Interesting eBay Item
 

Hmmm....

Ever seen one of these?

How did this person get this? I mean, they aren't still used, are they? So I guess if a chapter had an old one just lying around and it wasn't in use, then no one would realize it's gone.

I dunnno...I just thought it was a strange item to see up for auction.

Thats kinda cool, but why would you need more than one black ball?

Each initiated member had 1 white and one black ball. Each member dropped one or the other in the box to cast his vote on the prospective member being considered for membership.

When we cleaning out an old storage locker (when I was an active), we found the old Blackball box. It didn't look much like that one.

The reason why there's more than one black ball is that, the member has to select a ball, and put it into the voting section of the box. There were an equal number of black and white balls, so that no one would know how the vote was going until whoever counted the votes did so. Obviously, we didn't use it then, and hadn't for years.

But I can remember as we tried to decide what to do with it - keep it as a relic? Throw it away? We finally ended up smashing and burning it.


ETA: I know about the blackball system from my one year in a masonic organization, most definitively not from Alpha Delta Pi!!

I was told that BSP used the blackball selection as a process of biding new members in back in the 70's (by a Beta that joined 29 years ago). Thank goodness those days are gone.

that is so funny. i always knew what the term referred to...i just never knew there was a special box for it. oh well!

the sad part is most of us only know what blackballing was is from the episode of 90210, lol

I think alot of fraternities still blackball. Least they did when I was an active. I would imagine my chapter still does it unless IHQ told them not to anymore. They even showed a blackball box on that show on fraternities the History channel did. And if ws being used in modern times.

We still have that same selection process today -- without the box and with a few qualifications. For example, legacies do not require that unanimous vote -- but they do require a vast majority of the vote. I can't remember off the top of my head what the number is. I think it's something like 4/5.

Interesting item. Id love to get one just to have it. My grandma and aunts who were in sororities said they heard of that and I know my grandma used that system when she was a member. Interesting history piece.

Masonic organizations still use the traditional white ball/blackball (cube) system to elect members.

"Brethren, we are about to vote on the petition of Mr. William Robert Badass ( ;) ) for the degrees of Freemasonry. The committee has reported favorably. All members of the lodge present must vote. The white balls elect, the black balls (or cubes) reject. Remember your obligation and vote for the good of Masonry."

ETA: This portion of Masonic ritual is not considered esoteric, at least within Texas.

Rainbow girls still use a "ballot box" with black balls and white cubes as well.. although in my time in rainbow we never black balled someone as it is dealt with before we actually vote the voting is just a formality really.
I don't see much difference in how you vote (using black balls or some other system) it's still voting...

My professional fraternity still uses our blackball box.

I know of a chapter that still uses theirs. They call it the "machine."

I know of quite a few fraternities that still use these.

we dont use it anymore, but we do tell our pledges what it was. i dont understand why it is hazing when others still vote on wether or not they want someone intiated. it is just another way of doing it.

Black History Buffs??? I don't think I like that comment...

I remember seeing that episode. :)

The Documentary last year on cable showed Phi Delt at Ole Miss using one. They just had them voting on won pledge (who got in).

Well, there's more to it then that.

In the 'old days' people would vote with white & black balls. (a varient is to use marble & dice). Because they couldn't read, so they couldn't use a ballot.

That in itself is no big deal.

HOWEVER, in many secret, fraternal organizations, they would vote in new members. BUT, to get in you would need to get a unanimous vote or near unanimous vote. Getting ONE 'no' vote would prevent you getting in. One "black ball". Hence the term 'getting blackballed'. One person spoke against you (voted 'no' with their black ball) and you're out.

Many organizations vote in new members. How they do it (vote voice, ballot, white & black balls, etc) doesn't matter. What matters is how many votes you need to get in. In one group I'm a member of, its just a majority vote. That's true of most. But if you're requiring a higher precentage then just majority, then you get into the issue of hazing, etc.

we have one that some of the girls from a while back had made for us.

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funny ebay item. make sure to read the description.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=4146756343>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=4146756343

We still use our original blackball box!