What do you call your Pledges?

[Miami1839]

Wooglin,

I agree with you 100 percent.

Kevin

[damasa]

Since they are pledging our fraternity, we call them "pledges." Everyone seems fine with it and there haven't been any complaints. Hell, I loved being called pledge when I was a newb.
Wish I could relive my pledge semester again, before all the politics hit, but I can remember my pledge days when I watch our new members in action.

damasa

[James]

We still call them pledges. Wooglin4Ever is correct when he comments on things PC. Its easier to change the label than change the behavior. However, Pledging has become synonomous(sp?) with hazing in the minds of many people. So the questions are whether the PNM believe that the changed label means a changed process, which I doubt, and whether the changed label means hazing chapters no longer haze.

Originally posted by Wooglin4Ever
We just call them Bitches, scum, and other degrating names. I am JUST KIDDING! I have to agree with my Beta Bros that pledges is the word that should be used. The thing that bothers me is how everyone has changed the name of everything. (Time for me to get on my soapbox) What used to be pledges is now "New Members", what used to be called rush is now called "Recruitment" what used to be called hell week is now "Initiation week" or "Principles week". We do not haze our pledges but hell week still works for me because no matter what type of chapter you are (Hazing or non) that last week before you get initiated is a long tiring week. You used to RUSH and then you became a PLEDGE then the last week of PLEDGESHIP you went through HELL WEEK where you learned brotherhood and had to cross that final threshold into the fraternity. Now you are RECRUITED, and you JOIN and become a NEW MEMBER. Right before you are initiated you go through PRINCIPLES WEEK. Whatever happend to the good old greek terms our founders started for us. I think you can mix the old school with the new school. I am very new school when it comes to hazing, I don't find it something necessary, but why do we have to be so $&#@ PC about everything.

[pirate00]

In our chapter they are still called pledges, and nothing else.

[CutiePie2000]

This was a unanimous decision adopted and agreed to by all 26 women's fraternities (i.e. "sororities"") in the National Panhellenic Conference.

Some might have their own special names,
i.e. Alpha Delta Pi calls their new members "Alphas",
Phi Mus calls them "Phis", but the term pledge is now a no-no.

I think it stems from the fact that in the eyes of NPC groups, you are considered a New Member as you have received an invitation to membership, and accepted it. You just haven't gone through the process of learning all the history, etc.

Also, an AOII friend explained it to me that pledge is a verb, (i.e. you "pledge" to be loyal to your GLO), rather than a noun..something like that....

CP2000 is right. The new NPC term is NEW MEMBER and nothing else.

Still, I find myself calling our AGD NMs "Baby Squirrels".

[AKA2D '91]

I know I'm about to celebrate a birthday and all, and I'm in my last year of my 20's.

I could have sworn I posted to this thread?

Maybe I was dreaming....naaaaaaaaaa, couldn't have!

I trust your motive(s) John.

[Demon Knight]

I know it seems like calling the new people who associate with your organizations pledges as demeaning, but if you think about it anything you call them is hazing because you are avoiding using there names. I think thats very interesting to say to call someone a pledge as being hazing but calling them new members, pearls, or associates is any better. For my organization we use new associates, is that better than pledge, or the same thing?

[lifesaver]

In 1972 Lambda Chi Alpha became the first inter/national fraternity to adopt the term "Associate Member" and abolish the then used system of pledgeship. Our Inter/national HQ is really serious about it too. If we are even caught using the p-word, its grounds for serious probation status. Cool thing tho is that we use it as a marketing technique. We are the only fraternity on my campus that allowes its "Associates" to attend chapter meetings, vote on chapter business, even hold officer positions. (They are not however allowed to vote on anything having to do with their own association, or be present for their initiation vote.) Works great for us. I mean, they're paying dues, we believe that they should have a right in saying where their money goes. We also believe that the best way to teach someone to be a good brother is to treat them like a good brother. On-the-Job-training if you will.

my lil' dash of chopper pride

[33girl]

Originally posted by Demon Knight
I know it seems like calling the new people who associate with your organizations pledges as demeaning, but if you think about it anything you call them is hazing because you are avoiding using there names. I think thats very interesting to say to call someone a pledge as being hazing but calling them new members, pearls, or associates is any better. For my organization we use new associates, is that better than pledge, or the same thing?

IMO it's not what you call someone but how you treat them that makes all the difference. If you call someone a "new member" but treat them like crap, you really haven't done anything positive now have you? I still prefer "pledge", just because it sums up what you are doing - pledging your love and loyalty to the organization.

[TigerGirl52]

In Sigma Alpha all of the new members are called "membership candidates" or "MCs" for short.

Allison

[agger_rob]

Officially, we have to call ours "New Members" but on a daily basis we call them pledges, plebes, new guys or funi's (f'ed up new initiates)

[MafiaCSUS]

Balanced Man Chapters of SigEp don't have pledges, or any kind of trial membership. SO they're all new members. The name of the stage (or "challenge") they are in depends on their knowledge and devotion. So all members are equal with the exception of knowledge of the ritual.

[sigtau305]

we call them associate maembers. but I'm old school, so I rather say "pledge".

[The1calledTKE]

We call our pledges, pledges.