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Originally posted by AXORissa
I dont agree it does more harm than good. Obviously NPC orgs do it different-- the way our recruitment works is that it is a mutual selection process, and since we chose a particular member, we WANT to show them off. Usually rention rates of women after rush are fairly high (the rention usually correlates to the amount of hazing a particular chapter does, though...) so its not like we are showing off a huge group of women that wont be part of our organization- most likely they will be XYZs... and yes, you do get judged by your new members, but they are the future of your chapter, and more representative of the type of women that will be there in three years than the current sisterhood.

Plus, i would think it would be considered hazing (it is for AXO) to NOT allow the new members to announce they are joining that particular organization. In fact, once they receive a bid, they are considered equal to a sister, and you are supposed to treat her as such. AXO encourages new members to be allowed to wear letters, and it is hazing if you make them do any activity that sisters dont do also... we view it as, we picked you to be a sister, and we're proud of you. We cant forbid new members from doing anything, and we cant make them do anything. Most of the things that are accepted by NPHC standards as part of their program is considered hazing by our National.

Rissa,
Very good post and I agree. We have the samething, a NM isn't allowed to do anything that a sister won't do. We don't tell them this until after the fact, but from the day that a Bid Card is signed, they are considered to be sisters. When this fall's pledge class found that out, I thought they were goign to kill me (I was thre NME) but there is a reason why they don't know it. THe only thing I disagree with (once again, this is my opinion) is letting NM's wear letters before they get in. My pledge sister and I got in on 5/4, pulling on a set of letters to go to class on 5/5 was one of the best feelings in the world, something that I never will forget. I worked hard to earn those letters. We were allowed to wear Sigma Delta Tau, or even SDT, but not SDT and I have to say, I am happy we couldn't. Maybe it's just me but thats how I feel. I don't like wearing things that I don't understand what it means.