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I agree that new members need time to learn the organization and am not endorsing having them hold offices immediately. But, a learning period and a "probation" period are different things.
And, often, you still end up with some less than ideal members even after a 6 week new member period. Otherwise, you wouldn't be seeing all these posts about chapters being closed for hazing and alcohol violations. I believe that all sororities have some form of suspension of membership and occasionally have to use it because of those who still slip through the cracks.
In my experience, most members, by the time they are juniors and seniors have eased out of the "partying phase" of college and are more focused on academics as they realize that they are really going to graduate and will have to find something to do in the "real world". I think that new members will benefit more from having more exposure to these women, being mentored by them on committees, and interacting more with them than they will by doing things on their own.
I can see the Greek system as a whole moving to an immediate Initiation eventually, if the hazing doesn't stop. It will be a matter of survival from law suits. That doesn't mean the newly initiated members would be able to immediately hold offices or would be free from a learning period, they would have their learning period after Initiation instead of before Initiation. I don't necessarily endorse this, but see it as a potential consequence.
Dee
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