Interviewing Actives = hazing???

chideltjen · #1 07-25-2002, 12:27 AM

Hey all,

I was just curious what you all thought of this. It is requirement in our sorority for all new members to "interview" all of the active sisters in the house and about 3-5 alumni sisters. Basically, a NM writes a small autobiography about herself that the actives will read and then she will in turn ask the active/alum about 5 questions about hobbies, what their best memory in the house is, what their future goals are, etc. The interview is complete when the active/alum signs her interview page (all the questions go in a book for the NM to keep). It is a way for actives and NMs to get to know one another. The entire NM class has to interview all actives/alum before they can be initiated (as well as take tests, go to events, etc.)
BUT since anything can be considered hazing these days and requiring NMs to get signatures from actives can fall under that category, have we been barking up the hazing tree, so to speak?

On the positive side, I know something intriguing about each one of my sisters and I personally think it is a great idea as long as it isn't made into something demeaning.

What do you all think?

FYI- we are associate members of NPC

sororitygirl2 · #2 07-25-2002, 01:17 AM

Yes, i think this is considered hazing by most definitions... I have heard of it turning into more than just interviewing actives in some chapters; for instance, some fraternities I knew of had members who refused to give signatures to the new members until they, say, washed their cars for them, or did something funny at a party.

So, while it is probably meant to be an innocent way to get to know each other, it could also quickly turn negative.

At my chapter, we had an evening once a week (throughout the entire new member period) where the chapter gets together and plays "bonding," team-building games... Also, we have two optional sisterhood week events each week (usually about 1/4 of the chapter showed up for each... going out for ice cream, going to the mall, renting movies, etc...) and a sisterhood retreat once a semester. These are all great ways for the new members and actives to get to know each other.

Kevin · #3 07-25-2002, 01:37 AM

I'd like to lead by saying that my chapter doesn't do interviews..

BUT... As long as it's JUST an interview, I don't see as exactly how you would call that hazing (unless your org defines hazing as asking someone to do something).

Where you could potentially run into trouble is when you create a 1 on 1 situation between actives and candidates (or whatever you call them) you run the risk of someone using the 1 on 1 situation to create drama. As in false allegations of hazing ie. "They said I had to wash their car to get a signature..." etc..

I can see potential problems but find no fault in the actual act.

Ultimately, I think you'll find that large/small group activities will serve you even better as far as making sure everyone knows eachother... But is it hazing? I think not, at least not according to the way I read my fraternity's policy (but then again, fraternities seem to be slightly more lax in that department than PHC groups).

chideltjen · #4 07-25-2002, 01:46 AM

ktsnake... i am a lil confused on what you mean by a 1 on 1 creating drama.

And no, there aren't any "wash my car before you get my interview" requests in the organization of the interviews. Although I have heard that response from fraternities on our campus.

It's not like this is the only way people can get to know each other either. We have events throughout the semester. I just think this is a way for two people to sit and talk about certain things one on one.

AOX81 · #5 07-25-2002, 11:07 AM

While others may consider this hazing I do not. I think that interviews are a very good way for everyone to get to know each other better.

PsychTau · #6 07-25-2002, 01:11 PM

When I pledged, we did something similar with pledge books. . .we had to do two visits with each sister. The first one was to find out more about them, and they would always write a REALLY funny question about another sister for us to find the answer to (By doing this we would find out LOTS of hilarious stories!!!). The second visit they would review our test info with us.

Personally, I liked the interviews, they were lots of fun, and our sisters never used them to haze us. HOWEVER. . .

I think NPC would consider this hazing because. . .
QUOTE: The entire NM class has to interview all actives/alum before they can be initiated

If I am correct, something like that being a criteria for initiation would not fly with NPC (and no, I don't want to reopen the whole "requirements for initiation" thing). In fact, after my pledge class, we had to stop the pledge book/interview thing. I wish that they weren't considered hazing, though.

This is just my experience, though.

josh8o · #7 07-27-2002, 11:49 PM

i do not consider it hazing at all!

i interviewed the actives when i pledged, and i enjoyed being interviewed by the pledges when i became an active. it really helps to get to know someone on a deeper level. i know i wouldn't ask an active at a party what his most meaningful memory in the house has been, or who he looked up to when he was pledging.

