Quote:
Originally posted by TLAW
I have met quite a few greeks, and for those made right, I am yet to find one to refer to their pledge process negatively. So, there just might be some good in a controlled, semi-above ground pledge process, where the men charged with making new men know the difference between pledging and murder.
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But, that's JUST the problem--"those made right" aren't just doing MIP, but more the middle ground between it and old skool. MIP alone just can't/doesn't/won't cut it.
And, I'd have to say that, in MY opinion, things didn't start getting outta hand and uncontrolled (i.e. ultra-violent and almost deadly) until MIP was implemented! Look at the most major cases we're hearing about-- they're all very recent, wouldn't you agree? When lines go underground in an effort to maintain a traditional pledgeship, more s**t happens. And, because MIP is more than just an organizational mandate (i.e. anti-hazing is also university AND state law), our chapters are always under a microscope by SOMEBODY, making underground lines even less successful. Sure--the "candidates" may have sealed lips, but the GDIs, faculty, staff, dorm RA's, etc. are the ones who are saying: "Ya know Jerome has been lookin' kinda rough lately and his grades are slippin'. He must be pledging a frat and being hazed! I'm gonna report this!"
And, another sad reality is that a lot of orgs are bringing in some WEAK individuals--people who just want to belong, to be popular, and who have NO interest whatsoever in carrying out the mission and upholding the values of their organizations! When these kinds of people successfully undergo an underground pledgeship, their only focus becomes this: to make sure the next line goes through the same s**t they did. They don't care about the rationales and growth lessons behind the things they went through, because their focus was never really to have that org in their hearts; it was merely to have some letters on their chests! I know people who suffer from such chronic low self-esteem, that they are willing to endure ANYTHING AT ALL--from the most extreme physical to the most life-altering mental abuse--just to be able to say, "Now I'm somebody!" Imagine such a person being responsible for the intake of new members. Do you think they'd give a rat's a$$ about the severity or risks of their hazing actions? NO! They only care about that newfound "power" they have to put someone else through what they went through. Because of their low self-esteem (which never goes away, even with the letters), they need that "power" like a crackhead needs the rock. Those are the folks who go too far, and have ruined it for those of us who know how things should be done.
There has to be a PURPOSE behind the things that are done within either process--both pledging and MIP. Unfortunately, for some chapters, the secrecy of the underground process has resulted in beat-down sessions. But, what people don't know is that now HAZING (by definition of the orgs, the universities, and the states) encompasses SO MUCH MORE than physical activities! In Laymen's terms, HAZING is, quite simply: to require that a person do anything they MIGHT not be comfortable with as a means of joining an organization. Isn't it funny how this definition doesn't apply to sports, the military, marching bands, etc.? Hazing is saying: "Each of you need to wear the identical all-black outfit and shoes." What physical or mental abuse is involved in that? Yet, chapters whose "candidates" agree to do this are, by definition, having an underground line. If they did this publicly, eyebrows would be raised, conclusions drawn, and chapters investigated.
These days, because of MIP, chapters are getting reprimanded or suspended for the littlest, most trivial things (like not putting up signs about the rush/smoker) and most often, none of it qualifies as physical or mental abuse of any sort! Chapters are being told to "add" people to a line simply because someone went crying to nationals because they didn't make it. Many people in the latter category weren't even looked at by the members, much less touched, and yet they are allowed to jump on the wagon because nationals doesn't want the drama!
LONE DOG-- I agree with you about the lawyer thing. I know I'll catch hell for saying this, but, like it or not, most of our orgs have adopted MIP and anti-hazing policies for FINANCIAL PROTECTION ONLY--not because they actually give a damn about what happens to pledgees. They've adopted them in order to be protected in the COURT OF LAW and to avoid losing thousands of dollars from law suits defeats. If these orgs REALLY cared about the physical and mental HEALTH of the prospectives who pursue membership, "hazers" would automatically be in jail rather than merely suspended. Wouldn't you agree?
And I'm Out.