Is hazing the best way?

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

He said the chapter gave him the authority.

This is what I am having a hard time understanding. Granted anything is possible, but I have never heard of a chapter giving over that kind of authority to an active member- much less a transfer student who clearly wants to make a lot of changes.

It is not uncommon for national offices or alumni with the blessings of nationals to temporarily have unusual powers- and it is best achieved by having the chapter vote on it and thus formally accept the need for some change. But an active member in this role would be a new one for me.

If this is the ultimate answer, I am wondering if the chapter- in accordance with their by-laws- have formally given over control, or if the OP has offered his initiative and the actives have more casually- though perhaps sincerely- asked for his help.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by EE-BO

This is what I am having a hard time understanding. Granted anything is possible, but I have never heard of a chapter giving over that kind of authority to an active member- much less a transfer student who clearly wants to make a lot of changes.

I see where you're coming from. My guess (and it is only that) has been that he has transferred in (last year maybe?) and has described to his new chapter brothers what the pledge process was like in his former chapter. Enough people in the chapter feel like, while they don't want to lose the "spirit" of what they've been doing (his word), some changes need to be made. He did say he has a "team of guys on his side," but they want pledges to respect the house like they do, and the only way the know how to do that is by hazing.

So I'm guessing that they have put him in a chapter position (pledge master maybe) where he can design the pledge program, but he knows that it won't fly with the chapter and will fail unless the chapter buys into the hazing alternatives. Hence looking for ideas of what has worked other places. While not a transfer, I worked on a process like that with our chapter fraternity education officer when I was chapter president, way back in the day.

I can imagine a transfer being given a position like that in a smaller chapter. But my guess could, of course, be completely wrong. And if this is something he has been put in place to do by a higher authority than the chapter, your comments are spot on.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by EE-BO

This is what I am having a hard time understanding. Granted anything is possible, but I have never heard of a chapter giving over that kind of authority to an active member- much less a transfer student who clearly wants to make a lot of changes.

It is not uncommon for national offices or alumni with the blessings of nationals to temporarily have unusual powers- and it is best achieved by having the chapter vote on it and thus formally accept the need for some change. But an active member in this role would be a new one for me.

If this is the ultimate answer, I am wondering if the chapter- in accordance with their by-laws- have formally given over control, or if the OP has offered his initiative and the actives have more casually- though perhaps sincerely- asked for his help.

Bingo.

I have never heard of one person having the authority to make sweeping changes. Every post is "I think", "I want", I, I, I.

I am still interested if the OP has a formal position, and how long he's been there.