Let's bring back "rush"

[chideltjen]

recruitment always sounded like something done in the military...

[breathesgelatin]

The thing I don't get, is in our pledge ceremony, the new members PLEDGE to become members of Pi Beta Phi. I'm sure this is true for most other groups. So why the hating on "pledge"??


OH well.

[Sister Havana]

Originally posted by emb021
In Alpha Phi Omega, we still use the terms Rush, Pledge, etc. I can see the value in using the term 'recruitment' because some students don't know what 'rush' means.

At least no group has 'smokers' anymore as an event.

I also don't understand why some GLOs seem to think 'pledge' is a bad term, then have to figure out some alternate term to call them. I had no issue with being a pledge.

I was a longtime pledgemaster for my chapter. Some use the term pledge trainer. I don't care which term is used. Using the term 'pledge trainer' is good in the sense in coveyes what the pledgemaster should be doing: training the pledges.

You said it before I could.

I had no problem with the term Rush, and still don't. To me, Rush is something especially associated with GLOs. The Army has recruitment.

We had pledge trainers in our chapter...still do. And that's exactly what they did...train the pledge class on what it means to be a Brother of Alpha Phi Omega. I had no problem being called a pledge either. (again, another term I associate especially with GLOs.) In fact, our pledge pin has a big P on it, for Pledge.

[emb021]

Originally posted by breathesgelatin
The thing I don't get, is in our pledge ceremony, the new members PLEDGE to become members of Pi Beta Phi. I'm sure this is true for most other groups. So why the hating on "pledge"??


OH well.

Because of the negative conotation of 'pledge'. Heck, some GLO think calling a pledge a 'pledge' is hazing. But they still have to have a term to call them. :\

While I was a pledge and at a community service project, when I told those I was working with I was a pledge, they (jokingly) said 'so does that mean we can make you eat dirt?' I knew they couldn't and was strong enough (psychologically) not to allow that to happen, but that's the general publics view of the term and what it means.

[DolphinChicaDDD]

Originally posted by emb021
While I was a pledge and at a community service project, when I told those I was working with I was a pledge, they (jokingly) said 'so does that mean we can make you eat dirt?' I knew they couldn't and was strong enough (psychologically) not to allow that to happen, but that's the general publics view of the term and what it means.

Yup, I've had that said to be by GDIs at various events. I've even jokingly said it to pledge I knew on a differnt campus (nothing horrible, and he knew I was joking, I told him to say the Greek Alphabet before a match went out.) the point is, if we like it or not, pledge is associated with hazing.

I think the reason why pledge pin is still around is becaue it is not representative of the person, but rather of the promise the person made to the organization. If you think about it, there is nothing really stopping an intiate from wearing a pledge pin (besides the fact that at Tri Delta, the pledge pin belongs to the chapter). The pledge pin is simply signifies the commitment the person has made to the organization, which has not yet be fullfilled.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally posted by DolphinChicaDDD
the point is, if we like it or not, pledge is associated with hazing

OK, so we change the term to "new member," but still give PADDLES to our little sisters as gifts? Talk about something representing hazing! I think the paddle is the poster child for hazing. It makes no sense to me.

[33girl]

Originally posted by NutBrnHair
OK, so we change the term to "new member," but still give PADDLES to our little sisters as gifts? Talk about something representing hazing! I think the paddle is the poster child for hazing. It makes no sense to me.

I think anything means what you want it to mean. We gave paddles because of the tradition of paddles and because they are nice commemoratives - not because we were going to swat each other with them.

If you are talking to the sort of closed-minded person who thinks all Greeks haze, it doesn't matter whether you tell them you are a pledge, new member, postulant, pearl, whatever - they will still think you're getting hazed. I have become very weary of the Greek world's pandering to the thought process of the lowest common denominator.

[OleMissGlitter]

I was a pledge, I had a pledge trainer, I pledged AOII,I wore a pledge pin etc....

Personally, we still call it rush down here at Ole Miss...we just print it out as recruitment to keep NPC happy. In our door songs we still say, "Welcome Rushee, Hello Rushee, etc." Singing a door song with Potential New Member just wouldn't work!

[emb021]

Originally posted by 33girl
I think anything means what you want it to mean. We gave paddles because of the tradition of paddles and because they are nice commemoratives - not because we were going to swat each other with them.

If you are talking to the sort of closed-minded person who thinks all Greeks haze, it doesn't matter whether you tell them you are a pledge, new member, postulant, pearl, whatever - they will still think you're getting hazed. I have become very weary of the Greek world's pandering to the thought process of the lowest common denominator.

Agree.

In APO I see people give paddles as commeratives. Bigs & Little might exchange paddles, pledge classes give their Pledgemaster (or whatever your call them) one. One chapter I know uses the paddle as a way for pledges to gather signatures, so that by the end of the program the paddle is fairly important to the pledge due to all that went into it, etc.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by NutBrnHair
OK, so we change the term to "new member," but still give PADDLES to our little sisters as gifts? Talk about something representing hazing! I think the paddle is the poster child for hazing. It makes no sense to me.

Wow! Paddles are strictly forbidden in Alpha Delta Pi!!

We now use Diamond Boards, Lion Boards, or something similar.

[NutBrnHair]

Paddles are viewed negatively by most groups...as is the practice of obtaining signatures.

[polarpi]

Originally posted by honeychile
Wow! Paddles are strictly forbidden in Alpha Delta Pi!!

We now use Diamond Boards, Lion Boards, or something similar.

And how odd is this....our chapter has been told we can't even use those!!!

[honeychile]

Originally posted by polarpi
And how odd is this....our chapter has been told we can't even use those!!!

Seroiusly?!

I understand the whole paddle thing - as one of the oldies around here, we did get paddles during Friendship Week (the ADPi version of pre-Initiation week). They were all decorated very nicely, but sooner or later, people will get a little crazy, and the next thing you know, someone gets whacked - usually in the face or head. At least, that was our experience...

[Sister Havana]

Originally posted by emb021
One chapter I know uses the paddle as a way for pledges to gather signatures, so that by the end of the program the paddle is fairly important to the pledge due to all that went into it, etc.

My chapter does that. The pledges gather signatures on a little paddle...not big enough to whack people with.

The chapter gives large paddles to graduating seniors at the final banquet each semester. People sign up to present the paddles to brothers they are particularly close to. Each paddle is presented individually and the presenters talk about what that Brother has meant to them and to the fraternity during their active membership. It's really nice and there are usually lots of tears. (yes, even from the guys!) I still have mine hanging above my bed, as it has been since I got it in 1995.

[AchtungBaby80]

Paddles were special in my chapter. They were never, EVER used to actually paddle someone. Most of the time, paddles were gifts from Bigs to Littles, or vice versa, and they were always proudly displayed hanging on the wall. I can't imagine them ever being outlawed.