[Elephant Walk]

I was going to respond in German, but I hadn't spoke it in so long. It's probably atrocious. If you have trouble understanding, send me a message.

Pledging length varies among fraternities from as short as 2 days to as long as 8 months. The pledges role is to be a student of the (non-ritual) fraternity in all forms. Our pledges learn how to throw parties, how to make punch, how to be good brothers, and all the non-ritual information (such as history).

I'm not sure what you are asking about common rituals. Many fraternities rituals are somewhat loosely based on some sort of masonic ritual, I think although I really don't know.

Forming a unity is sort of a split question. The pledges are taught unity with their pledge class first as well as the fraternity. This is done through several activities, which include hazing as well as non-hazing activities. The chapter as a whole finds several ways to form unity..one of the biggest I believe is living in the same house together. The chapters may also do some sort of activities to bond, but it is not set in stone.

edit: I'll do my best short answer in German, but again it may be terrible.

Ein "pledge" ist ein "pledge" fuer zwei tage zu acht monaten. Keine typisch zeit. Die "pledges" haben Geschichte gelernen. Die "pledge" ist die Studenten uber die fraternity. In alles weg des fraternity. Party oder Geschichte, viele dinge zu lernen.

Ich habe nicht "common ritual" verstehen, aber viele fraternity ritual kommt aus Masonic ritual, Ich denke.

Fuer fraternity einheit, es ist nicht einfach. Einheit fuer pledges ist sehr wichtig. Wir macht einheit mit "hazing" und "nicht-hazing" fuer pledges. Leben in die haus macht einheit fuer die ganze fraternity. Vielleicht fraternities habt ein nur brudder nacht, wann es ist nur brudders in der fraternity und nicht "auslander." (Es war am besten wort, ich habe keine ahnung ein andere wort.)