[KCZC27]

Hi i just discovered this forum today and this thread caught my attention so i have some things to say.

my background: i have been in a somewhat small frat with less than 20 chapters nationwide for a year. people like to keep it that way so we have quality guys over quantity (i know at least 1 person from every chapter). it is known for "hazing" heavily which is probably the reason i'm in it. call me stupid if you want, but before joining, i had thought about my reasons in doing so for 5-6 months. here are my reasons/goals hoping to accomplish for joining (listed based on priority):

1. a brotherhood, not a friendship
2. a personal goal (accomplishing a difficult mental and physical task)
3. forced time management/school
4. fun/memories
5. network

after my pledgeship i can say with confidence that all but #3 were fulfilled right away. #3 took a little more time to achieve and i'm still in the process of improving that.

my stance on "hazing": i have been using the term "hazing" in quotes this whole time because of its ambiguity i've seen throughout the thread. to me, "hazing" doesn't exist in greek life. this is my opinion because "hazing" can't be tied to something that is completely voluntary. i.e. when you are in a frat/sorority and "hazing" occurs, you can choose to depledge anytime. in the military, there is hazing because once you sign a up and go off to basic, there is no depledging.

i think joining a GLO needs to be set apart from just a group of friends. that difference is pledging and all the difficulties and challenges that go with it. without that difference, you might as well join a group of people who are friends with common interests and call it the baby sitters club.

when i was pledging "hazing" didn't directly build brotherhood. the things that build brotherhood are the sharing of time, experience, trust, and sacrafice. it just so happens that the method of "hazing" in my frat includes all of those. for everyone in my frat "hazing" gets harsh, but in the end, those who are "hazing" will always congratulate the pledges, no grudges exist, and nothing is personal. i.e. after a long night and finishing a difficult event, actives who were yelling, acting mean, and being harsh during the event, would always congratulate pledges when they finished their task. it is in this that pledges will see respect, and feel brotherhood.

for those who have never experienced "hazing": i am telling you that based on my experiences it for sure made me closer to my brothers in the frat. if you can say the same about your GLO sisters/brothers when you haven't gone through it, ask yourself why you call them your sisters/brothers and not just close friends? (and the answer to that is not in the letters you wear)

what is a brotherhood without sacrafice? what is a brotherhood without knowing the other person's pain? what is a brotherhood when you can't cry infront of them? what is a brotherhood when you can't be direct and honest? what is a brotherhood without unique experiences to reflect and laugh on? what is a brotherhood without secrets and inside jokes? what is a brotherhood without respect?

the bond of best friends exists because they have all gone through hard times with eachother, whether it be together or against eachother, hard times nonetheless.

imagine then the origin of the bond of brotherhood...



“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be never so vile. This day shall gentle his condition. And gentlemen in England now abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.”
-William Shakespeare