Pledging, in the fraternity aspect, is when a young man commits himself to an organization for a period of time before he is eventually initiated as a true brother. During this time he usually has to overcome several trials and tribulations alongside his brothers, while also learning the history of the fraternity. It is a beautiful process and people who have gone through it will never forget. It is a time that your love for the organization that you are affiliated with truly grows.
Unfortunately, every year in the news I see a fraternity that is being removed from their campus because of a, for lack of better words, stupid "ritual" that they performed during their process. Whether it be forced drinking, paddling, or another embarrassing or dangerous act. When this happens every fraternity in the nation has to suffer for it. When you tell someone who is not a part of Greek life that you are in a fraternity, the first thing they associate you with is hazing. And that sucks, because pledging a fraternity is so much more than that.
When most college freshman boys are preparing themselves to go through recruitment, they only have two things on their mind, partying and girls. Well, at least that's what I was thinking about. Nevertheless, they have every right to only have that on their mind because that's basically what recruitment consists of. It is when recruitment ends, and pledgeship begins that a "new member" realizes how serious it is to be pledging in that organization.
Pledging is not about partying or hazing. Rather, building a man of good character with a deep sense of personal responsibility, with a few things in-between. Often times, when a young man begins pledging he is given a set of rules and guidelines of the chapter that start with their academic requirements (my highest college GPA came as a pledge) extending all the way to the proper way to treat women. Rules only with the intent to make sure a young man acts as a gentleman at all times, and never is unbecoming of that idea as a gentleman.
It is the best part of the process because during that time a person that is not a true gentleman or could possibly bring some harm to the chapter can be removed before he actually becomes an active member.
Pledges, alongside their pledge brothers, in most fraternities must complete different trials and tribulations, often secret, but not illegal nor dangerous. There will always be people that think that is a lie, and that's okay. Anyway, during this time pledges learn about each one of their pledge brothers, and the active members on a personal level. Anything from their major in college to the hardships they have faced throughout life. This is how the bonds in fraternities are built stronger than cement walls, and why most members will have the back of his brother no matter what he is going through.
Pledging is what builds the love for an organization that is carried with you as you become an active member and then an alumnus. That is what keeps fraternities alive and prospering. In my opinion, when pledgeship is no longer allowed for everyone, which seems to be inevitable, that will be lost.
Though it will not be given, it shall be earned.
