SigEp Becomes First Fraternity To Completely Dissolve Pledging By Way Of Undergraduate Vote
Yesterday, at Sigma Phi Epsilon’s 54th Grand Chapter Conclave, undergraduate brothers passed a resolution to replace the pledging process nationwide with the “Balanced Man Program.” The BMP was first introduced back in 1990, and by the end of the 2014-2015 school year, 215 of the 228 active SigEp chapters had already adopted the program, but Thursday’s decision made the fraternity the first to officially abolish pledging by way of undergraduate vote rather than a top-down mandate.
From SigEp.org:
“The modern fraternity world is broken,” [Max] Fowler [South Carolina ’15] said. “Hazing allegations, mortalities, substance abuse and a number of other serious issues riddle fraternity chapters across the country. Society needs to see that the American college fraternity is still relevant, and we have to show them SigEp is leading the charge.”
New members will have full rights the day they accept their bid: chapter, ritual, intramurals, etc. Anything a four-year brother can do on behalf of the letters, so can some punk who just walked out of high school.
Unfortunately, I fear this is exactly where all fraternities will eventually go over the next few decades, adapting to the modern social climate. My unborn kid will most likely never have the opportunity to go through the pledging process, which I still stand by as the best experience I’d never want to do again. And that’s a damn shame..
[via SigEp.org]
This is how you let fuck-ups into your chapter and get charters revoked. Case #1: Sig Ep at UC Davis.
10 years ago at 9:26 pmI wish TKE would abolish pledging, I almost walked out after I had to drink TWO Coronas in one night.
10 years ago at 10:51 pmSig Ep sure is “leading the charge” straight to the shitter.
10 years ago at 12:53 amSo who am I supposed to pour my dip spit on now?
10 years ago at 2:43 amYeah, you definitely didn’t do your due diligence on this one. How do I know? Because I’m in Nashville with the two-thousand brothers who were also there. NOBODY, except for a full brother, has access to the ritual. Not only that, but they have to spend more time as a pledge (or “new member”) than any other fraternity. They have to prove themselves for over a year that they are worthy to wear our letters. If anything, we are harder on our pledges than anyone else. We not only demand academic success, but success in the community and within the chapter. Sit this one out, slugger. You’re out of your element.
10 years ago at 3:15 amWhat’s next, them revealing their secrets publicly? Seriously…
10 years ago at 8:15 amThe first? Most certainly not. Lambda Chi Alpha threw out the pledging process in 1972, and instead adopted the term “Associates” rather than “pledges”, where Associates maintain all of the rights of active members- meetings, able to hold office, intramurals, etc. Do some research.
10 years ago at 12:14 pmThe misery and shame in everyone’s face for the forced direction of this vote is remarkable
10 years ago at 1:21 pmThat’s like having a football team without tryouts.
10 years ago at 1:23 pm… Am I the only one who feels honored as to what I went through to earn my letters? first it’s trannies now it’s this?! Fuck.
10 years ago at 8:14 pm