Alpha Sigma Tau has a strict no-hazing policy and proudly supports National Hazing Prevention Week (September 22-26). Sadly, hazing is not a new problem; it is an issue that organizations and institutions have been facing for decades.
The following excerpt comes from the June 1930 edition of THE ANCHOR, Alpha Sigma Tau's official magazine:
"The old idea of expecting pledges to do all that is asked of them in the way of cleaning, dusting, washing, etc., is quite passed out of date. Many of the large fraternities even have abolished their "Hell Week" and are requiring their pledges to learn fraternity and school history instead. It is well that this old idea is changing, because it will prevent many difficulties and problems from arising.Â
A pledge should cultivate respect and admiration for her future sisters. After all, that is the purpose of the period of pledging. Yet informal initiation does more harm to this attitude than can ever be undone. Informal initiation to many pledges means burdensome drudgery, and there are cases where it has developed into actual antagonism and dislike on the part of the pledges toward their future sisters, causing no end of friction and hard feelings throughout the Sorority. What situation could be worse than to have a pledge go through the solemn, beautiful formal initiation service with such wrong feelings? Unusual, perhaps, but it has happened. A Sorority stands for equality, loyalty, love. Then certainly no pledge should ever be made to feel inferior to any of her future sisters; instead, she should be treated with courtesy and kindness, and made to feel perfectly happy in her choice of a Sorority." Â Â Â Â Â --Wilma K. Hafer, Delta Chapter, 1932
Note: Informal initiation and pledging are old terms for the new member education process; pledges is an old term for new members.Â
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