Another good anti-hazing tool

hoosier · #1 06-14-2002, 05:52 PM

In the SPE magazine this morning, and in the new TKE magazine this afternoon, I saw articles/pages devoted to "The consequences of our actions".

The contents were short articles about problem chapters (hazing, booze, vandalism), specifically naming the chapters/campuses, what the guys did, and what happened.

In the six TKE chapters listed, 5 of the six were closed, and members were expelled in two cases. In one case, some new pledges (who were caught vandalizing) were de-pledged too.

This is certainly something new for TKE, and I know in the past dead/dying/suspended chapters quietly disappeared without mention.

I think the new tool of publicizing bad neews is an improvement.

Nothing makes good news more believable, than some occasional bad news.

DeltAlum · #2 06-14-2002, 06:16 PM

Yeah, I agree.

We simply can't sweep it under the rug any longer, and maybe bringing the problem out in the open will be a wake up call for other chapters.

At Karnea, the Delt International Conference there are banners for every chapter hung around the ballroom where the opening ceremony and business meeting takes place.

One of the most dramatic things I've ever seen was when the Inernational President had the Chapter Consultants take down the banners of all the chapters that had been closed in the two years since the last Karnea.

It opens your eyes.

AXPAlum · #3 06-17-2002, 01:08 PM

I also agree with the notion of an anti-hazing tool. But the bad news only gets to those that care enough to read it. There needs to be on-campus programs, educating each group once a year (preferably in the beginning sometime) doing that. If you tell them the consequences after they already have done the crime, then what's the point?

AXPAlum

Kevin · #4 06-17-2002, 01:36 PM

This is a great way to convince the public that in our respective organizations we have NO PLACE for people that are only here to be entertained. While my national fraternity doesn't do anything that I'm aware of as far as this goes I applaud the actions of those that do!

madmax · #5 06-17-2002, 02:15 PM

What do you guys think you are going to accomplish by publicizing bad news?

Are you under the impression that your active members dont already know that underage drinking, and hazing are against the law? I think they already the rules.

Kevin · #6 06-17-2002, 11:20 PM

It's not publicizing bad news.

It's being the first guy to go to the paper with your story. The first person to get the paper's ear USUALLY gets their angle printed.

If you present the information in a light such as "We had a bad situation BUT this group is not representative of us and is no longer associated because of what happened.." Then there is no way for the press to print something that is uninformed and negative.

madmax · #7 06-18-2002, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
It's not publicizing bad news.

It's being the first guy to go to the paper with your story. The first person to get the paper's ear USUALLY gets their angle printed.

If you present the information in a light such as "We had a bad situation BUT this group is not representative of us and is no longer associated because of what happened.." Then there is no way for the press to print something that is uninformed and negative.

ktsnake.

I agree with your point about being the first to get the paper's ear, but that isnt what the initial post was about. Hoosier referred to the TKE magazine publicizing bad news and he thought it was a good anti-hazing tool.

How is that a good anti-hazing tool?

It's not going to make the active members change their ways.. The active members of every fraternity already know the rules and they know the consiquences of breaking the rules. The story in the national magazine isnt going to inform the members of anything they dont already know.

Kevin · #8 06-18-2002, 06:57 PM

Airing our dirty laundry is a great way to inform people that HQ **DOES** take hazing seriously.

It shows chapters what happens when they get caught. They think they'll just get a nastygram from HQ telling them "no no no" this shows that it is for real!

It's also great marketing! Many (if not most) fellas going through rush (and even more that elect not to) believe that most of us still have a good 'ol time beating the living tar out of pledges and getting our jollies from demeaning them. Let them read that magazine and they will know that you're telling the truth about "no hazing". Most think it's "no hazing -- wink wink"

God save whoever's responsible if my chapter ever closes! It'll be vigilante justice time!

meggphib · #9 06-21-2002, 10:35 AM

My bf is a SPE and for as long as he can remember they have always had a section in their magazine devoted to chapters that promote the "Frat Boy" image. They leave nothing out.
I don't know if all the brothers take what is written at face value or not. But I know that my IHQ doesn't do anything of that nature and I wish that they would. I think if more members read about the kinds of actions their brothers/sisters are doing and the punishments that they face, they will think twice about it.