Sigma Alpha Epsilon Announces Historic Change for membership experience

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

But apparently they haven't been able to enforce a pledge period free of serious hazing at a large number of their chapters. We obviously know that these concepts don't have to be mutually exclusively nor is it mandatory to have a pledge program to have a good member experience. Just like everyone has been arguing that this program sounds great in THEORY but won't work in practice, your statement is the same. It works at a group of chapters that uphold the ideal of non hazing, but the rest practice a spectrum of hazing that ranges from harmless depending on who is judging to deadly.

I get what you're saying better now. Thanks.

I think clearly the issue is how to move away from a culture of hazing. I don't know that there's one answer. A move like the True Gentleman Experience may be the right answer for some groups, but not for others.

But I still think in this instance, the process of reaching and implementing this decision may trump any merits of the new way of doing things. Pronouncements like this, after no consultation with stakeholders and with questions about authority, are not the way to go about changing the culture. To be honest, I fear that the way this was handled may actually reinforce the culture of hazing.

I query whether SAE is moving towards an unsustainable risk management and liability position and took at desperate act to mitigate those issues.

The fact that this drastic change was announced Friday to take effect today makes me think something bad must have been on the horizon.

[DEVODUDE]

MysticCat: The fact that this drastic change was announced Friday to take effect today makes me think something bad must have been on the horizon.

That could be true, however, no one knows for sure if that was the main reason behind the decision. I know it took ZBT 3 years to roll out their New Membership Program.....the idea was introduced in 1986, the first rough outline was developed and presented at the 1987 convention, the final outline was developed and present at the 1988 convention for everyone (Grand Supreme Council, National Assembly of Advisors, Alumni Clubs/Association, Foundation Directors, Executive Staff and undergraduate Delegation) to vote and finalize and in the Fall 1989 the New Membership program was launched. Chapters & Colonies had extensive training on the new program before if was launch. Even though it has been over 25 years since the initial rollout, the new membership program did go through at least 2 minor enhancements to keep up with changing times on college campuses.

ZBT:"BROTHERHODD & BEYOND"