Quote:
Originally Posted by naraht
I'm asking because Kevin used the term "Paper members" and he isn't in an NPHC organization...
Other than in the NPHCs...
How common is the term "Paper member" to describe someone who became a member of an organization while going through a process that National requires at that point as opposed to one with Hazing or other activities(ex. alcohol) that a chapter does in violation of the current National rules.
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"Paper members" is meant to be an insult to those who were initiated post-MIP (
Membership
Intake
Process) in a NPHC org.
Historically, the pledging process in NPHC orgs was 6 weeks - a full semester. Unfortunately during that time some of the members ("actives") would mistreat the pledges. Mistreatment would come from graduate and undergraduate members. To put an end to the abuse, MIP was adopted by all NPHC orgs. NPHC member organizations restructured their potential new member process, and part of the restructuring was to shorten the potential new member time period. Some orgs decided on having a 3 day new member period, some chose 4 - 5 weeks.
To say someone is a "paper member" is to say they were not really pledged into the organization because they were not "on line" for any extended time period. "Paper members" were said to be those who started the PNM period on a Friday, had more training about the org on Saturday and were initiated on that Sunday. Essentially saying that all they did was sign a paper to get in.
The current MIP has been around at least 20 years now, so no one really uses the term "paper members" anymore. If you ask any recent inductees about the term "paper members" they will probably just look at you like this:
Its a term that really no longer has any weight of insult to it today.
So, in other words, its just Kevin talking out of his @$$ about something he read on GC years ago and has no first hand personal experience.
