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the "rationalization" of violence
Please read my answer on this topic on the Zeta board. For the record, I did not have a poor undergraduate experience; however, I am critical enough of our process to understand the reform that is needed, and the people that have to institute that reform. Also, we need to be clear that the "rationalization" of violence, which we've renamed, for all intents and purposes, "pledging", is a social construct. It is a socially negotiated value that someone created that we've, over time, objectified so much that we can't even imagine a new membership process without it. Sorry, if I no longer agree with the dominant discourse and order of "reality."
But frankly, I'll be more blunt - since it is evidence and a chronology of events that you appear to want.
After I "pledged", I still participated in "sets" for a couple of years. During those two years, I came to increasingly question the purpose of "pledging" as a logical and "normal" activity. Finally, I happened to go to a set that was so disturbing, YOU would NEVER have to ask me this question. My sister, I saw a man brutalized in a fashion that was so bad, it was damn near animalistic. This man's skin, his back, his chest, etc, had imprints and severe bruises all over it. I tried to stop the set (it wasn't my campus and they weren't "my boys") but there were too many people doing their thing to hear my voice. I couldn't bear to watch and I walked out of the set and vowed to fight (even if I'm by myself) against this destructive behavioral norm that we've created. But as your response shows, I'm clearly in the minority and losing the argument.
Nevertheless, I no longer believe in this world view. And I care too much for us, as a race, and the organization, to allow the dominant construct to go unchallenged.
So, maybe we continue on for 10 years, or maybe we'll last another 20, but certainly, all BGLOS are on their last leg, unless they reassess their values, and change their ways.
Blueknowlege
Note: That man that I saw assualted by "my brothers", never did make it into the blue and white because the undergraduate chapter didn't take care of the "paper work."
Please tell me where there's a justice and moral authority in our "system."
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. I don't know. But getting rid of undergrads is not the answer. I pledged as an undergrad and that is an experience that I wouldn't change for the world. Instead of putting undergrads down maybe as an older member you should try to mentor these young brothers. Let them know the right way to run a process and maybe a lot of this wouldn't happen. I am in a grad chapter now and I am very close with my undergrads. I f you show them that you support them, you'd be surprised at the change you see in them. Of course if you keep putting them down and talking negative about them they feel that they can't talk to you. And then they feel like they can't come to you with bigger issues. I don't know how many advocates that you'll get on this issue.
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