Let me get this clear from jump:  While I am an Alpha, I am not speaking for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., nor am I speaking on behalf of any black Greek-lettered organization (BGLO).

The Register

Anjan Basu

The current form of intake for the BGLO’s does not work efficiently or effectively. A new approach to regulating intake needs to be examined.  As it stands, pledging and hazing are illegal.  With no standard of choosing potential members, a lot of Tonya Hardings are being let in.  You know, skaters.

In turn, the current process is doing nothing more than taking the organizations further away from the ideals and traditions the organizations were founded upon.

Basically, pledging is like alcohol regulation in this country.  In the 1920’s the government decided to abolish alcohol, so alcohol distribution, production, and consumption moved underground.  And bootlegging was born. 

Pledging was outlawed in the 1990’s, and now we have an official process and an underground process, which is illegal.  The people of America wanted to drink so badly that the government brought back alcohol, but regulated it more stringently. 

But pledging? Pledging is still abolished, because no one has the guts to tackle the issue.  In order to do so, we need to examine the current intake process sanctioned by the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the governing body for the nine BGLO’s.

The Membership Intake Process (MIP) has taken the place of pledging. MIP consists of a defined number of weekends and meetings. You fill out an application, show how you meet the requirements, and make a couple of payments.  And now you can know the secret handshake.

People used to pledge above-ground, but people were getting killed. NPHC had to respond to a growing threat to the sanctity of the organizations. 

So, they came up with the MIP.  They outlawed pledging, but their actions were drastic and desperate.  Instead of trying to positively regulate the intake process of the organizations, they decided to do away with it.

Yes, the number of pledging related deaths decreased dramatically, although it still happens to this day.  It happens in white organizations as well, but their hazing incidents are shown to involve “alcohol/drug abuse and sexual aggression/date rape,” according to Dr. Gregory S. Parks of the University of Kentucky, a leading scholar of BGLO’s.  So apparently, they have sexual aggression and we swing wood.

What does pledging accomplish? Dr. Parks says the “underground (unsanctioned) pledging activities such as requiring pledges to commit organization history, relevant poems, and songs to memory; and requiring pledges to dress alike, talk and act in unison, and engage in other activities aimed at helping them take on a group rather than individual consciousness (i.e., submerge ‘me’ for the sake of ‘we’).” 

These are all great things for an aspirant to know. The individual aspirants learn a great deal about themselves, their organization, and their line.

However, under current regulations, not a single positive aspect of pledging (above or underground) is allowed because everything is considered hazing.  You tell me you want to get down and I look at you cross-eyed?  I’m hazing you. But really, if I was the Dean of Pledges, I can’t yell at someone for messing up.  I can’t have people going to study sessions together.  My boys couldn’t walk across campus, making sure each pledge made it to class in a timely manner.  No one would ever see a line of young women carrying real live ducks. Greek Life remains disconnected from Campus Life.

As it stands, it feels like anyone who has the grades and money can join. Life is full of trial by fire moments, and the oath we take to our organizations is for life. 

But, if we bring back some of the above-ground process, then NPHC will see what goes on with the process, because it is done in broad daylight, and not in dark-of-night in secrecy. 

I think that the process should be brought above-ground again, but this time with proper regulation from the university, the organization, and local and federal law.

At UNCG (University of North Carolina at Greensboro) right now, white organizations are allowed to have public pledge classes. They are allowed to walk around campus dressed alike.  They can openly state they are rushing a fraternity or sorority. I don’t want black organizations to turn into white organizations, but I do not understand why we can’t operate under the same rules.

By doing so, a greater focus will be placed upon the BGLO intake process, creating greater transparency.  The BGLO’s will be forced to adhere to strict policies and procedures about what can be done and what can’t be done.
 
The aspirants will get a more well-rounded,  time-honored process that they can be proud of.
 
So, NPHC, bring ‘em out.  Let the brothers and sisters have a good time with what they’ve worked so hard for. 

Allow us to recreate a tradition that started so many years ago.

Anjan Basu is copy desk chief of The Register, the North Carolina A&T University student newspaper.

Articles in the Voices section represent the opinions of the individual writers and do not reflect the views of Black College Wire.