Hazing Oversensitivity

[DeltAlum]

From Fraternal News...

A lot of people agree with Mr. Arnold. This worries me probably more than anything else. In many ways, we bring this upon ourselves. That's sad.

"Jim Arnold, an Oregon higher education
official who wrote a doctoral dissertation on the three years he
spent around a fraternity at Indiana University in the early 1990s,
is not optimistic about progress in the war on hazing.

In fact, Arnold believes fraternities ''are so entrenched in this
kind of behavior that reform is next to impossible,'' and ''maybe we
just should not have them.''

''I'm of the opinion that things are probably just as bad as they've
ever been.''

[Optimist Prime]

He should be optimistic like me. Things are getting better...in fact, I was gonna wait to post this untill pledging got its own thread but what the what the hey? (Old Ben Stiller referece there). What follows is my opinion of what pledging/new member period should entail for male fraternities (I don't discuss the groups for women because of lack of experince and suffiecent information, and don't want to be seen as "that guy" who tells women what to do.) Obviously this will reflect and be influnced from my own expierce, but I hope to keep it universal enough to fit for all national men's fraternities. (yes even NPHC. Again I admit I'm ingornant about most of what goes on, but am friends with someone who is in one, based on what he told me, its not that different).

The pledge shall never be physically demined in any way. This includeds forced consumption of alchohol or inedible or otherwise improperly prepared. Also, no padling. More about that later.

Unless he is in class, the library, engaging in an suitble extra-curicular activity (and by suitble I mean sponsered by the host university, or one of its member colleges, schools, departments or recognised clubs or organisations) he should be with at least one of his pledge brothers. (Unless he is the only pledge, in that case you have bigger problems.)
Also, if the pledge is doing a favor for a brother, he must have a pledge brother with him. This, although it sounds like hazing, actully prevents hazing, because if hazing does occur, it would be the word of the brother against the word of the pledge. This elimates that because there is a third person there.

If aplicable to the fraternity in question, the pledge will carry the manual at all times on his person. This means either in his hands or in his pockets/back of pants, etc. This does not mean in a book bag or back pack of any kind.

Each pledge will complete two "shields." The first will be a personal coat of arms. It can be as complete as possible with regards to the rules of heraldry. The second will be a larger "sheild" more like an entusheon (Zeta Psi people please help with spelling?) that will include the symbols deemed most important by the entire pledge class. Or, each pledge should make the second sheild using the symbols of his pledge brothers and not his own. That way they can start to share common values.

The pledge class must wear their pledge pins whenever and as often as posible, provided they are dressed approittly. This includes, but is not liminted to, polo style shirts, button down shirts, oxfordcloth or "dress" shirts, or sweater, or sweater vest, or any combination there of. NO T-SHIRTS This is not to be done 24/7, but only when they are dressed right for it. However, if one is dressed right, they should all be and all wearing the pin.

Once a week they must dress in "shirt and tie" attire. And once or twice a week they should wear their pledge jerseys. Obviously the pledge pin should not be worn with one.

Each pledge should make an interview book in which to get the brothers interviews and signatures. For the sake of conciety, I'll post about how to make it later. The interview is the only time a pledge will be one on one with a brother outside of a legitmently social situation (i.e. if a brother pulls a pledge aside at a party, or for friendly chat, or if they happen to run into each other on campous). I'll stop there because interview books can be an entire thread of its own.

The pledges should make a paddle for their big brothers.
Also, they should make one as a gift to their chapter house, which includes all their names plus the name of their Marshal, the long 'H' word TKE uses that I can't think of because its 6 am or whatever the brother charged with educating the pledges is called. A gift for the Marshal isn't a bad idea either.

Also, they should organise a pledge class fundraiser, and a socaial event for the entire chapter.

In return, the pledges should expect the following:

to be invited to a non-ritual chapter meeting, after all business dealing with the pledges (i.e. they are brought to a vote) at least three times before they are iniatiated. This way they aren't compleatly clueless at their first one.

They should go to at least two different committe meetings. This way they can pick which job they like doing in the chapter. Obviously this would exclude the ritual comitee and the exec board.

to be taught everything that all brothers should know. This includes important dates, significant events in national and local history. Also, once they get their big brothers, they should learn to trace their "family tree" starting with themselves and going backwards. Use the composities for this. It sounds like "just another thing to learn" but they will be pround when showing friends and other visitors who their big brothers are/were.

If at all posible, to have some interaction with another chapter of their fraternity on a different campous.

