I couldnt agree with you more. 
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by AlphaChiS2K
[B]How can you NOT have new member exams??? Besides fostering the knowledge neccessary to respect and be educated about the chapter you are about to join, pledge tests also can create relationships within the pledge class. Point in case:
I was "that pledge," the one who knew everything and anything- I have a photographic memory, so memorizing comes really easily to me. One of my pledge sisters, Allie, could not remember stuff for the LIFE of her. It was probably a combination of her not devoting enough time to it and not having a strong ability to memorize, but regardless, we always caught $hit from our pledge moms because not all of us knew our stuff. Allie and I started meeting for an hour before chapter every week and I'd create mnemonic devices for her to remember the founding sisters, etc... I really helped her learn her stuff, and her whole demeanor changed about pledging after that. She became super involved- previously she had been the one to whine and bitch about events- and now is one of our most active sisters, and one of my best friends.
The pressure of pledge tests forced us to get close, and it taught us that if we're not all together, then we're nothing.
Just my $0.02.