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Interviews
One of the biggest problems with interviews is NOT the actual interview itself. If you have even one member who has a slight hazing mindset, that member may try to make the new member "earn" the interview by doing something and THAT becomes hazing. It's a set up for the new member. Additionally, if one member doesn't have the most positive feelings for a particular new member, he/she could refuse to grant an interview or make themselves unavailable on purpose. Also, we always had one or two "invisible" members who we just never saw and couldn't reach if we wanted to.
I know the goal of interviews is usually innocent.. to get the new members to know the members better. Isn't this best accomplished by just hanging out together? Having icebreakers? Do you really get to know someone by asking them a list of set questions like "What's your major?" "What's your home town?", etc? Why not have a retreat where you play a game like "Find someone who was a Scout?" "Find someone who is from ____?". Or, have each member write down something "unique" about themselves and have a contest to see who can guess who belongs to which unique fact? Who knows, you might get to know your own brothers a little bit better too!
I try to analogize this to the first week on a new job. People generally welcome you, make a point to introduce themselves, invite you to lunch, show you the ropes, etc. They don't wait for you to come and introduce yourself around. We should be welcoming new members and help them get to know us, not making it a chore for them to get to know the members.
Dee
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