Pregnancy and Pledging...

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

You don't know that it's hazing. It might be against the rules of your own organization, but if it doesn't violate any laws and the college approves of it, it's really not your place to call it hazing.

QFT

[Barbie's_Rush]

It doesn't matter who or what entity "approved" an acticity. Hazing is defined by the laws of a state.
Nebraska Hazing Law

28-311.06. Hazing, defined; penalty

(1) For purposes of this section and section 28-311.07:

(a) Hazing shall mean any activity by which a person intentionally or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health or safety of an individual for the purpose of initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership with any organization as defined in subdivision (1)(b) of this section. Such hazing activity shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced and prolonged calisthenics, prolonged exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug, or harmful substance not generally intended for human consumption, prolonged sleep deprivation, or any brutal treatment or the performance of any unlawful act which endangers the physical or mental health or safety of any person; and

(b) Organization shall mean an organization of student members operating under the sanction of a postsecondary educational institution but shall not include the alumni organization or any corporation which owns the house or real estate of such organization.

(2) It shall be unlawful to commit the offense of hazing. Any person who commits the offense of hazing shall be guilty of a Class II misdemeanor.

(3) Any organization as defined in subdivision (1)(b) of this section whose members commit the offense of hazing in violation of the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars.

[Senusret I]

Yet and still, marching in and of itself does not automatically fall into the legal definition of hazing.

[ladygreek]

Waiting for the OP to explain marching. When I pledged we walked in a line in step everywhere we went. That could be considered marching and there wasn't anything strenuous about it.

[xomanadaxo]

Originally Posted by lizzica

I should start this off by explaining I'm alumni to a college-wide sorority, not a nationwide one. We are full of super unique girls... We're a lot like the sorority on 'House Bunny' except that most of us aren't social outcasts, we just walk a different line (ranging from super christian to atheist, peircings and tattoos to 'pure', and every size woman you can think of).

This year, one of our potential pledges is pregnant. Being a college sponsored group, our entire schedule of activities is approved by college staff and therefore we don't have any crazy hazing like paddles or anything sexual. However, we do a LOT of marching.

Arrangements have already been made for a wheelchair (which, oddly enough, we've had to use for 6-7 years straight now because of outside injuries like hip and knee problems). Coming off of a pregnancy myself, I'm worried about the added stress Greek Week adds. Plus our Greek Week always coincides with midterms, which just means more stress.

Are there any suggestions of ways to handle this? Particularly things we might be able to do so she is still working with her sisters but perhaps isn't as stressed out about it? Or, anything in particular people would recommend avoiding?

Thanks for the help, if anyone can

1) Maybe it's just my chapter, but do alums usually assist in the pledge process?

2) Also, what is a "potential pledge" -- is that different from a PNM (potential new member)? I sincerely hope you're not asking PNMs to "march" (whatever that may be) before they're even in your sorority!

3) You said you're coming off a pregnancy yourself...so you have experience with being pregnant. Would you have wanted to march when you were pregnant? What would you have recommended avoiding?

So much of this doesn't make sense to me...

[dreamseeker]

Originally Posted by xomanadaxo

1) Maybe it's just my chapter, but do alums usually assist in the pledge process?

2) Also, what is a "potential pledge" -- is that different from a PNM (potential new member)? I sincerely hope you're not asking PNMs to "march" (whatever that may be) before they're even in your sorority!

3) You said you're coming off a pregnancy yourself...so you have experience with being pregnant. Would you have wanted to march when you were pregnant? What would you have recommended avoiding?

So much of this doesn't make sense to me...

because you're applying an NPC mindset to a non NPC org.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by lizzica

This year, one of our potential pledges is pregnant. Being a college sponsored group, our entire schedule of activities is approved by college staff and therefore we don't have any crazy hazing like paddles or anything sexual. However, we do a LOT of marching.

So, (aside from the marching) what other kind of hazing do you do? I mean you did post this in the Risk Management & Hazing forum.

