Beta Theta Pi At University Of Florida Put On Probation For Making Pledges Babysit Watermelon Named “Walter”

Dan Regester8 years ago

Beta Theta Pi at the University of Florida was put on probation Wednesday after an investigation into an anonymous email sent to the Dean of Students Office found “practices of concern” regarding the chapter’s new member education process.

The email addresses the organizations practices between Fall 2015 to Spring 2016 in which pledges were assigned to watch a watermelon cunningly named “Walter” for several hours at a time. If Walter was left unattended he would be smashed by brothers and a ceremonial vigil would be held in the fruit’s honor.

From The Independent Florida Alligator:

[Dean of students Jen Day] Shaw said forcing students to stay awake could negatively impact their health and academic performance.

“You do not deserve to be hazed,” she said. “We don’t tolerate that at UF.”

Hey Jen, you ever go to a place called middle school? Pretty sure state paid teachers do this all the time with eggs. Ms. Greenwell draws a face on a cage-free Land O’Lakes and hands it to little Timmy and Mary to look after for two weeks it’s teaching them responsibility, teamwork, and an extremely realistic representation of parenting. But make it a watermelon and throw some greek letters on the situation and suddenly it’s hazing? That’s not right.

Sorry Beta was just trying to build better men by making them into better fathers. You think they’ll get even a second of sleep when they sire a baby? Absolutely not. Babies are attention whores who need to be coddled around the clock. But with this type of preparation, those pledges will be ready to be damn good dads down the line. Does the University of Florida really have problems and concerns for the new members’ well-being or is this more about a bigger picture issue like multiple dudes raising a child? Kinda sounding like the latter.

It’s 2016, Florida. Maybe stop being so closed minded and join the rest of society..

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[via The Independent Florida Alligator]

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