Sorry this was so long. But I feel that it was worth it. Let me know what you think. Also, feel free to ask if there is something that can be explained further. I hope it was clear, its a qaurter after six in the morning.

In good health.

[Optimist Prime]

this is off topic, but the song thats playing on my room mates mp3 computer thing just said something like "lambda to the lambda to the lambda" something something....tape your glasses and shake your asses. haha.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by Optimist Prime
The only problem I see with the unamious (spelling?) vote is that if one guy is never there to meet the pledges when they call him, or just hates the chapter for whatever reason, and wants to be a dick, he can say NO to everyone, then no more iniates and after just one or two semesters your memmbership levels are crap.

Yup, but someone who wants that for our house won't last very long as an active themselves. Attitudes like that are easy to see. I was instrumental in having a fella voted out after he told one of our new members to do something for him or he wouldn't be voted in. We don't really stand for that stuff, either folks take it seriously or don't participate.


LHT,
Kevin

[Kevin]

"Jim Arnold, an Oregon higher education official who wrote a doctoral dissertation on the three years he
spent around a fraternity at Indiana University in the early 1990s,
is not optimistic about progress in the war on hazing.

That's fine, you can ban us from campus or whatever... But guess what that'd do? Many people's HQ's don't require the school to have to recognize the chapter. So big deal, you force them underground... Oh and you had a dry campus???? Not anymore, we'll have open parties.... Believe me, schools, even though sometimes they'd like to can't disband us, they'd only lose what little control they have. It's our constitutional right to associate with any group we want to.

The TKE house on our campus lost recognition and guess what? They've been the highest GPA on campus for the last 2 years (bouncing back from a 1.9 something overall).. They've shown themselves to be a fairly high quality house, they're getting a new house built in fact...


LHT,
Kevin

[Tom Earp]

Some of the Acedemia think well why not write a thesis on Greeks as they are always getting into trouble all aver the country!

I wish Moronic Do Gooders such as this guy (almost put gentleman) do not look at the total picture!

Who makes Homecoming? Who works on school committees? Who Donates more money to both the schools and charitys?

Well Guess what! The Greek Actives and Greek Alums DO!

[teke4life]

-"the long 'H' word TKE uses that I can't think of because its 6 am or whatever the brother charged with educating the pledges is called"

the frater in charge of new member education is called the hegemon.

as long as one keeps in mind that pledging should make good brothers/sisters and not good pledges, then proper pledging practices wil follow.

[Optimist Prime]

Originally posted by teke4life
-"the long 'H' word TKE uses that I can't think of because its 6 am or whatever the brother charged with educating the pledges is called"

the frater in charge of new member education is called the hegemon.

as long as one keeps in mind that pledging should make good brothers/sisters and not good pledges, then proper pledging practices wil follow.

Thanks!! And I agree with your views on pledging.

[teke4life]

wow, a teke and an ox agreeing on something. will the wonders ever cease? god bless greek chat!

[Optimist Prime]

Originally posted by teke4life
wow, a teke and an ox agreeing on something. will the wonders ever cease? god bless greek chat!

lol

[Kapsig1]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
I doubt that there is anyone on this board who isn't concerned about the liberal definitions of hazing. I don't think any of us like it -- including those of us who equate real hazing with stupidity.

But that's the way it is. And it's the law in every state. And it's the rule in every Greek Letter Organization.

So, until someone, or some organization, or some legislature or whatever changes it, we live with it. And we abide by it.

Or we lose our charters.

Which part of that is so hard to understand?

Of course DeltAlum is right here. However, in practice, very few criminal/civil (depending on the state) cases are ever brought for violation of the hazing statutes. Why? Most of the laws are misdemenor offenses, and when there is more substantial harm (death, injury, etc) the state is much more likely to go after the responsible parties on those grounds....easier to prove, heavier penalties, etc.

So, solutions. If the vast majority of hazing offenses are handled at an host intstitution and/or organizational level - then begin a discussion. Tell the people that make these decisions you are concerned that many of the policies (which are generally MUCH more specific than statute) are incongruent with a higher learning experience.

If no effort is made to check the "hypersensitives," we have no one to blame but ourselves when we lose a chapter.

Brad

[AXPAlum]

I think the whole point of hazing statutes has lost its way. They were adopted mainly for deterrence, and frankly I don't know the latest stats, but I don't see any change, students are still dying and getting hazed.

Some schools stretch the statutes too broadly, others turn a blind eye, but as for oversensitivity, they are all equal when someone gets hurt. I honestly don't believe arguing for or against hazing will change anything. Just conduct your business as usual and face the consequences of your actions.