OK, I do have something to say on this topic:
Having PLEDGED a GLO, perhaps not an NPHC one, but one nonetheless, I can say this much:
While I understand the oldheads feelings on reinstating pledging over MIP, having been in numerous debates with NPHCers on the issue, the general consensus appears to be this:
The National bodies of the NPHC simply cannot afford to risk any more lawsuits or liability to their organizations by reinstating pledging. The hazing incidents and deaths both before AND AFTER 1990 makes that very clear.
Having said that, is there any solid study or research that correlates the quality of a sister/brother with the intake method, via pledging vs. MIP? I personally do not know of any, but if there has been one, please let me know, as I would love to read the findings.
Another thing, the problem I have seen with pledging is that it has been more of an excuse for members to exhort power and ego over prospectives and pledges than to mold them into better brothers. What I am proving as a potential brother if all I am doing for you is being your personal servant by serving you breakfast and giving you wake-up calls and being your personal ATM (I speak from firsthand experience BTW). Now I know that is not all it entails, but a lot of the "pledging" experience is not truly germane to the qualities I possess as a brother.
Granted, I have no problems with the memorizing and unity of items such as history, songs, chants, etc. or even marching in line and dressing alike to establish the solidarity of the line. Heck, I think that is a lot of fun and making the pledging experience memorable.
I believe in pledging with a PURPOSE (knowing your history, traditions, and culture while bonding with fellow sands and big brothers/sisters). But I think the problem comes when ig'nant "Bigs" or DPs, perverts the process with physical and mental abuse and power/ego trips. That destroys the process and trivializes the true purpose of pledging. And as long as there are brothers/sisters around with that mentality, pledging probably will not come back in it's truest form, and even that could risk a lawsuit that would bankrupt the org. And I know none of you would like that.
As it stands now, it has been speculated that at least one NPHC org will be extinct in the next 10 years. I would sacrifice the short-term pledging process for the long term existence of my organization.
Of course that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
RM
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