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My fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, includes any activity that would make a distinction between an associate member and an initiated member an act of hazing.
I am a "mature" greek, and I take exception to that definition. I was not an associate member. I was a "pledge". I had no problem with that. I was required to wear my pledge pin and keep a pledge book with me at all times. The pledge book was a small loose-leaf notebook in which I was, during the course of my pledge semester, required to get a signature and personal information (local address & phone, permanent address, girlfriends name, pin #, etc.). I thought it was a great way to make sure that I met every member of our chapter before I was initiated. I was required to enter the house through the back door, unless I was accompanying a guest. We had pledge class meetings, pledge class officers, and every week we took a test on fraternity policy, history, etc. None of what I have just described is allowed today. It's all considered hazing.
I would be curious as to what some of you under-grads think of this. I feel that most of our young guys are missing out on something. I felt when I was initiated that I had earned my membership. I had paid not only literal dues, but had figureatively "paid my dues" as well. I never felt demeaned. I felt then, as I do now, that there were legitimate reasons for the things I was required to do. It seems like the experience that a lot of you have to day is like "fraternity light".
I am amazed at the number of young people who join GLOs and end up dropping their membership. I'm definitely old school, and I think you appreciate something more when you earn it. I wonder if that' s part of the reason that kids drop. They had their membership handed to them.
So am I just an old guy hopelessly out of touch with reality, or does my point make any sense?
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