33girl · #8 07-29-2002, 02:05 PM

As far as my nationals are concerned it's hazing, but as far as I'm concerned, I think interviews are one of the most beneficial parts of the pledge period.

We had to theoretically see the sisters 3 times (we had 35 sisters) but a lot of them did all three things we had to see them for at once. That was at their discretion. We also instituted the sisters interviewing the pledges.

If everyone uses interviews for good not evil, they work well. 5 questions seems right - not too long - it shouldn't be a problem. The only things to avoid are 1) making someone earn the right to interview you, or 2) too many sisters - if you have 80 or so the pledges should divvy them up.

shadokat · #9 07-29-2002, 03:36 PM

Despite being the big anti-hazing advocate, we did interviews when I was a new member. As long as the interviews are done in a manner that is mutually beneficial to both new member and sister, I think they're a good thing. Unfortunately, it's often made to be a thing that has to be done when it's convenient for the sister, and not for the new member. Also, the new member has to learn all sorts of stuff about the sister, and go back to her for the signature, but the sister never really learns much about the new member. As for washing the car to get the signature, I'd have been happy to do that then memorize this one girls 14 brothers and sisters!!!!

Peaches-n-Cream · #10 07-29-2002, 04:58 PM

I personally don't see a problem with interviews. When I was pledging, I had to interview the sisters. When I was a sister, I had to be interviewed by the pledges. I also had to get the sisters signatures every week. I didn't think that it was hazing. My sorority had weekly dinners and meetings on campus where the pledges could accomplish these tasks. It was a great way to get to know each other.
I have seen situation where pledges were told to do certain chores before they could have a signature. That's not right.

prophet · #11 07-30-2002, 07:45 PM

My chapter does have interviews! It is another way for activies and pledges to meet. If you are going to call that hazing your chapter or anyone else's is a club! I am tired of people calling every little thing hazing! When will people realize that Fraternities and Sororities are not clubs, we do not let people in because they have money to buy their way in. People must earn our letters! Let the pledges take an hour out their time to get to know an active. I said an hour because most actives like to take the pledge out to eat. Damn those were the good days, no worries about spending my own money, because the big bro's took me out to eat. Never has a chapter brother of mine told a pledge he wouldn't give a signature untill the pledge washed his car, never. I am on our E-Board, so I know every little thing that goes on in the membership orientation weeks. There has only been great responses by actives and pledges to interviews.

XOMichelle · #12 07-31-2002, 09:26 PM

I would think that as long as the interviews are reasonable, they are not hazing. Although the requirement to interview all the actives and some alumni before initiation might not be so far from the hazing tree as you call it.

I want to say that you bring up a very good point: that there is a grey area between what is hazing and wat is not.

So where is the line drawn between what is hazing and what is teambuilding?

I feel that a situation that some people consider hazing, can in another light be considered something else.

I guess I feel that while real, honest to god hazing is obviously bad, activities that may be considered hazing can be handled in a way that allow for positive experiences.

SigEp42 · #13 07-31-2002, 10:02 PM

I think it depends on the interview. It’s a good way for the pledges to meet every brother/sister, which in some chapters is hard. Also asking everyone their home address phone number and basic contact information gives you a personal address book of the current brothers when you aren’t in school. And when you are a brother you can easily get the same information from the pledge and write it down so you stay current. The rest of the interview can be interesting if you ask the right questions.

On the other hand I have a problem with interviews when brothers hold them over pledges heads. Refusing to sign off on an interview until the do something stupid or refusing to give one all together should tell the pledge a lot more about the brother/sister than anything they would have asked in the interview.

KSig RC · #14 07-31-2002, 10:26 PM

One easy way to take interviews out of the hazing realm, right from the mouth of one of our top national officers:

Make the actives have to interview the pledges, instead of the other way around.

Makes sense to me.

LeslieAGD · #15 07-31-2002, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KSig RC
Make the actives have to interview the pledges, instead of the other way around.

IMO, I think this would be more like hazing than having the NMs interviewing actives. I would think the NMs would feel put on the spot and would worry about what they say. By having the NMs ask the questions, they have the "control."

Personally, I don't think this should be considered hazing. Perhaps chapters can do some kind of brotherhood/sisterhood activity where actives and NMs ask questions of each other. Then it is all in fun and no one feels uncomfortable.