I know that many people make paddles for the sole purpose of hanging it on their wall, but we are forbidden from even making them! Their reasoning is that paddles carry negative images of hazing--so instead of trying to convince everyone that paddles are purely decoration, they decided to do away with them completely. I don't see a problem with that--it only means you start new traditions.

From what I heard from our LA, she said the tradition of making paddles ended in the early 1990s. In fact, it ended with her pledge class in 1992. After that, no one could make paddles without raising hell with IHQ.

During Intiation week we have Fireside, and that's where we have pass up/down gifts and we have Sister Mom/Daughter poem exchange. It's a great tradition we have and it's special for all of us. So, even if we don't have paddles to give and receive, the occasion's still memorable.