Is hazing the best way?

[djpsk21]

Thank you EVERYONE for your replies. They have been really helpful so far! I guess the biggest hurdle I am facing right now is that brothers want to keep the "spirit" of the hazing but are starting to understand that they shouldn't haze. However, they still have that "tick" that says "we went through it...why should they get a free pass...they should earn their way into this chapter". I want to try to keep that same spirit while eliminating the negativity.

I have ideas such as having them complete a project or addition to the house, as a class, before they can initiate. A common cause they can come together for, depend on each other to complete and must have finished it "on time" so there is still the pressure of a deadline. This can be an addition in or outside of the house, but something where they are also able to leave their mark.

I want them to have required study hours, weekly quizzes on history and fraternity information, etc. I want to build them up instead of them being torn down. How is them doing a brothers laundry or washing cars being an "addition" to the house? How is it helping them as a person? How does it relate to the fraternities values and principles?

I have a team of guys who are on my side. However, as I mentioned previously, they still want the new guys to respect the house and the letters as much as they do and unfortunately, the only way they know is through hazing because that is how they were brought in.

I have people willing to support change. I have the national program for my chapter, but I am seeking others opinions, ideas, etc so I can truly create a phenomenal program. This is a unique opportunity that I have to really implement change. I want to do it the best possible way instead of making a change that is just "good enough" for now and then has to be continuously updated. As I am sure we can all agree, change the window opportunity for change only opens every now and then so now that there is an opening, I really want to take advantage of it.

Can anyone share what their pledgeship was like? What kind of stuff did you do with your class? Was it just meetings about the fraternity and history? Were there tests? Does anyone know of any team building exercises that are useful?

I am seeking help from GC because I value the knowledge of others. I know what my National HQ wants me to do, I am curious to what others have done. That way, maybe I can make a good program even better. Further, maybe some ideas can come out on this forum that can help others that are having similar issues.

Again, thank you all for your replies so far. I look forward to reading some more insightful thoughts and on to make this very important change.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by djpsk21

Can anyone share what their pledgeship was like? What kind of stuff did you do with your class? Was it just meetings about the fraternity and history? Were there tests? Does anyone know of any team building exercises that are useful?

I am seeking help from GC because I value the knowledge of others. I know what my National HQ wants me to do, I am curious to what others have done. That way, maybe I can make a good program even better. Further, maybe some ideas can come out on this forum that can help others that are having similar issues.

I'm sorry, but what others did during their programs is irrelevant. If your organization has a system in place, you need to try to move toward using that. I could tell you that my class did sheep herding because it was related to our ritual, but that wouldn't help you.

Just try to reinforce what your I/HQ already has in place.

Good luck.

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by djpsk21

I want them to have required study hours, weekly quizzes on history and fraternity information, etc. I want to build them up instead of them being torn down.

This is where we are disconnecting. You are talking in idealistic terms, and I am asking you to think about the practical aspects of the program you want to put in place. Rules you set now will only work if they are honored by the chapter in practice as well as in principle.

Required study hours are considered hazing by many definitions- and I personally do not think they are a good idea. Where will study hours take place? If you have a pledge who is doing fine on grades and gets most of his work done in labs, do you want to force him to come to study hours in addition to what is already working for/expected of him? If he comes- will the environment be conducive to the one in which he personally works best? You are talking about putting structure and rules into place- and you have to consider EVERY scenario that could come up since rules have to be enforced equally and making exceptions for certain people in practice as exceptions come up will not work.

And on the quizzes, what are the consequences if someone is failing quizzes and not learning the lore? It is one thing to say pledges need to "learn the lore", but how do you make sure it happens? How much is learning the lore an absolute requirement versus the attempt being a symbol of someone's serious interest? What if you have an A+ pledge who just does not have the time to be a whiz at the lore due to his school schedule?

You are speaking to ideals- the question now is what are the practical standards you which to enforce, and how will they be enforced? This is not an easy question, but the answer is there if you can slow down and really think through the mechanics of what you are trying to achieve.

What are you trying to achieve? What about your chapter gives you concern about how pledgeship is conducted? What did you personally feel about your own pledgeship? How did that differ from what your pledge brothers feel about it? Where do you want to go with this initiative?