What do you think about IHQ?

Ok, I love IHQ ( ) and everything, but is it me or do they seem a little too strict and set in their ways? I know they want whats best but it seems alot of the regulations are old fashioned. I mean not all of us use paddles to haze. Its like a greek tradition to have them and we cant. All of ours that us eot be up in the house are hidden. I also think that it kind of stinks that we arent allowed to have formals on a boat or in some other city. I always heard about other frats and sororities doing this and it seems like itd be fun. What does everyone else think?

First things first...when revealing information about your chapter, please keep in mind that this is a public discussion board. Anyone has access to this site and can be informed of your chapter's actions without you knowing it. So, when posting info, remember that you never know who's watching...and DISCRETION is the key!

Second, up until I joined AGD I've never been good in dealing with authority. However, as I went through officer training and as I became informed of IHQ's policies, a lot of things made sense.

I think IHQ's policies are a reflection of our changing society. I actually appreciate the fact that they put our safety and well-being at the top of their priority list. In the past we've heard about accidents and deaths related to fraternities and sororities, so having events in unfamiliar and sometimes dangerous places is out of the question. It's just a risk that IHQ doesn't want to take, and I don't blame them for doing so. Believe it or not, many NPC sororities have adopted the same measures for their chapters. I've even heard of some NPC chapters going against their IHQ's rules about holding events with fraternities! This is something I never hope to hear about from an AGD chapter!

Though paddles may seem harmless, it DOES give reference to fraternity/sorority hazing. The society feeds on bad publicity for the Greeks, and many IHQs (not just ours) have made it clear that paddles are not to be associated with their GLOs.

Remember, just because it's tradition doesn't mean it's safe .

[SIUAGD]

Second on what OTW said. I am glad IHQ puts our safety as their top priority. Also, I've talked to people in other organizations, and some of their HQ's are not helpful to them at all. While at times, maybe IHQ can be difficult to deal with because of details, at least they WANT to know what's going on.
As far as not being able to have formals in other cities or on boats, I think it is a good idea. That would be a HUGE liability, and really, in my opinion, too expensive. If you want to go to formal out of town, go with a guy friend to his- I've done that, and as an officer, it's much more fun because I don't have to worry about things like risk forms, sisters who have had too much, or worrying about if everyone is safe in their individual hotel rooms. Too many variables to really ensure a safe evening for all, in my opinion.
I think that IHQ really does have our best interests at heart. We have to change with the times, or we won't be here at all. And the people who go behind IHQ's back won't be around for much longer, it won't take long before they are caught.
Just remember that everyone at IHQ was an undergrad at one time, and they like to have fun just as much as the next person. But, things have changed, and they have to protect the entire Fraternity, not just ensure that we can have fun at all times.
Just my opinion...

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"Keep your face towards the sun, but don't forget to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground."
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"The ties that bind me to my sisters are not bound around my wrists, but rather fastened to my heart."

uhhh just to let you know IHQ knows this about us. They are the ones who did it when they recolonized us.

Just wanted to add that the stuff isnt hidden, its just packed up and stored. But they still know.

My comments regarding discretion wasn't aimed solely to you, UMgirl. It's something that everyone (not only AlphaGams) should keep in mind when posting on GC.

[Katey Alpha Gam]

I actually totally agree with UMGirl. As much as I love IHQ and I know they think they have our well being and the sororities well being at heart, I do think they are sometimes WAY too uptight and old fashioned. I think it's ridiculous that we can't have paddles and I don't even want any wood good other than a paddle, I plan on telling my sis-daughter to forget it and get me something that will mean something to me like a new bag w/letters or something custom made AGD. It's like the hazing thing, I don't care what IHQ says, sis-mom hunts and scavenger hunts aren't hazing!! I mean if you are scavenger hunting for a naked guy who will feed you shots and then have sex with you, ok but a plain old scavenger hunt is silly and so it the rule. I mean come on, it is 2001, not 1942! Sometimes it seems that, although they are really helpful and they do care, that they look at everything with this old fuddy duddy perspective. P.S> UMGirl, I like you, we should meet sometime!

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Katey, ZA chapter of AGD
"Could I have been anyone other than me?"-Dave Matthews

[AlphaGam1019]

Maybe an update in their webpage is in order.

