Revising the Pledge Program

[alum130]

Ok folks, I need your help...

The Fraternity Chapter I belong to at a small university has recently been through some hard times. You know, declining membership, lower grades, increased hazing, etc. The alumni are just now becoming increasingly active thanks to those of us who believe this chapter is something worth standing for. I have taken the responsibility to revamp the pledge program along with the Pledge Educator of the local chapter, and we have already started to make changes for the better. However, the major traditions of hazing still remain. My question is, what do you feel is the best approach...do away with all hazing at once, or gradually make the changes over the course of 2-3 years. My general sense working with the actives is that they would be VERY reluctant to make sweeping changes, thus I have tried to begin with what I know they will "bite and swallow". The hazing is not anything dangerous in the sense that someone may get injured physically, rather it is more mental(still not good!). Any thoughts on good alternatives that maybe your chapters have put into place instead of hazing? Any help/thoughts would be greatly appreciated, as I need to show these guys that there are MUCH better alternatives to what they are doing now and that it can work!!! THANKS!!!