We all know hazing is "Illegal" (riiiiiight)... but still occurs anyway regardless of how watchful the eye is on big brother and whatever guidelines they have. However, every once in a while the the opportunity presents itself to some folk to go paper. Some do... some choose to work for theirs. I just want to here from those in any GLO, their feelings about the whole going paper scenario. Right now i'm semi-neutral because now that i'm on the other side I understand the whole not wanting to jeopardize getting your chapter kicked off the yard over somebody who complains plus the fact that this past semester was far from fun and i'm really not the type to want to pass that on to somebody else, however, i still feel people should work for their letters in some kind of way, feel me? What do you think?
Actually, I was saying you may be going through more not less. And the Frats really sound scary.
I had an interesting convo with an Old School Que (he had pledge in the late 50s/early 60s sometime) at this retreat we had for young men shortly after I crossed. He had made a comment about how "hazing" (for the lack of a better word... we need to distinguish this somewhat from pledging), has gone to far. Although they did bring the noise back in the day the thought behind it was different and it wasn't as wild.... you got ya **** handed to you gift wrapped and that was about it (it was painful but your life wasn't in jeopardy... folk these days are getting creative and sadistic).
He ended up talking to me about the several times he would happen to be in the right place at the right time within these last 2 decades (he worked in a hospital). On several occasions there were incidents where people would come in to the hospitals as a result of things that happened to them while they were online and the symptoms would be very familiar to him (eg: mild nerve damage from **** or just excessive paddling, bruises in certain places) and he would end up having to address whatever chapter it was and let them know he would would report them to whatever authorities of they didn't stop all together (and in many instances the big brothers would just leave dude who got hurt out to fend for his own).
There were even several times when he caught people late at night on college campuses doing some crazy stuff (ironically in the two situtations he mention it was his own frat, he had the ill spidey sense or something for what was going on in his org...) and he again would threaten to report them and check in periodically to make sure they didn't go overboard.
His son-in-law my boss is another oldschool Kappa and i like his perspective on the whole pledging thing. He told me:
"There are several rules when it comes to pledging someone. One, If it wasn't done to you don't do it to them. Two, I believe in negative and positive reinforcement, if he knows his stuff and handles his business its all good... if he's not handling his business then..."
I say this to say (as I choose my words very carefully) that I strongly advise that there be somekind of process of sorts. Being in ANY fraternity should not be an easy process like sigining the dotted line, if your looking for an easy process go join some social club. However, It doesn't mean have to paddle somebody to the point where they can't get an **** anymore because of the mild nerve damage that has occured (dare i say no paddling at all?). Everything that is done should be relevant to the process and I thank my prophytes for that because looking back even tho I couldn't stand them then, in retrospect everything that happened had some reason behind it and in the end had helped me in some way.
This is a quote from our founder the honorable Ossian Everett Mills that I believe is relevant to all of us.
"The future possibilities of our beloved fraternity will depend, I believe, entirely upon the individual membership. The type of man you and I are, the personal influence that radiates from our lives, will be the power to make or unmake the men with whom we are now associated or who shall come after us. If we are men of low ideals or no ideals, it is folly to expect much worth from the organization. Personally, I look upon a fraternity, as not only a social body, but an educational influence. Our business is the making of men; and the all-important questions for us "Are Sinfonians any better for being Sinfonians? [replace sinfonians with your org] Do they leave our portals physically, mentally, morally stronger, cleaner, purer - in fact more worthy men than when they enter?" If not then the Sinfonia Fraternity has no excuse for existing and for making such large drafts on our time, our energy and our means..."
Ossian Everett Mills
this was a selection from a letter in The Phi Mu Alpha Annual Vol. XI, 1912
I think everybody should marinate on that... I think it bares some relevance to all of us.
I heard the Alphas gave Frederick Douglass honorary membership after he was ****
I heard that as well and that he was the last one.
You all are correct. However, it is not as cut and dry as one may assume. Frederick Douglass was not made a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. merely by chance/ our desire. The story often goes untold, but Frederick Douglass did have close ties and a connection to the formative stages of the organization, prior to his death.
While he was alive and as an adult Frederick Douglass was close to several of our beloved founders and their family members. Also, upon his death there was a direct connection to Douglass' only child and the mother of one of our founders (in fact, his daughter was in total support of the decision and expressed familial sentiments justifying the correctness of the decision). The connection(s) does continue on and there are other things to consider and other things that were considered when the decision was made. Just remember one thing... when Alpha's make a collective decision for the benefit of the brotherhood it is usually a well thought-out, informed/justifiable and intelligent decision...as evident by the BGLO movement, which began after 1906.
At the present time we do not make honorary brothers.... which I happen to be in complete agreement with (Just my 06 cents).
And to the original question that’s posed if u really want something why not go hard????… I can’t get with someone justifying his or her decision to go paper. And to earlier posters don’t sleep on Grad chapters cuz some do get down.
I heard the Alphas gave Frederick Douglass honorary membership after he was ****
I heard that as well and that he was the last one.
You all are correct. However, it is not as cut and dry as one may assume. Frederick Douglass was not made a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. merely by chance/ our desire. The story often goes untold, but Frederick Douglass did have close ties and a connection to the formative stages of the organization, prior to his death.
While he was alive and as an adult Frederick Douglass was close to several of our beloved founders and their family members. Also, upon his death there was a direct connection to Douglass' only child and the mother of one of our founders (in fact, his daughter was in total support of the decision and expressed familial sentiments justifying the correctness of the decision). The connection(s) does continue on and there are other things to consider and other things that were considered when the decision was made. Just remember one thing... when Alpha's make a collective decision for the benefit of the brotherhood it is usually a well thought-out, informed/justifiable and intelligent decision...as evident by the BGLO movement, which began after 1906.
