Observations

[TLAW]

Though I don't mean to rehash an old topic, I have to put in my two cents worth; As someone peering on the outside in, I think I have some pertinent thoughts on the matter.
While surfing, I read about an issue concerning one of the Divine Nine orgs. The fraternity had been suspended for "hazing"; upon reinstatement of the charter, the Faculty Advisor oversaw the Intake process of a couple of new undergrads with high GPAs. Most of you can guess what happened next.
Of course, the old heads had crossed a couple guys underground.
They went via MIP too. Now, you had a fraternity with some pledging, and others who were MIP'd. You guys can only guess at the friction caused.
It all came to a head when a couple of the "reals" accosted a "paper" and tore his naila off his back - in public! The two "reals" were then kicked out of the frat for disrespecting a fellow member in public.
Most of you probably have heard of this story; some may even have seen this played out on your respective yards. It is a sad state of affairs.
I am not going to argue the merits of pledging vs Intake; however I will say that pledging can be a safe process. A little hardship never hurt anybody. I went to a military school overseas, and the rites of passage to seniority were rigorous. Straight hazing. We hated it, but the bonds live forever.
Now, when people die during pleging, we have to wonder if we've gone too far, and we shouldn't have to wonder too long.
At my school, what happened above is about to replayed almost scene to scene. We are about to reactivate one of our orgs, and the word is that some men have already been through a pledge process a couple of years previously.
I don't know if it not getting respect for reasons we don't have control over is worth it. Am I wrong for seriously not considering exhibiting interest for these reasons? Would you join an organization if knew there were underground pledges, and you had to do MIP? Am I being overly realistic?