Quote:
Originally Posted by badgeguy
That's the point I was making.....the whole idea of a pledge process is historically a new concept that was non existent back in the 1800s. Most people entering societies where often times people one or two of the membership knew from their hometowns, or met in classes and really hit it off.
The idea of someone the chapter wants to be a fellow brother having to "prove" their worth or desire is definitely a more recent (post 1900s) development. Society changed, as did the stature of Greek Letter Societies in general.
Back in the 1800s according to numerous magazine articles, "hazing" if you will was primarily done between classes ( seniors to freshman) sort of thing and not really within specific members of fraternities.....
There was however the reports of "horseplay" at initiations to which alumni always frowned upon.....but that was different than a whole semester or quarter of hazing a pledge....(and seems to forget that these are people who one WANTS to be able to call BROTHER!)
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Agreed. However, Clements was well known on campus already. The same could not be said for the typical first term freshman no one has met before. You'd almost have to run a background check on him before offering a bid.