I do know that the NPHC Greeks have had to switch to much shorter intake procedures and that that has caused considerable stress with "paper" vs. "pledging".
OK, there are several audiences to be dealt with here...
Administration. As I understand it, at least at some HBCUs, a list of Potention New Members, known to APO as pledges, must be given to the administration to verify that their GPA is such that that are allowed to join Alpha Phi Omega. As such they would have the list of students joining Alpha Phi Omega. If the appropriate members of the administration do not understand our terminology then it needs to be explained to them in private, including the fact that Alpha Phi Omega is not bound by decisions of the NPHC. (If it takes a national board member to properly explain this to them, by all means get one. 1/2
NPHC members. Are they the ones objecting? Are they objecting to the events that we are doing are hazing *or* are they envious that we continue to have pledge periods that, in length, are closer to what the NPHC fraternities had before they were forced to do "paper"?
Non Greeks. A response that the Noble Nine may have decided what is right for them, but that they did not decide what is for Alpha Phi Omega.
Studying = Hazing. Obviously chapters have to with whichever is the strictest out of APO rules, State Law and University Regulations. But I've seen required joint studying at PWIs that has passed muster without a problem, are the HBCUs going to have stricter rules on that?
Pins. I reference back to the previous copying of Standard #5 in the National Pledging Standards. While a reference to light and bushels may be more appropriate to Alpha Nu Omega and if I were Christian, I think it applies in this case.
Surprise at Probate. Announce them, honor them, and have other surprises: Routine, amount of service, line name...
I know that what I have posted here may not be practical and I'm looking from outside, but to me any circumstance that would encourage an Alpha Phi Omega pledge to lie about whether they have pledged needs to be investigated to see if change is possible.
Randy