[dekeguy]

When I first read this I thought' 'Oh Jeez, this is going to to be where the stuff hits the fan'! Then I remembered stories I heard when I was a very young kid about how different things used to be way back when. Apparently it used to be common practice among fraternities that rush was a much longer process where the prospectives were looked at in a number of different social and academic situations. This seemed to go for about a month where there was an informal stag 'smoker', followed the next week by something like a picnic with dates, in turn followed next week by a cocktail party with dates. All the while the prospectives were observed in class and and other campus activities as well as the organized social events. After the first smoker culling sessions were held where the brothers could speak for or against any of the prospectives. Those who made the first cut were invited to the next activity and this went on through three or four culls. Then after the final activity the brothers met for a final selection. Depending on the organization anywhere from several to one single objection would 'blackball' the prospective, but if he got through the culling and was extended a bid it was essentially a done deal. The bid was not given unless the chapter was really sure that they wanted this guy. Again, varying from house to house, the prospective was given a bid on, for example, the Wednesday following the last formal activity and had until Friday to sign the bid or decline. Then that weekend was spent learning what a new guy was supposed to understand about the fraternity and then formally initiated.
Some of the really ancient brothers of several fraternities said this was pretty much the way it was done in the late 1800's through the end of WWI
when many fraternity men returned from overseas to finish their college time. The old guys said that they were told by the even older guys that the WWI returnees thought the concept of military basic training would be a good idea for new guys (pledges). In those old days hazing was much less dangerous and more tongue-in-cheek and good natured. This began to change in the 1930s but really became what was viewed as a problem after the mid-70s or early 80s.
Anyway, if this SAE initiative is well handled and has a positive effect it might be something we might all want to take a look at.