pledges dropping at the end

[KappaKittyCat]

Originally Posted by zppsf1987

...pledging is almost over (though our pledges don't know that)...

Maybe this is just where I'm from, but at my alma mater it was always known when initiation was. I believe that for sororities, we have to tell the pledges when initiation is - keeping it a secret is considered hazing.

Not that I'm accusing the OP's chapter or anyone who does it that way of hazing. I've just never heard of it being done that way anymore. Is this a local thing? Is an NPHC thing? Are there NICs who do it? Is it an NPC thing and I'm just ignorant?

Thanks in advance for the enlightenment...

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by KappaKittyCat

Is it an NPC thing and I'm just ignorant?

As far as my particular sorority, we are required to let the NMs know when initiation will be.

[AOEforme]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

As far as my particular sorority, we are required to let the NMs know when initiation will be.

As far as mine goes, we also are required to let them know as soon as they know or at their first meeting.

I also echo the sentiment that a problem pledge becomes a problem brother or sister. Occasionally, people will defy that, but the pledge period (as it's supposed to be) is a pretty darn good predictor of the kind of membership the NM will contribute.

Besides, if they're ONLY going to go through with the process after they hear "Wait, guys! You only have like two more days left", it's a poor reflection on their dedication.

Let 'em go and focus on the the rest of your pledge class.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KappaKittyCat

Maybe this is just where I'm from, but at my alma mater it was always known when initiation was. I believe that for sororities, we have to tell the pledges when initiation is - keeping it a secret is considered hazing.

Not that I'm accusing the OP's chapter or anyone who does it that way of hazing. I've just never heard of it being done that way anymore. Is this a local thing? Is an NPHC thing? Are there NICs who do it? Is it an NPC thing and I'm just ignorant?

In my experience, it is not uncommon among fraternities, though I couldn't say how common it is either.

It was standard in my chapter that the schedule given to probationary members gave one date for initiation, but the brothers knew that initiation was actually a week or so earlier. There would be a different event noted on the calendar with instructions as to dress code. When the PMs got there, they learned that they were about to be initiated. Many of our chapters (non-NIC) still do this, and I've known of NIC chapters that do as well.

[WaxOff]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

In my experience, it is not uncommon among fraternities, though I couldn't say how common it is either.

It was standard in my chapter that the schedule given to probationary members gave one date for initiation, but the brothers knew that initiation was actually a week or so earlier. There would be a different event noted on the calendar with instructions as to dress code. When the PMs got there, they learned that they were about to be initiated. Many of our chapters (non-NIC) still do this, and I've known of NIC chapters that do as well.

That's how it worked with us, Brother MysticCat. Our schedule would give a date about 2 weeks or so after the actual night. Surprised the hell out of me when I went through Ritual.

In my Pledge/Probationary Class, we had one Pledge/Probationary Brother have to depledge due to the "fit hitting the shan" in his personal life. He had worked his butt off upt o that point, so we had no qualms about extending him another bid the next semester.

[zppsf1987]

Originally Posted by WaxOff

In my Pledge/Probationary Class, we had one Pledge/Probationary Brother have to depledge due to the "fit hitting the shan" in his personal life. He had worked his butt off upt o that point, so we had no qualms about extending him another bid the next semester.

just out of curiosity, how did that work? did he repeat all of the pledging process, even what he had done before? seems like it might be hard to convince someone to do that

[WaxOff]

Originally Posted by zppsf1987

just out of curiosity, how did that work? did he repeat all of the pledging process, even what he had done before? seems like it might be hard to convince someone to do that

He did. The rules of the Probationary Process (We can't call them pledges anymore) still have to be met and he couldn't use anything that he may have had from the first time.

The best thing about it was it made him more of a leader for his new Class and really helped make them strong.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by KappaKittyCat

Maybe this is just where I'm from, but at my alma mater it was always known when initiation was. I believe that for sororities, we have to tell the pledges when initiation is - keeping it a secret is considered hazing.

Which is absolutely fucking ridiculous.

[LaneSig]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Which is absolutely ridiculous.

Maybe to your group, but not to KappaKitty's. All groups have their own rules. Personally, I think it's ridiculous to not let the pledges know when initiation will be held. We had several guides serving in the National Guard and many guys who worked. They needed to know when events were going to occur.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by LaneSig

Maybe to your group, but not to KappaKitty's. All groups have their own rules. Personally, I think it's ridiculous to not let the pledges know when initiation will be held. We had several guides serving in the National Guard and many guys who worked. They needed to know when events were going to occur.

from what I understand after talking to friends of mine in fraternities was that the pledges did NOT know when initiation was, but they were told what days they had to meet, so that they could get work off & such. So it wasn't just blindsiding them, they knew what days pledge activities or whatnot would happen, just not what the activities were.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by LaneSig

Maybe to your group, but not to KappaKitty's. All groups have their own rules. Personally, I think it's ridiculous to not let the pledges know when initiation will be held. We had several guides serving in the National Guard and many guys who worked. They needed to know when events were going to occur.

No, in my opinion, it's pretty ridiculous to consider it hazing. Under the circumstances you described, it might be inconsiderate or even likely to result in people missing initiation. That =/= hazing, I don't think.

Originally Posted by epchick

from what I understand after talking to friends of mine in fraternities was that the pledges did NOT know when initiation was, but they were told what days they had to meet, so that they could get work off & such. So it was just blindsiding them, they knew what days pledge activities or whatnot would happen, just not what the activities were.

Exactly. Like I said earlier, the calendar we would have given our probationary members would have had something scheduled for the day and time of initiation, along with instructions on how to dress. It just wouldn't have said "initiation"; it would have said some other event. "Initiation" would have appeared a week or two later on the calendar (meaning everything on the calendar after the real initiation date/time was a decoy).

[KappaKittyCat]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

No, in my opinion, it's pretty ridiculous to consider it hazing.

I am not 100% certain that my organization considers concealing the date of initiation to be hazing. I also don't necessarily agree that it is hazing. I was just throwing it out there that lying to pledges about how long their pledge period is, making them afraid of things to come, and making initiation a moving target (especially if they don't even know when it "supposedly" is) could be considered hazing - psychological hazing, but hazing nonetheless.

My own little tangent aside, I am inclined to agree with the group here. To the OP, why do these pledges want to drop? You should be talking to them. If, after doing so, you learn that they might be less than dedicated to the organization as actives, I'd let them go.

[rufio]

everything is considered hazing. aside from just letting them in.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by epchick

from what I understand after talking to friends of mine in fraternities was that the pledges did NOT know when initiation was, but they were told what days they had to meet, so that they could get work off & such. So it was just blindsiding them, they knew what days pledge activities or whatnot would happen, just not what the activities were.

Yeah, that is how it worked at my campus.

LET THEM DROP!!!

I have made numerous lines, some have dropped on their crossing night. Why would you even have to discuss whether or not to try to make them stay? If their line bros cant convince them to stay, then why would you?
If they cant handle being on line, then how can they possibly handle doing anything being a member? Pledging on a line is to prepare you for whats in store inside the organization so if you cant handle the line.............


OK, I just read where it was their grades. When I was on line, we had set library hours where we had to study and do our work. I had a 3.75 GPA when I was on line. Apparently, they are doing too much sleeping instead of studying. Sleeping was a luxury on line.