[KappaKittyCat]

If all of that is considered hazing, why don't you all just initiate the members right after they get a bid? Why even have a educational process (or whatever you might call it) if they aren't required to do anything?

Some orgs are moving to a program that is like the one you're suggesting. For example SFE's Balanced Man Program does something similar. They do have an educational process.

I know that Kappa's New Member Program was established with the intent of cutting down on the possibility of hazing. Our purpose is not to separate new sisters from the rest of us (and yes, NMs are considered sisters, just not active ones). Our purpose is to integrate them as fully as possible while they are learning about the fraternity. Once they've learned enough for the Secrets to make sense, they're Initiated into active membership.

I don't like the idea that one should have to prove oneself continually in order to earn Initiation. In my opinion (and as I don't know anything about the NPHC or MCGLOs, I speak only about NIC/NPC), bidding a person means that we want him/her to be a brother/sister. Not "We want to give you the chance to prove yourself as someone who could maybe be a brother/sister." That's what rush is for. We meet men/women. If we are mutually compatible, we bid them. They become members. It's that simple. In my experience, if we've made a mistake, if that person has some sort of royal character flaw or whathaveyou, she'll usually depledge.

And I just want to go on the record as saying that I wholeheartedly agree with Candace's statement about "feeling the presence" of sisterhood. I had a new Initiate, one who'd been leukwarm about the whole process, tell me that our Initiation was the most beautiful and wonderful thing she'd ever seen. She is now an incredibly dedicated, loyal, and involved active member.