First, before you implicate yourself & sorority, I would suggest you quit posting information.
Second, I would gather that the life of a newborn/yet or soon to be born child, takes priority over EVERYTHING and ANYTHING in LIFE.

Originally Posted by Senusret I

The type of pledge process that your sorority engages in and that your college approves of is not the type of process that most members of GreekChat are accustomed to or are able to provide guidance on.

I suggest speaking to the person at your college who approves the pledge activities to get their opinion.

I strongly discourage you from sharing any more details about your pledge program, sorority, or college on this message board.

Good luck!

What he said. ^^

[xomanadaxo]

Originally Posted by dreamseeker

because you're applying an NPC mindset to a non NPC org.

Oops...guilty as charged. So glad other GC-ers keep me enlightened!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Barbie's_Rush

It doesn't matter who or what entity "approved" an acticity. Hazing is defined by the laws of a state.

Exactly, and the laws of various states are different. Where I live, for example, simply making pledges march would not meet the legal definition of hazing. Since we don't know where the OP is, we have no way of knowing whether marching constitutes hazing under the laws of her state. (We can hope, though, that her college administrators know the law of their state and wouldn't approve anything that constitutes hazing under their state's law.)

[thetaphi04]

To those first who think that this 'marching' is not considered hazing... try using your real brains. Or maybe it's because you were hazed or did some hazing as well. This doesn't need to happen.

Why do people need to 'march' in a straight line all over campus!?... I know one thing I joined Theta Phi Alpha, because I was assured by all members there was no hazing involved whatsoever. Even as a Pledge Sister or newly initiated member there was not an ounce of hazing.

If these men/women are supposed to be your potential brothers/sisters why do you even WANT to force them to do anything. I'm not saying your telling them they do it or die, but you are in fact forcing them to participate in this said 'marching'.

Whether local or NPC I find it rather disgusting to see that this still exists. In a country where everyone is supposed to be equal, you are just continuting the bad reputation of Greek Life. I don't want my fellow sister to walk in a straight line behind me... I want them to walk next to me, to be a sister with me. Afterall no matter the position each person is responsible for making the Chapter/Colony what it is. If you have a single person who doesn't assist in some way then in the end your organization will not survive.

I'm particularly saddened to hear that you think that this 'marching' isn't considered 'real hazing'; and as you mentioned like paddling or sexual. I know one thing I don't care if it was the president of the U.S. that wanted me to join, if someone EVER forced me to do something like that I would tell them where to put their organization.

I'd be willing to bet if you allowed all members pledges, collegians, and alums to participate equally you would have a much better reputation. You would also encourage proper behavior for the 'real world'.

I hope you do keep these comments to yourself, I don't even WANT to know what school you go to. It makes me want to vomit just to see you all continue this type of behvior in today's day and age.

[ree-Xi]

No worries, this OP performed the classic newbie mistake of using the same user name in more than one place.

Originally Posted by thetaphi04

To those first who think that this 'marching' is not considered hazing... try using your real brains. Or maybe it's because you were hazed or did some hazing as well. This doesn't need to happen.

Why do people need to 'march' in a straight line all over campus!?... I know one thing I joined Theta Phi Alpha, because I was assured by all members there was no hazing involved whatsoever. Even as a Pledge Sister or newly initiated member there was not an ounce of hazing.

If these men/women are supposed to be your potential brothers/sisters why do you even WANT to force them to do anything. I'm not saying your telling them they do it or die, but you are in fact forcing them to participate in this said 'marching'.

Whether local or NPC I find it rather disgusting to see that this still exists. In a country where everyone is supposed to be equal, you are just continuting the bad reputation of Greek Life. I don't want my fellow sister to walk in a straight line behind me... I want them to walk next to me, to be a sister with me. Afterall no matter the position each person is responsible for making the Chapter/Colony what it is. If you have a single person who doesn't assist in some way then in the end your organization will not survive.

I'm particularly saddened to hear that you think that this 'marching' isn't considered 'real hazing'; and as you mentioned like paddling or sexual. I know one thing I don't care if it was the president of the U.S. that wanted me to join, if someone EVER forced me to do something like that I would tell them where to put their organization.

