Does your HQ *really* want to know about hazing?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

our kids don't worry about global nuclear war and have disaster drills sitting in the hallways of their schools covering their heads with their hands

Heck no! They just worry about their parents going to work and not coming home because terrorists blew up the building!

In all seriousness, I remember thinking one day how cool it was that little kids were looking at the "fallout shelter" signs and having no clue what they were, not too soon after that 9/11 happened. We're never going to be free of danger totally.

Sorry to hijack, but I thought I would get that one before someone else did and was a lot meaner about it.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by 33girl

In all seriousness, I remember thinking one day how cool it was that little kids were looking at the "fallout shelter" signs and having no clue what they were...

Trust me, we knew what they were.

Sure, there will always be something to worry about...but the doctrine of two or three "superpowers" overbuilding their nuclear capacity to the point of destroying everything on earth two or three times over, and the spectre of Kruschev banging his shoe on a podium yelling "We will bury you," was pretty terrifying for a kid.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

Trust me, we knew what they were.

I meant little kids NOW, silly.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I meant little kids NOW, silly.

AhHa!

I understand now what you are saying, and agree completely.

I hope they finally got rid of those big containers of water and stale crackers that used to be in the fallout shelters, too.

I have to admit that watching news reports with folks in Israel running into shelters brought back some bad memories.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

AhHa!

I understand now what you are saying, and agree completely.

I hope they finally got rid of those big containers of water and stale crackers that used to be in the fallout shelters, too.

I have to admit that watching news reports with folks in Israel running into shelters brought back some bad memories.

To be fair though, that whole "duck and cover" thing was just to make people feel better. I watched a video in my history class from the time, and they had kids ducking under raincoats in gutters. Everyone was going to be blown to little glowing bits anyway.


/Magic lead-lined raincoats of steel?

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

To be fair though, that whole "duck and cover" thing was just to make people feel better.

I agree. It may have made the parents feel better, but it was scary as hell for a lot of the kids.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

I agree. It may have made the parents feel better, but it was scary as hell for a lot of the kids.

I think it's interesting that those same air raid/missle sirens are now Tornado sirens (at least in this part of the country) I get weirded out in St. Louis where their sirens are electronic and can broadcast voice messages.

[Tom Earp]

Not to pull away from this topic?

But, in the LXA Cross and Creseant concerning R M, there were 23 three Chapters or Colonies that were Censored, Suspened, or Closed.

One being Mu, The University of Cal.

It has come down to a true fact-Insurance, economics and public relations with either the City/Town or College.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

AhHa!

I understand now what you are saying, and agree completely.

I hope they finally got rid of those big containers of water and stale crackers that used to be in the fallout shelters, too.

I have to admit that watching news reports with folks in Israel running into shelters brought back some bad memories.

Believe it or not just a few months ago a whole shelter was found under one the the East River Bridges in NYC. And the stuff was still sealed......

[Elephant Walk]

I imagine by the time my kids go to college, fraternities will simply be clubs. They'll probably meet for chapter at a classroom on campus, hold hands, talk about brotherhood, and go home. Seems to be going that way.

I do consider us to be the final fratty generation. It's too bad.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I do consider us to be the final fratty generation. It's too bad.

I don't think so. You guys might be from the south, where hazing is a little more... well, more. But In the north, we're sometimes just as frat-tastic without the hazing. It's almost like Miller lite - great taste, less filling, and so on.

I was "hazed." Not as bad as my chapter used to haze, but still. My chapter, while I was there, put an end to the hazing, partly because of internal pressures but more because of pressure from our IHQ. It's been interesting, seeing the difference from my class to the newest classes, where you can see the different degrees of hazing. The newer girls seem to respect each other more. When I was initiated, I didn't respect the girls I was initiated with nor did I respect those that initiated me. So how does hazing create respect? It's all a show - when I showed respect to older sisters, I was secretly envisioning myself punching them in the face. It's not just "a walk in the park," there still is a lot of personal responsibility. Even more so.

Used to be, if a new member didn't meet responsibilities, they'd be punished. Now, if a new member doesn't meet responsibilities, her membership will be reviewed and if it's bad enough, revoked. I'd 100% rather deal with a punishment than be KICKED OUT. A punishment is like... 4 extra hours a week of study tables or something... not being removed from the chapter completely. Or facing other punishments that chapter members get, like losing social privileges. That, I think, is more of an encouragement to get your stuff done than being hazed is.

[Kevin]

Kyle -- well said.

[LaneSig]

Kyle -

Excellent post and I totally agree.

[shinerbock]

Kyle, one, that is a great verse, but has very little relevance. If anything, you should speak to national HQ, who is more than willing to sacrifice a long tradition of Christian ideals for a little political correctness.

Also, your POW comments are completely idiotic. People like you continue to act as though pledges who are "hazed" are treated like prisoners, which they are obviously not. They have tasks to perform, God forbid you push anyone in this day and age. I'd hate to shatter the self esteem of these fragile 18 year old boys. Its not like they'll encounter anything in life they'll need confidence for. So yeah, making them go through difficult things to establish confidence and loyalty is worthless. I'm sure our nation's military training has no value either.

I'm glad you found some place you enjoy. However, I hope my chapter still continually chooses to make pledges earn their RIGHT to wear our letters. To stop doing so would be disrespectful to the great men who have come before us. In questioning our practices, all I need to do is to ask the following questions:
1) Does it have a purpose? Yes, it always does.
2) Does it work? Yes, our pledges are loyal to each other, love the organization, and are more confident in their abilities.
3) What becomes of those who go through pledgeship? They become very successful people, including businessmen, militarly leaders, congressmen and people like my father.

Fraternities are not for everyone. If a student needs reassurance and coddling, tell him to call his mother, not to go through rush. Fraternity life here isn't for the weak of spirit.

[Benson7824]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

1) Does it have a purpose? Yes, it always does.

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Now this one is real, and is one of my favorites...you make the pledges do a work call (or a extended period of house work, for people unfamiliar), one that starts at about 10 or midnight. So you have them clean the house, scrub the floors with toothbrushes, etc etc, everything but the bathrooms. Then you call them all together at about 5am, tell them they've done a good job, and explain to them you're buying breakfast. They'll be relieved and excited about this, they probably think you're proud of them and that the work is over, plus they are probably hungry. Get all the food ready or whatnot, show it to them, and tell them they get to eat in 30 minutes when the bathrooms are spotless. Finally, about 5 minutes before their time is up, tell them to clean faster and better, seeing as their gonna be eating their mcdonalds breakfast off the floor behind the toilet they're currently cleaning. Then you make them do it, of course.

(From worst hazing stories thread)


I'm just wondering what the purpose of this is??? I don't see how scrubbing with toothbrushes and then eating food off the floor behind a toilet is helpful, but maybe that's just me.

-J

PS...Kyle, I agree with your post as well