Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / March 17, 1983, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of Elon University Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Page 2 editorials The Pendulum ■vAjlTH THE KE'/C PLEDGjE Bia OF EREEYv fPLEB&Bi PIE.C>G>E 5EK No EVIL. .. HEA^S NO EVIL Thursday, March 17, 1983 . 6REtK. (, vilU. S'TERK. No evil.' Jtes; iQjrTvV Pledge bill has shortcomings In recent weeks, Elon College’s Greek organizations working with Dean of Stu dent Affairs William Long have adopted a pledge bill of rights which includes 21 regulations for fraternities and sororities to follow during their pledge periods. Accord ing to Long, the bill was formed because during past pledge periods, academic achievement dropped and some pledges believed they had been mistreated. The formation of a pledge bill of rights admits the possibility that pledges have been mistreated in the past, but it also recognizes a willingness to prevent future abuses. Pledges should beneHt from the bill because they will be made aware of their rights before entering the pledge period. The Greek organizations may also benefit from the bill if it encourages some students to pledge who would not pledge without a written set of guidelines or ground rules. However, the pledge bill of rights has some shortcomings. The real reason for the bill of rights seems to be to prevent hazing, yet many of the rules are vague and subject to varying interpretations. A few of the vague rules are those that prohibit placing “severe” emotional stress on a pledge, requiring a pledge to stay at activities for an “unreasonable” amount of time, and preventing a pledge from speak ing for an “extended” period. These rules are open to subjective interpretation and should be more speciflcally defmed. As it is, one knows that these things cannot occur within the pledge bill of rights; however, a pledge may not realize when his or her ri^ts have been violated because how long an extended period, what an unreasonable amount of time, and how much emotional stress is considered severe are left to the individual to decide. Assuming a pledge does determine that, his rights according to the pledge bill of rights have been violated, he or she must decide what action to take. This will determine the bill’s worth. If pledges accept violations of their rights without protest, they are removing the value of a bill of rights because it would be hard for someone else to prove that any abuses occur if those being mistreated will not admit it. On the other hand, pledges may hesitate to take advantage of the bill of rights because they do not know what the official outcome will be. In the Pendulum’s article last week “Pledge bill of rights: a Greek effort,” Long was quoted as saying that if a fraternity or sorority violates the bill of rights, its charter may be revoked. This is an extreme action and surely will not be taken for any violations that occiu-. Pledges need to be made aware of what actions can and will be taken if they raise a complaint and whether an entire organiza tion will be held responsible for what may be one individual’s actions. After a pledge realizes all of the implications, should he or she choose to approach someone about a possible viola tion, the pledge needs to know who to talk to. The obvious people are the president of the Greek organization that the student is pledging and Long. Pledges may hesitate to approach Long because he is a school official, and depending upon a violation, they may also feel uncomfortable speaking to the president of their group. How well this bill of rights works will dep>end upon each fraternity and sorority. One suggestion that might help the bill to succeed would be for the Inter-Fraternal and Panhellenic councils to each appoint a student “rights counselor” who would be in charge of distributing copies of the pledge bill of rights, educating pledges on their rights and advising pledges who think their rights have been violated. Studen4roleased with verage To the editor, As chairperson for Performing Arts and tures Committee of the' Student Union Board, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to you and your staff for the excellent coverage you have provided us this semester. I am very pleased to have received your support and encouragement. The excel lent feature articles made people aware of our pro grams who would have otherwise been uninformed. Because of this exposure, ovi programs were success- y In my opinion, the Pen dulum staff has done a fantastic job this year in meeting the needs of the students and campus organizations. I would like to commend you for your outstanding efforts and the accomplishments attributed to your hard work. Again, many thanks to a wonder ful group of people for a job well done. Sincerely, Danny Sprinkle The Pcndolu wdcomcs letters, limited to 250 word*, from oar readers. Loafer material may be submitted u opialoa articles for page 3. Editors reserve the right to edit for ieagth, Hbei, go^ taste and accuracy. The Pendulum Staff Edilor-ta-CUcf MaoaglBg Editor News Editor Ad Muager Cartooalxt Head Photographer Sports Editor AdTlsor Jo Crt«B Doug Norwftod Looki* Bclindi PwP*** T.w.nn* WUUWM Ron Kmpp* Tom WesTeniber Robert Nowell The itaff meets Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. Room 208 la Long Student Center ^blished by the Commualcations Media Board of Hon ColhjT Fooaded oa October 14, 1974 as the student newspaper serving the Bo» ^lege comraaalty, the Pendulum is published each Thursday o"™* regHlar terns except for exmmlnatlon and holiday periods.
Elon University Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 17, 1983, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75