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As an alum whose daughter joined and withdrew before initiation last year, I wish that NPC would return to semester-long new member periods. My daughter and her friends in other houses said that the responsibility for learning about the traditions, history, symbols, etc. was placed almost solely on the new members. There was no discussion or review, or opportunity to ask questions in pledge meetings--just reminders of dues deadlines, encouragement to attend every frat event on the calendar, and endless voting on t-shirt colors. Then, the week before initiation, there was a mad panic to scare the new members into cramming for the pre-initiation test over sorority information and traditions. And it happened to be the same week as midterms, so guess what took priority?
In talking to my daughter's friends, it also sounds like there is much less emphasis placed on getting to know the pledges and shepherding them through their first semesters on campus. I'm told that a lot of "getting to know you" activities (like new members "interviewing" the actives for hometowns, majors, favorite snack, etc.)have been dropped because of privacy regulations, but having designated actives meet you at the door and sit with you during your first chapter dinner, and walk you back to your dorm/apartment afterwards was such a welcoming gesture. None of that seems to be happening any more--at least not on our campus.
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