[pikeks109]

Originally posted by lifesaver:
I have to join the choir on this one. Back in Fall ’96 our pledge dad thought new member education was watching porn at his apartment. Needless to say they didn’t learn jack, and didn’t take ANYTHING seriously, then or after. We had 19 pledges that semester and the next, only 7 made grades, and by 1 year out, only 3 were even enrolled in the university. But did we learn our lesson? No. The next fall (’97) we did better, but never let the new members know who was in charge, and the way the game was to be played. They ran completely all over us. It was so bad, that to this day, they are considered the worst pledges we ever had, but that was our fault for letting them get away with it. I even had one of the pledges girlfriends tell me after initiation that Steve (her bfriend) had told her he wished we’d taken a harder line with them. They were crappy brothers. Not just cocky, but insolent as well. After that we totally cracked the whip. We went all out. And it has totally worked - accountability and the like. Our pledging/initiating ratio is now at NIC & university recommended levels, our new member grades have dramatically improved, and our new members can taste the reality of the situation in the air, “We don’t need you that bad.” ITS NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE.

Another tip I got from another chapter on campus is a “dedication” interview conducted halfway through the semester. We have never used it, but its nice to have there if need be. From the way it was explained to me is you have the brothers sit in the upper back of one of the larger auditorium lecture halls, where the lights are dimmed, and bring the pledges in one at a time and conduct an interview with them. The set up is meant to be somewhat intimidating to underscore the seriousness of the occasion. Different brothers then ask them questions like, ‘what have you done for the org, what would you do differently, what would you change, what have you learned, yada yada yada.” It seems to work pretty well for the org that does it. They are one of the stronger houses on campus.

Just my 2 bits and change

Yes I'm aware of that function as well. Thats another problem, we did that as well and the pledges apparently lied to us on the spot. We didn't realize this until 2 weeks later. "Cracking the whip" What does this exactly mean? Yell at them? Make them do physical activities?