Pledging

[7BA94]

Alright we need something to kick off a little controversy to get this site going with more responses. Let's see if this will do it. I say if you didn't pledge; you aren't a brother. You are not even a cousin. You don't even deserve to wear the colors or be called an Alpha. I'll take this even further if the chapter you are from hasn't had anybody who quit while they are on line in the last 3 years. There is probably something not Kosher in the water. I know not everybody can be as hard as the hardest chapter on earth, but I have heard of schools where they have gone almost 7 years with no one drop, and they didn't have small lines of 2 or 3 these are relatively big lines of 15 or more. So what's going on, I'll tell you what I think them bastards skated. To put it simply if you didn't pledge you are not Frat. If this offended you, too bad you need to stop calling yourself an Alpha.

[Dexter]

Bruh did you not read my topic? you could have added more controversy to my topic. By the way you should read what I wrote to the kappa that replied to something you said in the AKA room. But I'm glad you are representing

[LadyAKA]

7BA94, I totally disagree and I have so much to say, when I return from my meeting, I will try and post more ..... is the ice melting yet because I am real heated by your comment!
Oh and I went through a process so no need to make any assumptions.

Lets keep the love alive, we are entitled to personal opinions....
Sisterly
LadyAKA

[Professor]

What in HELL is going on. I don't know what brotherhood means to you but it is certainly not about holding line for months on hand. It really bothers me when old heads talk of the length of time it takes to cross the sands. Although I find some merit in old school ways, I continue to question if the months on line makes anyone a better Alpha Man. Being a Alpha Man is a work in progress - - it is never ending. Therefore, two weekends or six months are never qualifiers for determining the perfection of an Alpha.
"06"

[bklyndelta]

Greetings to the Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Please forgive me for posting in your forum, but I just had to add my $19.13.

Lady AKA and Professor: Your sentiments are my sentiments exactly!!!! One's "process" is never ending. An individual's time on line, whether 7 days or 7 months does not determine his/her "worthiness" to be called frat or soror.

Let us not judge our frat, soror, or anyone in greekdom by the length of their process, but by the content of their character and the public service that they are committed to carrying out!

7ba94: HHHMMM???? I wonder what Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would say about your so-called "words of wisdom,"...needless to say your other frat brothers!"

"THEE BKLYNDELTA"
1913% LEGIT

P.S. I am intelligent enough and pledged HARD and LONG ENOUGH to know that 7ba94 does not speak for the MEN of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

[This message has been edited by bklyndelta (edited July 07, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by bklyndelta (edited July 07, 2000).]

[DirectorDST99]

Greetings Pan Hellenic Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. I bring you warm greetings from the Illustrious Divas of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Now, for the business at hand - define "pledging" because you see I realize that NOT everyone has the same definition. It seems to me that "pledging" to some entails some type of physical punishment. I base my assumption on previous conversations that I've held with members of other prestigious organizations.

I'm not going to go into a lengthy written conversation about this because this post will be 15 pages long. But, I will say this, if you subject yourself to certain "things" and those "things", you think, will make you a BETTER frat or soror, then you need to dig deep within yourself and FIND out WHO you really are.

I know that my beloved Sorority was founded on Christian principles...and in ANYTHING I do, I must stop and ask myself certain questions....WHAT would Christ do? and WHAT would my Founders do? Because I want to REPRESENT the RIGHT way and NOT the way that society WANTS us to act and represent....like fools.

Don't be concerned about HOW they got in, be concerned with WHERE they are going and WHAT they are doing once they get in!

Be Blessed I'm Out!




------------------
Director #2
LMAC
Spr 99

[Alpha Man]

