Same-Semester Initiation for Fraternities
I'm an IFC Advisor at a small, private university. As of right now, the university requires same-semester initiation of new members and does not allow any carry-overs. I am interested in revisiting this requirement and looking at whether or not to make some changes. I can't just say that we're going to do it, though. I need to have done some research and go to my Associate Dean with information.
I am a proponent of this requirement on campuses where hazing is a problem, and most people I talk to share a similar opinion. At our campus, however, we don't have a hazing problem, and we don't have a setting that would promote it (no chapter houses, lodges, etc).
1/4 of our new members this semester, who have already been initiated, would not have been if grades had been posted before initiation. They didn't meet national organizations' requirements, and they would be deemed ineligible to sign a bid if they were to go through recruitment again. Chapters complain about this as well as the financial burdens that some have, trying to come up with an initiation fee by the end of the semester.
I would like to see if there are other ideas or opinions out there-especially from other campus personnel or hq staff members. What would be pros and cons of making a change or keeping things as they are?
|