[LeslieAGD]

First of all, I do agree that our IHQ is more helpful than most and that they care, however...

I don't know about everybody else's campus but at my campus almost all the other sororities do some kind of big/lil match up and things like gift week where they give their lil sisters clues to their identity. Now, I don't need a gift week to show my lil sis that I care, but I think things like this would be fun for new members. I am glad that IHQ is very concerned with our well being and I agree with their alcohol and risk management policies, but we ARE the strictest sorority where anti-hazing is concerned. Yes, this is good but I think it's getting to a point where anything you say or do is hazing!

And to bounce off of AlphaGam1019, I think we should have a "Sisters Only" section of our website like many other sororities do.

As far as the official website is concerned, it was my understanding that the new look was going to be unveiled this year. I'm not sure when, but I remember emailing them last year and I got a response that it would happen some time in 2001.

The Sisters-Only idea is a great one! I think there's going to be a page on the site that'll give officers the opportunity to get some chapter documents online. Once all the renovation's done IHQ mentioned that officers would also then be able to send their reports online instead of the old fashioned way.

Perhaps it's something to be discussed at Convention?

[SIUAGD]

ohhh, EC reports online??!! How great would that be?? So much easier, not to mention more environmentally friendly!

[LeslieAGD]

OTW, that's cool about the the website!

SUIAGD, I totally understand where you are coming from! Especially the part about not telling new girls and they won't notice the difference.

I guess what agrivates me is that it doesn't seem like IHQ puts forth the same guidlines for each chapter in certain cases. For example: Our chapter was told that we cannot do date auctions or pledgemaster kidnappings etc, but at IRD other chapters told me that they have done them and IHQ didn't have a problem with it. What's up with that?

[ilovemyglo]

Bunches of thoughts running through my head:
Okay about the website, Kelly Berry, an LC told me that it will be done next year and that we will be able to submit our EC reports and other reports online. How awesome is that, but it is going to be awhile.

I agree that I think IHQ is a little too strict. Someone said something about 100% of that chapters not following the rules, or treating an event properly. Does that happen now? NO! Trust me on this one.
For instance, some chapters all get together before dances and everyone drinks alcoholic beverages (inlcuding members that aren't 21). That is breaking risk management right there, but they do it anyway, knowing that fully. Some chapters have bid day parties with fraternitites, some chapters put new members in fraternity pageants that they are really scared about being in (I know of an incident where a fraternity was having a pledge/active pageant and the active got the pledge plastered before hand and she puked on stage then was reprimanded by EC). I mean really anything, and I do mean ANYTHING can be changed into something awful. I wanted so badly to have newly initiated (not new members) do a scavenger hunt last year, but we couldn't. My chapter still gives paddles. I have four- on from my little sister, one from my big brother, one from my 21st birthday and one from my sis dot. I hang them in my room proudly. They represent something different about Greeks- not just AGD, but ALL GREEKS! What other orgs give paddles to each other? None. Although some of the older members maybe think they are associated with getting paddles as fraternities used to do, did any of you? I know I didn't. I didn't think that at all when I first met women in sororities. I thought they were just gifts until an LC pointed that out. And why did I think that? Because Greek Orgs in general don't use them that way. We were asked not to hang them in the house or give them to eack other, but they are a very old tradition that everyone loves, so why take that away from them? Sorry, new ladies, you don't get a paddle although we all have them because some people think it may be a reference to a 1940's hazing ritual in which new members (then called pledges) were paddled with them.

Sorry that is my 2 cents worth. I just think sometimes we could use some TRUST! We are ADULTS, so please treat us as such. Until I, or my chapter, does something that hurts our chapter IN ANYWAY- please allow us to continue as no one is hurt, emotionally or physically and we are happier, knowing that IHQ trusts us enough to do these things and be responsible.

LIEP
Sarah

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"...and love her for her womanhood."

Katey I wll be in A2 (Ann Arbor) until next Thursday. After that I am going back home to NY cuz i graduated. But it would be awesome if we oculd get together. I plan to come visit and intrude on my chapter alot Leslie same for you. I havent seen you since IRD.

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"Its Great To Be A Mich-igan AGD! "

[LeslieAGD]

Tonya, I know! It's been too long! I have a story for you...I will e-mail you!