Look here ciefs.
What makes a good Alpha Man is not whether or not he pledged. What makes a good Alpha Man is what he does after he crosses. However, I CAN NOT call you a Complete Alpha Man because you skipped a very important part of the entire process of being an Alpha. The process starts that first night, when you are wondering what the hell am I doing here, when you are in complete darkness and it doesn't end until you reach the Omega Chapter. Now if you just jump the in the race while the others are already running then you are cheating the process. I can't stand when a member (NOT A BROTHER) can't remember what chapter he is from (SKATING BITZ). I can't stand when a member can't remember who his line members (NOT BROTHERS) are (SKATING BITZ). How the hell can you tell me two weekends does not matter. If you think it doesn't than you are a SKATING BITZ. RIGHTS OF PASSAGE. I know who my LB's are, without hesitation. None of that "uh, who was the 2, damn I can't remember his name" (SKATING BITZ). Pledging seperates those who have Alpha in their heart and those who have Alpha in their wallet. Showing brotherhood, doing anything for your LB. After that phase of Alpha is over, you become an Alpha Man and you should understand what it means to really be able to sacrafice and help your Alpha Brothers. To say no I won't go see that girl because I have to help set up for a community service project. To say sure it is 4am and I'm asleep, but a brother needs to get pick up from the bus station. To have 20 dollars til next week, but a brother needs 10 til he doesn't know when. To say this dude just came into town I don't know him from Adam, but he needs a spot for the night. SACRAFICE, That is brotherhood Anyone can do community service. You don't need Alpha to do that.
So in conclusion if you want women, or to make business contacts, or to step, or because of the colors, or it will look good on your resume, or just because you are a scrub and you want to belong, or any other stupid excuse, DO NOT JOIN MY FRAT. You don't understand and you never will. Any Questions?
Sorry this is longwinded but I had to Speak.
6BA98

[pretty3grl]

I pledged some moons ago, and I pledged for a looooooong time (too long actually). I also know that after I graduated, the chapter where I was made was suspended for 10 years (it will expire in 2003). I ask, how can you really love your sorority, yet put it's existence in jeopardy to perish. I was told that following my process, I would bond with my big sisters, but I spent most of my remaining time angry and confused by their actions. I am also smart enough to know that you must come in under the process available to you. My fiance's mother pledged in '67 and their process was much more demanding than anything that greeks are going through today (open pledgeship on the yard, A's or K's cut into their hair, interest club, then pledge club then crossing. The process could consume your entire undergrad years). They would probably think that those of us (new schoolers) who pledged the longest really didn't do much at all. If a truly old head called one of us paper we wouldn't like it, so I don't refer to anyone in greekdom that way. I embrace all that enter into greekhood and judge them by what they do after crossing. I know many sorors who took the long road into sisterhood, but did nothing for Alpha Kappa Alpha after crossing. They became mere t-shirt wearers.

[Alpha Man]

I don't want some wack cat who dropped line, or who needs something to add to his porfolio, or because he didn't want somebody putting their hands on him in my frat. Pledging is 90% mental, 10% physical. Remember that. If anyone can join our orginization, then we might as well call it Alpha Phi Alpha Volunteers, or Alpha Kappa Alpha Community Servers. Come on. Pledging seperates the Men and Women who really want it, from the boys and girls who can just afford it.
No doubt however on what we do when we are finished. A person who pledges for the girls, or to step, or to wear para sucks, just as much as a skater. Bruhs, do not let these skaters represent the frat more than the Complete Alpha Man. The same damn thing for any frat or sorority. Please Complete Alpha Men stay active, stay representing, and never forget our aims and goals. Get out in the community and let the people see the Real Alpha Man. I am sure i will have more to say, but right now I'm out
Peace and Soul
6BA98

[prettygyrl]

As a perspective or interest (whatever works for some), I must let some of those who share the feelings as 7BA94 know that you are the reason that Greeks get so much negative attention. Its a good thing for those Alphas that have pledged "differently" than 7BA94, that his words are not gospel so what he thinks does not matter. I have read a thousand and one posts from greeks about other greeks intake etc etc. In reality it really does not matter how you FEEL about how that person came in. They are still IN and you can not strip them of their letters just because you THINK that they did not pledge hard as you did. If you want to act ignorantly torward them simply because of their intake process then one needs to question YOUR brotherhood and YOUR loyalty to your fraternity or sorority! You have no control over how someone came to be a part of your org. as long as they are not perping, then as their BROTHER or SISTER you should love them the same. Whether I get a chance to cross over into my sorority of choice, this is one arguement I will never understand! As I have done and still do my research on BGLOS, I have yet to run across anything that says that you are only a true member if you pledge "HARD" (whatever that means to some). Some one can be online for six months and get "pledged hard" the whole way and still cross and not do nothing but wear nalia and step! Or graduate and never affiliate with his or her org again. Those things should be what your focus is on! You should spend more time trying to eradicate the problem of those that cross and do not do anything afterward or become inactive! Thats where you need to place your questions of brotherhood! Instead of getting down on some poor soul who had no control how they were made or who chose not to deal with the unnecessary BS! We must get our focus right people if we are to make it in this world! If we are not backing and supporting each other then no one else will. Much love to all my peeps! P.S. Why is it that men seem to be more bothered by members that were not "pledged hard" than women? Is it an ego thing?

