Pledging period issue - Page 3

Tom Earp · #1 11-21-2005, 04:49 PM

LXA used to have a Semester/Trimester Requirement.

They now suggest an 8 Week Association. I never agreed with that personally, but I am just an Alum.

The idea with 8 weeks was to get the Mid-Term Pass or not Grades. If for some reason a New Associate did not have Grades, he was carried over but for one Semester only.

My main Problem with The Short Periods, is how does a New PNA Learn about The Fraternity and The Local History and The Members depending on How Large a Chapter is?

If they do not have to learn anything, then We just become Clubs!

Coramoor · #2 11-21-2005, 09:01 PM

I totally agree.

In a chapter of 70-80 members that takes 25-30 pledges...there is no way in hell a meaningful bond is built in 8 weeks. You will have a max of 8 weekly meetings, avg. 2 parties a week, with a few date parties thrown in....and that's about it. Then you are in and that's it.

Kevin · #3 11-26-2005, 09:04 PM

8 weeks is total crap.

Can you apply to your HQ for permission to act outside those rules? If not, find out what the procedure is to change a rule like that. With my organization, the undergrad chapters still retain a final say on any new rules by way of a vote at our national convention.

UNLDelt · #4 11-28-2005, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
8 weeks is total crap.

Can you apply to your HQ for permission to act outside those rules? If not, find out what the procedure is to change a rule like that. With my organization, the undergrad chapters still retain a final say on any new rules by way of a vote at our national convention.

There is a way to petition for an extension of the pledge period, but we felt that trying to incorporate it early would be better as we work towards more year round recruitment and also b/c we felt that the extensions would not be granted forever and eventually we would have to adapt, so why not just find a way sooner than later.
Delt has the same final say at our Karnea (our convention, which is our legislative body of the fraternity) so there was a final vote from every chapter. It was very close, but passed. It was strongly pushed by the smaller chapters, from smaller schools with smaller greek systems (small is not bad, just different than my particular chapter). Which I can see how it would help them bring in members and be benificial to them...but they wouldn't have the same issues as a large chapter such as mine (average 80 men) competing in larger greek systems (21 IFC and 7 NPHC fraternities). So the slight minority of larger chapters like mine are having troubles incorporating this while still trying to stay competitive on our campuses (again, they don't want us to hold an academic requirement for initation-we would be one of the ONLY chapters on campus to not have that standard)

flirt5721 · #5 11-28-2005, 02:32 PM

I agree that there is never enough time to get to know your sisters/brothers. But 8 week is enough time for the new member to get close to at least a couple of the actives. Sisterhood and Brotherhood are a lifelong thing. There is never enough to build a bond with every single member in just a couple of week but there is always the time after to build a stronger bond.

My new member period was 5 weeks and I didn't have a bond with all my sisters but after I was initiated and started hanging around the house more I built a bond with all of them. The new member/pledging period is not the only time to build a bond.

UNLDelt · #6 11-28-2005, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by flirt5721
I agree that there is never enough time to get to know your sisters/brothers. But 8 week is enough time for the new member to get close to at least a couple of the actives. Sisterhood and Brotherhood are a lifelong thing. There is never enough to build a bond with every single member in just a couple of week but there is always the time after to build a stronger bond.

My new member period was 5 weeks and I didn't have a bond with all my sisters but after I was initiated and started hanging around the house more I built a bond with all of them. The new member/pledging period is not the only time to build a bond.

I agree, but it's also more than just the bond that we are looking for in the pledge period. The specific issue for us is when our central office says that we can no longer have an academic requirement that men need to demonstrate BEFORE we initiate them. They expect us to hold the initiated men to an academic standard in order to retain their membership and privilages (as we do) but not the men seeking initiation?

doofy312 · #7 03-23-2006, 04:22 AM

Pledging should not be looked at as a bad thing. I consider pledging as some of the greatest times in my life. Yes i got messed with and it was hard. I went through shit i wish upon no one. But I learned alot about myself and I became very close to my pledge brothers. The longer the process, the longer you have to see what the person is like. We have had kids come through and put a mask on then get initiated and just be worthless. A full semster of pledging and then Hell week should come after the semester break, be it xmas or summer break. That is how it should be. A real fraternity wouldnt limit itself to how long it can be.

UNLDelt · #8 03-23-2006, 01:57 PM

I would like to present an update on this issue since it first arose and I first posted on GC looking for some input.

Our National Organization has looked at the situation with our implementation of the 8 week pledge program and allowing hold over pledges and academic requirements for initiation being imposed at an early stage in the semester (8 weeks), a good deal of time before final grades are released.

Communication between my chapter and headquarters, as well as a few other chapters I'm sure, has proven successful and a solution has been reached. I'm proud to say that my chapter, Beta Tau's system of implementing the 8 week pledge program with allowance for holdovers for legitimate reasons and our method to retain our academic standards through grade reports was agreed on as an appropriate way to implement the changes and was actually recognized during training and leadership sessions at our Division Conference as being a great template for a great program.

It just goes to show that when everyone from top down, bottom up, alums and undergrads, are working towards a common cause and to improve the organization then real solutions can be reached. I'm proud of my chapter for thinking outside of the box in looking for solutions. And even though at first it looked as if their ingenuity would actually cost them accreditation...in the end, it turned out to be just the solution everyone was looking for.

Thanks for all of your input!

Optimist Prime · #9 03-29-2006, 02:49 PM

Good job. It sounds like you have a full chapter of leaders down there at Beta Tau.

Greekopedia · #10 03-29-2006, 05:28 PM

This thread made me think of something..

I've heard... albeit probably rumors... that some organizations engage in "underground" pledging, where the school is unaware of any pledging activity.

has anyone else heard or seen this?

tallgreekalum · #11 04-03-2006, 01:21 PM

This subject was discussed on another thread, but I'll give you the brief version.
There are four situations that might be defined as "underground" pledging:
1. Having a GLO at a campus where membership in a GLO is grounds for expulsion. Amherst is a good example. Any pledging activities are conducted off campus

2.Having a GLO at a campus where GLO are not "recognized" but are tolerated. Brandeis and Yale are good examples of this situation.

3. Having an organization that is recognized, but due to school regulations (no frosh rush etc) or probation, that group should not have a pledge class or the pledge class includes ineligible people.

4. The group has lost school recognition but has retained (inter) national recognition

5. The organization has lost both school and GLO recognition, but continues to operate. This is actually fairly common. Often a guy thinks they've joined "Alpha Alpha Alpha" to find out five years later that AAA HQ never heard of them.

D.0.7 · #12 04-19-2006, 12:30 PM

Man just when you think your life is all in an uproar listen to this. You have 8 weeks to get what ever it is done for your pledges to cross over, at my alma mater was only have 2 weeks to pledge and to cross them over. LOL, Now thats crazy. So think about how much of an opportunity you have to other greeks out there. but i do understand that your upset i feel u but hey think about my 2weeks.LOL