Intimidation, etc. is still hazing and it's still wrong. Period. Emotional abuse is hurting someone. Just because the scars don't show, doesn't mean they aren't there.

If you can't trust your new members to learn their 'stuff' out of love for their organization, if you can't treat them as sisters from the start, if you feel that they have to "earn" their letters, etc., then you are hazing and you should be ashamed of yourself. It was hazing when it happened to you and it's hazing when you do it to your new members. It serves no purpose: it does NOT build brother/sisterhood, it does not promote unity, it promotes fear and hate not fraternal love, and it is against the law both civilly and morally.

'nuff said.

Speaking from the BGLO perspective, I think many candidates are intimidated without any help. It all depends on how the individual observes the situation. There were times when I was intimidated, but looking back on it I could have handled certain situations a lot better than I did. However, I must say that our situation did create unity and a very close bond among my line sisters, sorors, and myself. I suppose its all depends on the individual.

You are right it does depend on the individual but, I do think that intimidation is a form of hazing but it is less sever than wood and it is needed. It is needed to bring the bond amoung the line.

pinkice9

Pledgeing is about trust but how can you trust people you don't know. THe information that I have requires a process and the process that I chose, I would want for myself. I am not recommending anything that you would not want for your mother, daughter, or any member of your family.

Nuff said,

pinkice9

Please forgive me for playing Devil's Advocate.

Fraternities and Sororities are, in part, about brother/sisterhood, right? In our own families, don't older brothers and sisters torment (mentally and sometimes emotionally haze) younger brothers and sisters? True Mom and Dad tell us to stop, but does it? No, at least not until older brother/sister has seen and is satisfied that younger brother/sister is worthy or has proven him/herself. Isn't it an "accepted" part of having siblings? SO what's the big deal? If can be accepted and sometimes expected in our blood families, what's wrong with it being in our Greek families?

A better pledging process
 

Instead of wood one could use intimidation, threads and or verbal abuse. NONE OF THESE THINGS WILL HURT OR PHYSICALLY DAMAGE SOMEONE. They may be mentally intimidated but that's the point you are supposed to build your sisters up to the point where they are no longer intimidated because they know there stuff.

pinkice9

I agree with you totally and brothers and sisters do not hit the other sister with wood or put them on a railroad track. My form of pledging is not that harmful to an individual. If a person can not withstand mental challenges they will not make it any where! The ONLY person that was allowed to hit me in my house was my mother and a sorority is not a motherhood it is a sisterhood.

PINKICE9

Soror, you REALLY were playing the devil's advocate...oh my :O!

Well, if anyone has access to Black Issues in Higher Education (May issue I think) read the back page. The article is about Membership Intake vs. Hazing...oops Pledging. That was a Freudian slip. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

I found it quite interesting. I've noticed that with the MI process (in some organizations) too many renegades are lurking...too many.

I'm not familiar with everyone's process and frankly I don't go around trying to find out, but people run their mouths a lot and then there's "pillow talk" too. Perhaps we {each organization) needs to carefully examine their MI process. I think some revamping could be used..after all 10 years has gone by and look what's going on still today.

What I appreciated most about my intake process was the fact that there was a significant lesson to be learned with everything we did. In other words, everything had a purpose. As a member of a sorority, I am not for physical hazing or any emotional torment that could scar a person. However, I am in support of the mental challenges that help speed the maturation process of pledges and promote sisterhood. I won't give examples of things I endured, but each time, I walked away a little stronger and much closer to the women I pledged with. My line sisters and I learned how to work together. Were it not for the many times we were forced to pull together and be a tight unit, I don't think I'd know how to work with the people I work with in my current job. My line sisters and I had VERY conflicting personalities. When we first got on line, I couldn't stand a couple of them and they disliked me as well. As a result of our process we learned that we can work together to reach a common goal without having to be best buddies. We learned that as African American women, we have a responsibility to one another; we (as Christians and sisters) have to help each other in our times of need, regardless of whether or not we're friends. My process taught me the importance of sisterhood and unity, and the ills of self-centeredness. To haze someone for the sake of belittleing them or to feel superior to them is SICK! To challenge someone as a means of helping them grow stronger mentally, emptionally, and spiritually is the most productive way to pledge anyone.

What do you think? I'd like some input!

411, I have to agree with you. I never thought I was hazed, nor do I think that now. I know I didn't haze my new members, and neither did any of my brothers and sisters. But pledging/new member ed was a challenge. We definately earned our letters, as well as pride and appreciation and love for each other.

I think we've had such a drastic change, from some hardcore (and unneccessary) hazing to no-tolerance policies, in such a short period of time, many chapters don't know what to do.

From the 'outside' anyways, this appears more so with BGLOs than non-BGLO's. It seems GLOs have taken to 'brotherhood/sisterhood building' and 'education' themed pledging processes, while BGLOs have MIP (which I understand is very different from previous methods and very limiting).

While I commend all of our national organizations for taking strong anti-hazing stands, I think there needs to be some kind of middle ground. Where you, as a chapter, can say "this is what we do here, this is why" etc., and nationals can say "ok", "absolutely not", "ok, but..." ,etc. Obviously none of our HQ's can go around to each chapter and do this, but there definately needs to be more thought put into some of these new programs. (some, however, seem to be excellent, from my limited knowledge).

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SilverTurtle@greekchat.com
Phi Beta Fraternity
Phi chapter

The way you feel about your line is the same way I feel about mine and this will be the start of a new tradition within our chapter. There will be no room for unsisterly hazing; it is either done right or no way at all. After all if it is not done right then its not meant to be.

pinkice9

This is for akatude if you are reading this please email me. I would like to talk with you without the chatline.

Pinkice9

I swear that I have to use your quote, I have never heard anything so well put and so easy for eveyone to see