Pledging: Doing a Disservice to All Alpha Men?

[Phrozen1ne]

Originally Posted by clearM3

This does not apply to men who pledged when pledging was actually allowed by the national organization.

This applies to the Alpha men who went on line, who went through pledging otherwise known as hazing, or has engaged in hazing other aspirants.

What is the definition of an Alpha man?

According to the national organization, the vision for Alpha Phi Alpha is to "stimulate the ambition of its members; to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom, and dignity of the individual; to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood; and to aid down-trodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status."

These are noble goals and Alpha has been very successful in creating men who have represented those ideals. We all are probably conscious of all the world-changing alumni Alpha has.

BUT the moment when an aspirant requests that application and checks the box off that says they should refuse to be hazed, or be on-line, or be "required" to do anything for the local chapter in order to join, they have a legal and MORAL obligation to adhere to the rules of the national organization, which is final authority on all things Alpha.

When the local chapter then puts pressure on you to fulfill their pledging activities, to go on-line, be put through various "tests" that supposedly separate the boys from the men and make you stronger, they violate the integrity of the aspirant by changing them from a dignified Alpha man to a criminal. The aspirant is promising one thing by signing that contract, and then doing another by pledging.

In all, when aspirants are expected to pledge in order to gain membership into Alpha Phi Alpha, and violate the contract they themselves first signed , they disrespect every individual in the national organization and disregard every alumni who has upheld the core creed of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Obviously there are many men who are Alpha's now who went through pledging and were on-line. Although you may consider yourselves Alpha, recognize the inherent contractual violation you committed when you first sent in your application. You cannot be considered a truly legitimate Alpha man unless you followed the rules required by the national organization.

Every time a new line is created and pledged, a new line of illegitimate Alpha men are inducted into the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

The fact that this is your first post is highly suspect. You talk about legal and moral obligation, but you expect brothers in MY FRATERNITY to discuss this topic on an open forum?

Go away. Now.

ETA: Don't be too sure that you can't be found out.