I can't speak for all engineering schools and engineers, but many call them "Rent a Friends" because of the monthly dues required to be a member. Perhaps that is a jealous man's viewpoint. College was a great experience, and I had many friends who were in the greek system. I'd like to hope it has matured from when I was in school, but the greeks (especially the social organizations) had their clicks and if one wasn't greek (or the particular org), one was not in the social circle. This applies to both the boys and the girls. The service organizations were less "judgemental."
Remember, Hazing is a crime. Knowing of a hazing and not making effort to report said crime is also a crime.
Miner
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It's not for everyone, and I'm waiting for the inevitable post from someone who says not to "pay for your friends".
Took a couple of posts, but it finally happened...
BTW- Dues were always reasonable. Usually the money went to funding social events, and upkeep of the chapter house, along with neccessary insurance premiums, and payments to scholarship programs. During my time with the Fraternity I held several offices, I don't ever recall endorsing, or writing a check for deposit to the "friendship fund".
Lots of organizations including the NSXCA require membership fees. It just means that you are sharing the financial responsibility for the groups activities.
As for Hazing... Yep it's illegal. Some people say "the harder you pledge the stronger the brotherhood". I completely disagree, and I am glad this was brought up.
Don't pledge to an organization that is willing to beat the crap out of you. I have heard about the "old days" and hard pledging. I have seen the news stories about guys dieing from alcohol poisoning and I find it sad that it still happens. There are better ways to foster commitment than to see how much punishment one will take, or how much alcohol one can drink. Shame on organizations that do that.
also, as a potential associate you should understand that taking punishment doesn't make you a better brother, it makes you a lemming. Keep yourself about you.
There were reforms coming into place when I was in school, and a lot of Greek organizations dropped the practice completely, but as with any rule, I think there is still greyness in definition. Some things that the letter of the rule calls "Hazing" would not meet my personal qualifications.
Personally, I think a little sillyness is to be expected- I recall playing "Battleship" where groups of brothers sat at apartments on either side of the campus with open Battleship consols and gave us their commands which we then ran over and delivered to the opposing team. I also recall serenading a Brothers girlfriend and her roommates on Valentines day- (I met a future girlfriend that night.)
We took written tests on organizational history, and spent "study time" at the library getting to know our pledge brothers, and our future fraternity brothers. Sometimes we were made to be designated drivers for our brothers, and I washed a few cars. My pledge class was always color coordinated- if one was wearing a red t-shirt one day- we were all wearing red-tshirts (we usually set our color combo the night before). I cleaned the house after parties, and I did a lot of dishes (I still hate doing other peoples dishes). Technically everything I just listed would be considered "hazing"- but the reality is all those events generated stories that we still laugh about today.
I never felt like a lemming- not even when i was screetching out "you've lost that lovin feeling" to the homecoming queen and her roomates...
I did meet a lot of girls. I did get an internship opportunity where I got paid, and I actually wrote copy for advertising as opposed to languishing in a filing room somewhere. I also landed my current project management job thanks to a reference from my Big Brother.
Did I "buy my friends"? If so, it was one hell of an investment in my future.
It is what you make of it. Good luck in your choices.
All done now.
Philip
