, or any of that stuff. And so i think the types of hazing you see in different areas reflect thier different cultures.
sorry i've covered so many points, i've read alot of different posts that i had opinions on today.... and in conclusion i'd like to say, hey, maybe there are activities that are technically considered hazing that you believe have merit. I can definately get behind the fact that some idiots took scavenger hunts too far and ruined them for the rest of us who could use them very safely. but it is what it is. we live in the good old U.S. of A. and one of the prices we pay for our freedoms is that we do live in a very litigious society where we DO have to cover our asses because someone WILL sue you, and we DO have to make strict but broad laws because some asshole somewhere WILL take it too far, ruin it for everyone else, and THEN someone will sue. It sucks, but why argue it, because it is what it is until we change our whole national culture, and that's not a job I want, go for it if you feel up to tackling it. Or be the next Thoreau and be civily disobedient and take the concequences. Unfortunately in greek life, a whole ORGANIZATION can be forced to live our your concequence, and I'm not willing to be in the bullseye of every other person I accidentally screwed over. So, i'll follow a few silly rules, nationally or of my GLO, that I disagree with in order to get the bennefits of other rules that have great merit.
