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Coming from a very successful chapter that runs the BMP, I think that some of you do not fully understand the program. My chapter chartered in 2000, and I dealt with the whole "not a real fraternity" crap from other frats on our campus...until we showed them what we are about. We hold the same ideals as all SigEps, and we continually improve ourselves after pledging ends. I'm not saying that brothers in traditional chapters do not, I'm just saying that it is required for us.
I've seen many arguments from traditional chapter members that struck a nerve with me:
1. Not pledging does not promote respect for the fraternity.
I respect SigEp and how it can change the lives of men for the better as much as any of you. Traditional or BMP...we stand for high ideals and aspire to make a difference wherever we go.
2. BMP chapters are too easy to join.
Joining a SigEp chapter is different everywhere. My chapter is hard to join...we are very selective. I have seen some BMP chapters that give everyone a bid...but I have also seen some traditional chapters that do the same.
3. Since I'm from a BMP chapter, I'm not as close to my brothers as traditional members are with their pledge class.
I will argue that I am as close with my brothers as any of you within your pledge class. In the BMP program, you can work at your own speed, but ask around...most travel through the ritual together anyway. We struggle together, learn together, fail together and succeed together. And we do it for more that the 8-10 weeks of pledging...we do it for our entire college careers. We also are not separated by pledge classes, so if someone is taking longer in a challenge, we bond with them. If someone is going through the challenges quickly, we can bond with them.
4. BMP members do not "earn" their letters or their knowledge of the ritual
That is flat out bullshit! We may not pledge, but we require our members to do many of the same things. The difference is that we do it throughout our college career, not just our first semester in the fraternity. We have to continue to participate and continue to grow every semester. Also, since we learn the ritual in steps, I would argue that we have to do MORE over a greater amount of time to prove ourselves and "earn" that knowledge and our letters.
This post is not meant to attack any traditional chapters, but to give my thoughts as I continue to hear myself and other BMP chapter members insulted. The prior comments on this probably weren't meant to insult me, but when people say that I'm not as good a SigEp as they are because I'm from a BMP chapter, that does insult me.
Later all,
Benson
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