Kelli and Serenity - THANK YOU!! You hit the nail SO on the head!
Some groups try to "shield" their pledges from anything difficult or unpleasant, for fear it'll somehow get twisted into hazing. Some groups say "oh it's OK if you can't show up, just try to do what you can" (and we all know there are people who given an inch, will take a mile).
Then comes initiation day. Then comes the day after initiation day. "Oh, by the way, we're in debt and you have to raise (insert gigantic amount here) by the end of the semester...by the way, 3 sisters just quit their positions and you're the new social chair...by the way, we have 4 mandatory events this week and if you don't go you'll get fined..." - well, I think you all know where I am going. I think one of the points of the pledge period is to help you to learn time management. If you know you have to get x, y, & z done, you'll find a way to get it done. Plus you have to keep your grades up or you won't be able to initiate. If you can't handle all that, better to learn before you initiate then become a full member and find out it is too much for you.
Physical or mental anguish that is PURPOSELY inflicted should never be part of any pledge period. However, to imply to a rushee that once she signs her bid everything is roses and daisies, is just not for real.
FWIW, the semester I pledged was a stressful time in my life, but that was due to crap that was there before I ever walked into a rush party, NOT anything with the sisters. In fact, if I had wised up and opened up earlier, they could have saved me a lot of the things I went through.
|
Threaded Mode