[BigRedBeta]

Well, I don't like the initiation rule - I don't the university should be able to tell you when you have to initiate your pledges. I realize the logistical issues for actually carrying it out aren't ideal, but is it really that much of a difference if you were to initiate them a week after, or have them go through initiation at convention?

I also personally think that it's bunk that you don't follow your bylaws. That's what they're there for regardless of who gave them to you. If you aren't going to follow them as written, then change them. I've been in situations where my chapter voted to suspend the rules, and it's a dangerous precedent in my opinion. Might as well change them so you do follow them...

I guess my other question is what type of academic guidelines do you have for pledges? My chapter requires 12/week, of which 6 are supervised by the scholarship chair at the library (so really we only require 6). Everyone leaves and returns as a group. If you do something similar and initiate as late as you feel comfortable, then you can pretty much guarantee they'll end up above a 2.5, and they'll only be initiated for a short time before they get their grades back at which point they'll be in good standing. Put it close enough to finals and they'll be studying their ass off anyways...

I guess what I'm getting at is that I don't have a problem initiating them as they are, but it sounds like the problem is more what happens afterwards. I hope I'm coming up with solutions that minimizes the overlap between the "new initiate" phase and member in bad standing phase. Messing around with the initiation date is one of the few things (only?) that puts them in good standing as quickly as possible after their initiation - so that they can vote in chapter, have full privileges of membership, and things of that nature (b/c really, who wants to get initiated and then immediately be put on an academic program and not get to take part in the newly opened environment in front of them).