[TEKEISSTRONG]

LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON MYSELF.

I AM A COMBAT VET (DESERT STORM - 1ST RANGER BATTALLION) WHO USED HIS GI BILL BENEFITS TO GO TO SCHOOL AT A MID-ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY.

I PLEDGED TKE - AND I WAS UNDERWHELMED BY THE EXPERIENCE. I FELT THAT THE PLEDGE PROGRAM NEEDED REFINING TO STRENGTHEN THE TYPE OF MEN WE NEEDED.

I BECAME PLEDGEMASTER (HEGEMON) AND IMMEDIATELY INSTITUTED MORE MILITARY TECHNIQUES IN THE PLEDGE PROGRAM. OUR PLEDGES GET VERY LITTLE SLEEP, ( 4 HOURS/NIGHT), MUST GREET EVERY FRATER THEY SEE, CARRY A BRICK WITH TKE PAINTED ON IT, MUST GET EVERY FRATER'S SIGNATURE 3 TIMES A WEEK, HAVE EARLY MORNING BONDING RUNS, AND ENDURE ZEBRA WEEK. ZEBRA IS ONE WEEK WHERE THE PLEDGES EAT ONE MRE A DAY, WHILE GETTING NO SLEEP. IT IS HARD. WE LOSE ABOUT 80% OF OUR RUSH EVERY SEMESTER, BUT WE EASILY GET THE HIGH NUMBERS TO RUSH US.

WE HAVE A REP MUCH LIKE THE ELITE FORCES WHOM I SERVED WITH IN THE MILITARY. WE ARE VERY SELECTIVE AND NEITHER CONFIRM OR DENY WHAT WE DO. WE HAVE THE "TEKE MYSTIQUE"

I GRADUATED WITH A 3.80 GPA IN JUST THREE YEARS, PURCHASED A SMALL BUSINESS AND HAVE GROWN IT INTO A MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESS WITH ABOUT 80 EMPLOYEES. I HAVE STAYED ON AT CHAPTER ADVISOR. WE HAVE KEPT THE PLEDGE PROGRAM HARD.

WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY ON RETAINER. HE COSTS OUR CHAPTER $400/SEMESTER. I MATCH THE CHAPTER CONTRIBUTION FOR THE ATTORNEY. HE HAS BEEN TO OUR ADMINISTRATION AND HAS POINTED OUT THAT MOST OF THE HAZING POLICIES VIOLATE THE FIRST AMENDMENT. AS A RESULT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS TURNED THE OTHER WAY AS A RESULT OF WHAT WE DO.

OUR FRATERS KNOW THEIR RIGHTS. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THE FRATERNITY - THEY KNOW:

1. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING TO EVERYONE.
2. CALL THE ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY. WE PAY THE MONEY, SO THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM.

WE HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS WITH THE POLICE THE PAST FIVE YEARS WITH HAZING INVESTIGATIONS - AND WE HAVE BEEN CLEARED BOTH TIMES - BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR RIGHTS. WE KEEP THE BROTHERHOOD SACRED.

PLEDGING A FRATERNITY SHOULD BE HARD. BUT EVERYONE OF THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED OUR PROGRAM WILL TELL YOU THEY ARE PROUD OF IT.

WHAT DOES A PLEDGE LEARN? THEY LEARN THAT THE HUMAN BODY CAN ENDURE A LOT MORE THAN THEY THINK THEY CAN. THEY ALSO KNOW THAT HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE IS REWARDED.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO BE IN A NON-HAZING GLO, THAT'S UP TO YOU. I PREFER EARNING LETTERS. SO, RESPECT US FOR WHAT WE HAVE EARNED.

TEKE IS STRONG