Did anyone here ever pledge a fraternity/sorority?

[angryinoville]

When I was a freshman ('92/'93) I did. There was a frat on campus that I heard was really tough to get into, and I couldn't stand most of the guys in it, so I figured I would pledge and get in just to stick it up their asses. Well, they hazed the hell out of the seven of us that pledged and I remember how secretive we had to be about everything that went on. They did, however, take some pictures of some of our "traditional" nights that no one outside of our organization was allowed to see. Why? Because if anyone saw these pictures, those involved would face prosecution and most likely go to jail. When I see these pictures of prisoner abuse from Iraq, it reminds me of the hazing incidents I was involved in during college. The difference is, we pledges were all 18 and 19 years old, agreed to do the stupid stuff we were doing, could leave if we wanted, and spoke the same language as our tormentors. Also, the oldest of the frat brothers hazing us was 23, tops (By most people's standards, 23 is still just a kid). The orders to haze these "prisoners" came from people in power that are much older than 23 and should know better. (BTW, we never had to do anything remotely sexual in order to get into the frat. Just a lot of naked snow angels, forced ingestion of horrible "foods" and vomitting). That shit they did to those Iraqis is beyond reproach. All involved should go to jail just as we would have as 18-23 year olds for making pledges do much less.
For the record, I never really did get along w/ most of the other frat guys. Earlier this year, I went to the frat website and posted an antiwar post on the message board and was banned from visiting the board again. Nice guys, huh?

[Ohio Dem]

1. I pledged a house in about 1990. Maybe '91.

I didn't experience any hazing of that type. Oh, they did silly shit to us, but nothing that was humiliating on a scale like what went on in Iraq. Scavenger hunts, pretending they might haze us one day (they never did), singing to sororities, things like that. I have to tell you, it was harmless stuff for the most part. Sure, a single member might get a little mean, but the others usually got on his ass about it. Then, as a member, I remember how the leaders of the fraternity would constantly remind us not to haze or do anything that could get us into trouble. "You have to live with these guys later, and call them brothers, so don't do anything stupid," they would say, although I'm obviously paraphrasing.

Maybe I was lucky. There were some stories of the other houses hazing, but not many. I can't speak for any other fraternity than the one I joined, and I can only speak for that particular chapter at that particular time.

For the record, that's the Alpha Rho chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (Ohio State). And before you ask: Yes, I'm glad I joined.

[AP]

2. To be clear: you were consenting to the hazing so that you could get into

the frat house. These Iraqis are being subjected to the "hazing" because their tormentors know that they cannot get out of the house they're running.

Big difference.

[Jane Austin]

3. I pledged a sorority in 1962 and our initiation had some

things we pledged or swore to. There were lots of flowers and we were led around the Sorority House in a blindfold.

It was goofy, looking back on it, but not sadistic at all.