[Dexter]

As I look over all of this input one thing stands out, the fact that those who didn't go through a difficult intake process(skatin Bitz), feel that it's necessary to defend themselves. The one thing that 7BA94 is saying is that regardless of how you do once you get into the frat, you missed a vitally important part of the intake process-BROTHERHOOD! I know everything about my line brothers. From their birthdays to their parent's names and addresses. Just like natural siblings born from the same parents, you go through everything growing with someone. Let me give you a scenerio. Suppose that when you were younger, your family was very poor. Then when you turned 18, your parents came into a lot of money. All of a sudden there all of these family members, who you have never seen in your life, standing on your front door step with their hands out calling you family, how would you feel. As for the sister who made reference to Dr. Martin Luther King, my founders created the pledging process and Dr. King would have wanted everyone who joins this frat to do it according to how they wanted it done. But I do agree that going through a pledge process and taking it doesn't make you an Alpha either. All that proves is that your level of tolerance for discomfort is higher than others. If you don't work as hard for your frat as you would for your real family, then you still skated and don't deserve to wear letters. I mean all of you guys who pledged, but still won't do coomunity service, or would rather chill with a bunch of groupies instead of attending a frat meeting or won't extend the frat image by promoting it's service to people. for all of you that this applies to, you sicken me. To all of those brothers who pledged and continue to promote the frat through service and hard work, Keep rolling onward and upward toward the light.

15BA94

[Taykimson]

A difference cannot be made by bashing someone's intake process on a message board. Instead of attacking members that as you put it "skated," you should voice your opinions to the brothers that MADE them.

Nothing irritates me more than to see sororities and fraternities dissing their own. As I was taught, you show a united face to the outside world, and wait until you are in private to deal with "family" issues.

There is only one way to make a difference, and that is the hard way, going through nationals and pushing for a change. If you aren’t doing that 24/7, then don’t beat up on your brothers who choose to follow the rules.

Sisterly,
Taykimson

----------------
Alpha Kappa Alpha
17-Alpha Phi-91


[This message has been edited by Taykimson (edited July 08, 2000).]

[Dexter]

Sis Taykimson,

With all due respect to keeping it in house, isn't that what we are attempting to do by holding this discussion in our forum? You added you input to a discussion that 7BA94 is relating to our frat. How everyone else handles there intake procedure is their own business, but that man has a right to voice his opinion on the affairs of his organization. Again this is no disrespect to you but we need all brothers from both sides of this issue to speak on this subject.

[Spectrum3_1906]

Brother I totally disagree with what you are saying. The hardest part of being an Alpha is after you cross those burning sands. The "process" that you go through to become an Alpha means almost nothing. I have no animosity or negative feelings for bruhs who are "paper". You shouldn't either; these bruhs are usually the most eager to learn more about Alpha and they are often willing to do anything for Alpha.I do feel sorry that they did not go in the way a lot of bruhs have, but it's just circumstance. As far as having a lot of bruhs drop whle "on-line" I don't think that's good either. I think it shows a lack of organization,discipline,and even a WEAK line; I mean how can you let your "so-called" line brother drop? Just something to think about. What chapter are you from?

[7BA94]

First of I'm glad the topic has gotten so many repsones. Second for everyone who has said that pledging is the easy part they are correct it is at least twenty times harder after you have crossed. I don't need to mention anything about Dr. King to the sister who brought him up because my LB so eloquently relplied to that topic. To the brother who said how can you let your LB drop, I say Alpha is not for everyone. As the old saying goes, MANY ARE CHOSEN BUT FEW ARE FROZEN. Well at least that is the way it should be. Look if you want to do community service or pick up trash a long the road way or any of the other wonderful things my fraternity does, but you don't want to pledge JOIN THE YMCA. They will be more than happy to take your money. Pledging has been an integral part of black fraternities and sororities since the beginning, and I am not just talking about 1906. I am going back to the rights of passage in Africa. So like I said if you just want to do community service that is wonderful, we as a community need that. However, if you just want to do community service and not pledge don't expect me to call you brother. I don't deal with people who skate and neither would our founders.