Pledges cause alot of internal problems! NEED HELP - Page 2

Zillini · #1 03-21-2008, 09:21 AM

I agree with the all the above who said make them pay up and shape up or kick them out. I've been down that road before of slapping pledge pins on random people simply to get numbers up. It's never a good idea. Believe me, if they are causing problems now it will only get worse after they are initiated. Plus there's the added headaches of bad members recruiting more bad members in the future.

Delay getting your charter until you're entire membership is worthy of receiving those GLO letters.

Kevin · #2 03-21-2008, 09:36 AM

I've been in that exact situation. I was the L.C. of my colony (Sigma Nu's equivalent to maybe what would be the Executive V.P. in most other organizations). We had, on several occasions, men who were just bad news. They didn't pay dues or they did incredibly stupid things, were socially retarded, got into fights, etc. I learned over the years that the best thing to do with guys like that is to 'trim the fat' and move on.

AOII Angel · #3 03-21-2008, 09:43 AM

Get together a committee of older members, including your president and standards officer, then meet with each pledge INDIVIDUALLY. It is amazing the false bravado that all people get due to group dynamics. Tell each one that he is not living up to the standards of the organization, has not paid dues and will be kicked out if he doesn't change his ways. Pledges can't assume you are talking to someone else in the pledge class if they hear your ultimatum individually. Let them know that they will individually be held to a standard as well as a pledge class. Then....follow up on your threats. Kick them out if they don't change. Apparently they think they are untouchable since you need them to get your charter.

AGDee · #4 03-21-2008, 11:08 AM

I would also make sure that the person responsible for giving them due dates and letting them know when activities are is actually doing that. Colony or not, there are sometimes officers who aren't doing their full job (like a VP Operations who collects everybody's reports but never sends any of them out to their Headquarters!). Make sure that they know exactly when money is due and when/where activities are. Someone may be getting their signals crossed in that arena, especially if it's the whole pledge class doing the same thing.

I've heard people say things like "You'll need to pay your dues" but aren't specific on how much, when and to who... and then assume that they will all pay. I've also been part of organizations where everybody knew the basics about some traditional events so when they announce things like that, they don't give out details.

Leslie Anne · #5 03-21-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Get together a committee of older members, including your president and standards officer, then meet with each pledge INDIVIDUALLY. It is amazing the false bravado that all people get due to group dynamics. Tell each one that he is not living up to the standards of the organization, has not paid dues and will be kicked out if he doesn't change his ways. Pledges can't assume you are talking to someone else in the pledge class if they hear your ultimatum individually. Let them know that they will individually be held to a standard as well as a pledge class. Then....follow up on your threats. Kick them out if they don't change. Apparently they think they are untouchable since you need them to get your charter.

I like this idea!

Tom Earp · #6 03-21-2008, 04:16 PM

They are not Brothers yet.

They do not have to stay.

They are hurting you more than they are helping you!

If they are this way now, just what will they be like if they get initiated, end up closing the Chapter?

Clean one or two to show how serious you are and some may fall in line. Pick the main ones who :Think: they are the leaders.

bellwisdom · #7 03-21-2008, 06:40 PM

I agree a lot with what everyone else has said. Your setting yourselves up for failure if you are only using these Kids as a number, a number is only a number and means nothing compared to non-material benefits of Brotherhood. A Brother is more than a number. A Brother embodies everything that your Fraternity stands for. If these pledges don't embody those things, they should not be looked at as future brothers. Your charter will be worthless if you are just going to lose it in a semester or two because of these Kids. If you really care for your fraternity then it's future status and every single person you even think about letting pledge should mean almost the world to you so you would get rid of anyone or anything that is going to give themselves, you, your fraternity and it's founders a bad name. If they don't fit what ever standard it is that you use to pledge someone, they should not even be there. Tell you headquarters what is going on and I am pretty sure that they will understand. If you have a colony advisor or advisory board, I would let them know too. There should be no giving these kids an Ultimatum, get rid of them. Good luck.

RaggedyAnn · #8 03-22-2008, 12:52 PM

Have you asked anyone from Nationals for help? Much better to postpone a charter than to lose one.

knight_shadow · #9 03-22-2008, 01:18 PM

I'm a little late to this thread but..

Bad pledges usually equal bad brothers. Cut them.

PinkRose1098 · #10 03-22-2008, 02:55 PM

If they aren't an asset to the chapter as pledges how are they going to be an asset to the chapter as brothers? I agree with the other posters who have stated that brotherhood is far more important than numbers. I've seen what happens when you don't let go of bad pledges and it's not good. Give them the option of either living up to your fraternity's ideals and being good brothers or getting out now.

KyleMcGuire1983 · #11 03-23-2008, 03:37 PM

We had this problem last semester. I'd show up at every pledge meeting and berate them for not showing up to meetings on time, not respecting house rules, not paying, etc. etc.

Eventually they started taking us seriously....when I called out a couple guys and gave them two weeks to shape up or ship out. Since we're not allowed to haze pledges just go on a strike system. What do you think works better: being forced to drink and do push ups or the possibility of being depledged for being an idiot? Being Non-Hazing doesn't mean being weak and soft.

We handed out depledge notices like candy and the six who stayed through are excellent actives now.