Pledge Problems...

[Cloud9]

Hey Peoples!

I have a problem, I'm hoping you can help! As alot of you may know(or maybe not, I know I post so rarely that it could be forgotten), I am part of a local sorority formed to foster diversity in all aspects. We're a young group, about 4 years in the making now. We've been extremely successful so far, and are growing steadily. One of our main features setting people apart from , ahem, some other orgs on campus is that we maintain a strict no hazing policy. In fact, this was part of our founding principles. This is especially important to me, because as a freshman pledge I was hazed by another org(I dropped that crap right quick), and from experience I can say that it's a bad road to go down in so many ways. Ok, so that's the backround, fast forward to the issue...

During our pledge process, we have midterm interviews, which are meant to evaluate how the new members are doing, i.e. how much information they have learned and if they have completed other tasks like attending required philanthropy events, meeting with sisters, and hosting their own event(we host one for them first). Nothing is forced on them, they are not punished, they know these are the requirements and that we expect to see them take the initiative to learn everything.

The interviews were a disaster, basically. The NMs don't know the history, especially regarding sisters and lineages very well at all. They have put in minimum effort to get to know active members. Basically they put in the smallest amount of effort of any new class, and just expect to be initiated without knowing anything about the org. Disapointing, to say the least.

The problem is, that many sisters got upset, and began to make very desperate suggestions. I couldn't believe some of the things I heard, like sending them out to do something "physical", or "scaring" them, stuff like that. It was like everyone was on crack or something, I dunno, it was insane. I got up and told them all that if they did any of that crap I was out of there. Anyways, the next day people had calmed down and we talked about it. It's true, on more than one occasion girls will come through and put in little effort even as sisters, and it's disheartening. I don't think girls realize coming in how much work it is to be a part of a new and growing organization. But I know that hazing would only force a facade from pledges, and I want a process that teaches them to have the desire themselves to take on a really active role in the sorority. I know that everyone here always has really creative ideas about pretty much every aspect of greeklife. do you have any suggestions to help us foster that sort of attitude in our New Members? BTW, sorry this isn't very eloquent, I'm rushing to class...