Mandatory PT

Bro2B · #1 03-28-2003, 02:49 PM

What do yall think about mandatory physical training for the pledges? Is it hazing if it's something that is good for them, and most of the brothers do it with them?

What I'm talking about is just like calisthenics, like pushups, crunches, 'bows and toes aka the plank, a little weight lifting, and running maybe up to a mile and a half?

Is that hazing if all the brothers do it and it's said to be mandatory, like one night a week where all the pledges work out at a campus gym together with a bunch of brothers? Obviously the pledges couldn't be forced to workout, but usually the urge to conform is a bigger desire than to be left out.

Thoughts?

P.S. This is not done by my fraternity but I thought about it the other day when I saw this alarming statistic that 60% of Americans are overweight. I guess my argument to justify this theoretically is that it's something that is good for your health, and it's not something intended to embarrass the pledges, and it's not something the brothers wouldn't like to do.

FuzzieAlum · #2 03-28-2003, 02:53 PM

If the whole chapter does it, that's fine. If it's just the pledges, that makes me nervous - and if nothing else, it won't do much good, since they'll stop working out once it's required, and there goes your effort to improve America's health.

Bro2B · #3 03-28-2003, 02:55 PM

LOL - Improving America's health, one brother and pledge at a time....

That was funny at the end of your post.

Kevin · #4 03-28-2003, 04:01 PM

As long as it's not designed to create "excessive fatigue" as many hazing policies outline then it's okay. I think Sig Ep's Balanced Man perscribes an excercise regime.

sugar and spice · #5 03-28-2003, 10:56 PM

I'd have it structured more as a night where you all go work out at the gym or something, rather than "Each brother must do 100 pushups, 100 crunches, and run a mile and a half." Each guy's going to be at a different level of fitness and if you force guys who are out of shape to run a mile and a half, not only might that be counted as hazing (depending on your national's/university's rules), but it will make the ones who are out of shape less likely to WANT to shape up, you know? If you allow everybody to work out at their own pace, they'll enjoy it more, they'll be more likely to keep exercise in their life once the program's over and you probably won't be at risk for hazing infractions.

It sounds like a really good idea, though.

PsychTau · #6 03-29-2003, 09:33 PM

I agree with everything said above, but I would add one more aspect to it. Make it part of your Brotherhood Education/Development Program, and make it known to rushees ahead of time. (Something like ". . .and as part of our Brotherhood Building Program, we exercise twice a week together and get a fitness screening once a semester. . .") Advertising it ahead of time also reduces suspicion that it's a "hazing event" by people who are not in your group.

That's my 2 cents!

Tom Earp · #7 03-29-2003, 11:35 PM

Just remember one thing, when PC and Risk Management rear their heads, it very well could be a problem!

With whom, Your College, Your HDQ, or the Law Enforcement!

Those are the questions that you and your Brothers need to answer first!

Keep reading posts by DeltaAlum and Hoosier about this same thing!

I do not post all of the things I get in regards from many sites as We would all look like heathens.

Do we need that kind of publicity

Kevin · #8 03-30-2003, 04:07 AM

I'd coordinate something like this closely through HQ.

Good rule of thumb: If you wouldn't tell your HQ you're doing it... DON'T DO IT.

Pretty simple

LeslieAGD · #9 03-30-2003, 09:47 AM

If it's a "healthy living" program for the whole chapter, it would be one thing. If it's only for the pledges, it would seem like hazing.

Kevin · #10 03-30-2003, 01:47 PM

In many groups it is a misconception that new members and initiates must participate in the same activities for it not to be hazing. This simply isn't true.

It is common sense that you would have different chapter programming for a 1st year vs 4th year member. My fraternity even specifies different programming on a national level!

I do know of some groups though that require a certain degree of PT -- but it's intended not to test your will but to make you a healthier person. Nothing wrong with that in my opinion.

LeslieAGD · #11 03-30-2003, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
In many groups it is a misconception that new members and initiates must participate in the same activities for it not to be hazing. This simply isn't true.

Yes, but when you're talking about "physical training for pledges" it sounds a little dicey. I would think that unless it is a) discussed and approved by your HQ or b) a personal development session (like for a weekend or something) then it might appear to be skating the thin line of what is considered by some to be hazing.

James · #12 03-30-2003, 11:29 PM

I'll just kind of sum up what everyone else has said.

Your goal is to educate the pledges about fitness and then enable them to complete a program.

So in effect, you want to teach them how to be healthier, have them set goals, work with them on those fitnesss goals, and evaluate their progress.

Sounds pretty win win to me. As long as the goals are written and they choose what those individual goals are, you should be ok.

Another thing you might want to do is enroll the chapter pledges as a whole in the body-for-life contest bill Phillips has.

www.bodyforlife.com

That way the training journals and workout materials etc are not being generated by you, but rather independants.

Buddy the pledge with a chapter member that has a same schedule but is not the big if possible. It creates more bonding.

If you stuck with it. You might have the studliest group of guys on campus pretty quick

Peaches-n-Cream · #13 03-31-2003, 09:52 AM

I think that pledges and brothers could schedule optional workouts as opposed to mandatory PT. Each brother and pledge should be encouraged to participate at his own level as part of an overall wellness or fitness program. Any workout with the word 'mandatory' raises a red flag for me.

lionlove · #14 03-31-2003, 11:46 AM

Does your school have intermural sports? Maybe you could have the pledge class put together a team that competes in IM games. This might be more fun than working out and teach them more about teamwork.

madmax · #15 03-31-2003, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bro2B
What do yall think about mandatory physical training for the pledges?

Obviously the pledges couldn't be forced to workout, but usually the urge to conform is a bigger desire than to be left out.

Slight contradiction. It can't be mandatory and not forced at the same time.

I think it would be considered hazing if it is mandatory but not hazing if it is optional.