University of Virginia Library

Stronger Pledge Program

The recent Inter-Fraternity Council symposium
for fraternity pledgemasters revealed
some interesting strengths and weaknesses of
the fraternity system itself.

D. Alan Williams, dean of student affairs,
explained the abstract qualities and benefits
of pledging a fraternity. He told the pledgemasters
that what they promised a first-year
man was a sense of identity. He asked them to
review the large dimension of the word
fraternity. . .that it was much more than big
weekends. He said there definitely is a need
for organizations of "like-minded men"
around the Grounds. He asked the pledgemasters
to try to instill in their pledges an
identity to their house, their national, and to
the fraternity system at the University.

Earl A. Glosser, director of counseling,
took a psychological approach to pledging. He
explained that other needs take over after a
pledge realizes that he belongs to a house. He
said the pledgemasters must focus on the
individual in terms of meaningfulness. He told
the meeting that the first-year men must be
made to know the effort is worthwhile. . .that
they should be treated as equals with brothers
helping the pledges achieve their goals as
individuals. He said the fraternity creates an
atmosphere which motivates a pledge to be a
member through vitality and the creativeness
of the program.

Robert T. Canevari, assistant dean of student
affairs, made some practical suggestions
as to how to improve pledge programs. He
suggested reducing the pledge program from
25 weeks to 13 weeks. He advocated a
program which would instill in pledges a
knowledge about University traditions,
scholarship, intramurals, social etiquette, and
student government.

All three men had constructive comments,
not really criticism, but valid suggestions
based on their experiences as pledgemasters
when they were in college and observations
since.

The discrepancy lies in what the three
speakers said and what the fraternities actually
do. Most of the suggestions may have
been abstract but they were excellent when
combined with definite programs which
several of the fraternities indicated in the
group talks they had. But many of the
fraternities' pledge systems reflect some of the
weaknesses of the fraternity system.

For example, 82 per cent of the fraternities
said pledge class unity was a prime goal; 62
per cent said they stressed the feeling of
belonging to a house; 54 per cent indicated
scholarship; 47 per cent stressed usefulness to
the fraternity; and, lastly, only 40 per cent
stressed involvement in other activities at the
University. Hell week consisted of about 30
per cent of pledge training for some fraternities,
however, the range was from 0-100 per
cent.

The days of paddling and drinking nauseating
fluids are well past. As Mr. Glosser
said, how can pledgemasters expect first-year
men who receive College Board scores of 700
to contend with such an immature approach
to fraternity life.

A fraternity pledge program must combine
an intelligent guide with a mature pledge
system to produce better fraternity men. The
goals for a pledge should be to learn about the
University, learn about the individual fraternity
and learn about himself. Ed Hayes,
president of the IFC, has repeatedly emphasized
the necessity to change with the
times. Monday night's symposium was one
step in the right direction.

C.L.W.