Quote:
Originally posted by adpiucf
'cuz you're bored, Tom. 
I think the reason retention is down across the board is that we don't haze them into staying... what do you all think?
Breathe.... Breathe. I'm kidding!!!!
Well, there could be a factor of truth to that idea.... In the "olden" days of sorority, there was a lot more weighed on "proving yourself" as a "pledge." The idea behind that being that initiation was a great reward and you were given the privilege to be a sister. Our current member discipline, however, brings new members in with the notion that the pre-initiation period is a time for arts and crafts and preparing for a test.
I am in no way condoning hazing or hazing traditions.
I wonder, without the hazing, what we could learn from the sisters who went before us, that would inspire our members to stay active for all 4 years? Or is it really that society has shifted such that we've altogether lost our uselfulness as a "home away from home" for collegiate women?
How do we make our sororities a home for FOUR years, and prevent members from burning out, dropping out or dissenting so that they take other chapter members out with their negative attitude?
I'm really interested to hear input of some older alums, and members at current small, large and middle sized chapters.
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I don't think you're THAT far off. I had to work for my membership to Gamma Phi, and no not even now do I consider any of it hazing. There was nothing degrading or humiliating about anything I had to do. But I had to PROVE that I wanted to be there and that does not happen now. And no, you recent new members, you did not have to prove anything.
First off, grades. My god, how could we (or the Universities which is who lead this one) not want to make girls have a certain GPA to initiate? When you have to actually work to get something, you appreciate it a WHOLE lot more. I know from my own experience.
Then there's the short pledgeship. A number of women have no idea what the sorority is like and have absolutely no regard for the commitment they made.
Hell, we have women deactivating because they don't want to live in the house, a basic, fundamental rule.....