At the present time we do not make honorary brothers.... which I happen to be in complete agreement with (Just my 06 cents).
And to the original question that’s posed if u really want something why not go hard????… I can’t get with someone justifying his or her decision to go paper. And to earlier posters don’t sleep on Grad chapters cuz some do get down.
Its funny... for some reason I thought that was common knowledge even for people who weren't interest. I know at rush down here they explained why he was mad a member even after his death.
Ok Ok Ok, i have been sitting here like a kid in a classroom with my hand raised saying pick me, pick me cause i know the answer. I read alot of peoples comments but i want to first say that I AM LEGACY but.....I didn't tell anyone but my line sisters because i wanted 2 know that i made it on my own. That my Sh*t was so together that i didn't need legacy behind my name to guarantee me a spot. On my campus yes that helps but i was told that it was not the final factor, but at the same time all the legacys that applied made it. Hmmmmm. My statement/ question is what does legacy have to do with the pledging process?NOT A DAMN THANG, every campus is different. On my line some of the legacys got it the worse and some didn't. It was like they already knew who they wanted to f**k wit. They had a warrant out for their ****. But all it does is gurantee you a spot but you still gone get yo...... 8) im talkin too much. So no, not every legacy is paper.
Let me address this paper issue. Yes there were some people on my line who were not legacy and chose not to pledged, i mean BE PLEDGED. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, WELL BELIEVE IT cause some were so naive and thought that all u did was learn information. Some of the legacy's mothers interfered and said u will not go to PC. They told them being a Delta had nothing to do with PC and i had to and stlll respect that. Yeah it was a big contraversy on my line and it seemed that the old heads tried to divide us because of that issue but i will say that one of the legacy's whose mother forbode her to come to PC is one of the hardest working and most smartest women on my line and yes i will probably vote for her to be our next chapter pres. because i know that she has the sororitys best interest at hand than to race to PC to get in some ****. Her priorities were different than mine but thats my N*gga and she is on her Sh*t. So what can i say.NOT A DAMN THANG. Did i get drove, hell yeah. The people who pulled for me made sure that my letters were never questioned. Will I pledge hard. Tuff to say when times are worse.
TO THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW LONG MY LAMP WILL BURN FOR DST.....my 19 and i were lookin at a step show tape last night of our national convention and guess who stepped throughout the whole show. Alumnae chapters. No undergrad. These women have careers and children and still devote their time to do this stuff. I think that will be me. I am always down to go out and kick it if its 1:00 in the morning and im in bed and someone calls to say lets hit this Alpha bowling party that ends at 2:00. I work my **** off for this org. And i think that will never die. I am a neo and already have an office on my E-Board, i step, help with the behind the scene stuff and most importantly bring new programs to my chapter.
Ok Ok Ok, i have been sitting here like a kid in a classroom with my hand raised saying pick me, pick me cause i know the answer. I read alot of peoples comments but i want to first say that I AM LEGACY but.....I didn't tell anyone but my line sisters because i wanted 2 know that i made it on my own. That my Sh*t was so together that i didn't need legacy behind my name to guarantee me a spot. On my campus yes that helps but i was told that it was not the final factor, but at the same time all the legacys that applied made it. Hmmmmm. My statement/ question is what does legacy have to do with the pledging process?NOT A DAMN THANG, every campus is different. On my line some of the legacys got it the worse and some didn't. It was like they already knew who they wanted to f**k wit. They had a warrant out for their ****. But all it does is gurantee you a spot but you still gone get yo...... im talkin too much. So no, not every legacy is paper.
Let me address this paper issue. Yes there were some people on my line who were not legacy and chose not to pledged, i mean BE PLEDGED. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, WELL BELIEVE IT cause some were so naive and thought that all u did was learn information. Some of the legacy's mothers interfered and said u will not go to PC. They told them being a Delta had nothing to do with PC and i had to and stlll respect that. Yeah it was a big contraversy on my line and it seemed that the old heads tried to divide us because of that issue but i will say that one of the legacy's whose mother forbode her to come to PC is one of the hardest working and most smartest women on my line and yes i will probably vote for her to be our next chapter pres. because i know that she has the sororitys best interest at hand than to race to PC to get in some ****. Her priorities were different than mine but thats my N*gga and she is on her Sh*t. So what can i say.NOT A DAMN THANG. Did i get drove, hell yeah. The people who pulled for me made sure that my letters were never questioned. Will I pledge hard. Tuff to say when times are worse.
TO THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW LONG MY LAMP WILL BURN FOR DST.....my 19 and i were lookin at a step show tape last night of our national convention and guess who stepped throughout the whole show. Alumnae chapters. No undergrad. These women have careers and children and still devote their time to do this stuff. I think that will be me. I am always down to go out and kick it if its 1:00 in the morning and im in bed and someone calls to say lets hit this Alpha bowling party that ends at 2:00. I work my **** off for this org. And i think that will never die. I am a neo and already have an office on my E-Board, i step, help with the behind the scene stuff and most importantly bring new programs to my chapter.
I'm glad you are doing well, but generally people keep their OWN chapter biz off the internet.
8) im talkin too much. So no, not every legacy is paper.
Let me address this paper issue. Yes there were some people on my line who were not legacy and chose not to pledged, i mean BE PLEDGED. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, WELL BELIEVE IT cause some were so naive and thought that all u did 