I'd be willing to bet if you allowed all members pledges, collegians, and alums to participate equally you would have a much better reputation. You would also encourage proper behavior for the 'real world'.

I hope you do keep these comments to yourself, I don't even WANT to know what school you go to. It makes me want to vomit just to see you all continue this type of behvior in today's day and age.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by thetaphi04

To those first who think that this 'marching' is not considered hazing... try using your real brains. Or maybe it's because you were hazed or did some hazing as well. This doesn't need to happen.

Why do people need to 'march' in a straight line all over campus!?... I know one thing I joined Theta Phi Alpha, because I was assured by all members there was no hazing involved whatsoever. Even as a Pledge Sister or newly initiated member there was not an ounce of hazing.

If these men/women are supposed to be your potential brothers/sisters why do you even WANT to force them to do anything. I'm not saying your telling them they do it or die, but you are in fact forcing them to participate in this said 'marching'.

Whether local or NPC I find it rather disgusting to see that this still exists. In a country where everyone is supposed to be equal, you are just continuting the bad reputation of Greek Life. I don't want my fellow sister to walk in a straight line behind me... I want them to walk next to me, to be a sister with me. Afterall no matter the position each person is responsible for making the Chapter/Colony what it is. If you have a single person who doesn't assist in some way then in the end your organization will not survive.

I'm particularly saddened to hear that you think that this 'marching' isn't considered 'real hazing'; and as you mentioned like paddling or sexual. I know one thing I don't care if it was the president of the U.S. that wanted me to join, if someone EVER forced me to do something like that I would tell them where to put their organization.

I'd be willing to bet if you allowed all members pledges, collegians, and alums to participate equally you would have a much better reputation. You would also encourage proper behavior for the 'real world'.

I hope you do keep these comments to yourself, I don't even WANT to know what school you go to. It makes me want to vomit just to see you all continue this type of behvior in today's day and age.

I'm still curious to know what the marching was used for.

If the administration approved it, then maybe it isn't as bad as we all thought.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

No worries, this OP performed the classic newbie mistake of using the same user name in more than one place.

Yeah, you're sketchy.

[LatinaAlumna]

Originally Posted by thetaphi04

To those first who think that this 'marching' is not considered hazing... try using your real brains. Or maybe it's because you were hazed or did some hazing as well. This doesn't need to happen.

Why do people need to 'march' in a straight line all over campus!?... I know one thing I joined Theta Phi Alpha, because I was assured by all members there was no hazing involved whatsoever. Even as a Pledge Sister or newly initiated member there was not an ounce of hazing.

If these men/women are supposed to be your potential brothers/sisters why do you even WANT to force them to do anything. I'm not saying your telling them they do it or die, but you are in fact forcing them to participate in this said 'marching'.

Whether local or NPC I find it rather disgusting to see that this still exists. In a country where everyone is supposed to be equal, you are just continuting the bad reputation of Greek Life. I don't want my fellow sister to walk in a straight line behind me... I want them to walk next to me, to be a sister with me. Afterall no matter the position each person is responsible for making the Chapter/Colony what it is. If you have a single person who doesn't assist in some way then in the end your organization will not survive.

I'm particularly saddened to hear that you think that this 'marching' isn't considered 'real hazing'; and as you mentioned like paddling or sexual. I know one thing I don't care if it was the president of the U.S. that wanted me to join, if someone EVER forced me to do something like that I would tell them where to put their organization.

I'd be willing to bet if you allowed all members pledges, collegians, and alums to participate equally you would have a much better reputation. You would also encourage proper behavior for the 'real world'.

I hope you do keep these comments to yourself, I don't even WANT to know what school you go to. It makes me want to vomit just to see you all continue this type of behvior in today's day and age.

Wow, that's a heck of a first post.

I think *you* need to use your "real brains" for a second and consider that the way your sorority does things is not the be-all, end-all for everyone else.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by LatinaAlumna

I think *you* need to use your "real brains" for a second and consider that the way your sorority does things is not the be-all, end-all for everyone else.