Pledge Requirements, Policy and Expectations
Being a pledge means participating in a training program to become a brother in Alpha Phi Omega. There are certain requirements to be met and rules to be followed. These are opportunities for a pledge to show the brothers of the Alpha Phi Omega that he/she has what it takes to be an active brother. At the same time, this is an opportunity for each pledge to grow, to learn, to meet other people, and to experience what it means to be a brother in Alpha Phi Omega.
What are the reasons for having a Pledging Period?
There are three purposes for having a pledge period:
1. To experience what Alpha Phi Omega is all about and to decide whether or not he/she really wants to join and become a brother.
2. For active brothers of the fraternity to evaluate each pledge and determine whether or not they will be a good addition to the fraternity and if they truly understand the true meaning of Alpha Phi Omega.
3. To learn who the National Officers of Alpha Phi Omega are and who the members of our chapter, Alpha Epsilon Nu are. In order to be an active or our brotherhood, its policies and the traditions of the fraternity.
What are the duties of the Pledge Master?
The Pledge Master has the duty to serve as a liaison between Alpha Phi Omega's brotherhood and the pledge class. It is also the Pledge Master's responsibility to ensure that the pledge policy is being enforced and to be of assistance when difficulties during the pledging process arise. Pledge quizzes will be administered at weekly pledge meetings with the assistance of the Pledge Trainers to ensure the history of the fraternity is being learned.
The Pledging Period:
The pledging period will begin on February 17, 2004 after the pledge Initiation Ceremony. The pledge process will last nine weeks and within these nine weeks, pledges must complete all their requirements. If a pledge does not complete all his/her requirements by April 27, 2004, he/she will not be allowed to take the final exam and cross over as an Alpha Phi Omega brother.
No-Hazing Policy:
Alpha Phi Omega, the National Office as well as our Chapter, has a strict No-Hazing Policy. Any degradation of the individual, personal service demands or any other practices inconsistent with the principles of Alpha Phi Omega will not be tolerated. If at any time you feel that you are being asked to do something unreasonable, please discuss if with your Pledge Master, your big brother or to any brother you are comfortable with talking with immediately.
Pledge Pins:
Pledges are to wear Pledge Pins at all times. This is to show pride in themselves and Alpha Phi Omega. The Pin should always be worn visibly on the upper left of the shirt or sweater in an upright position. The Pin does not have to be worn inside the pledge’s home, dorm, on a military uniform, in the gym, or in any other situations where it is inappropriate. At no time should the Pin be worn to, during, or from an engagement where alcohol is being consumed.
Service Requirements:
Pledges will be required to complete 25 hours of community service this semester. These hours must encompass each of the 4 C's: Chapter, Campus, Community and Country. One service project is to be coordinated by the pledge class as a whole. This service project must last a minimum of 3 hours and 100% participation by the pledge class will be required for this service project to count. If one pledge is missing from this project, service hours will not be counted.
Fellowship Requirements:
Pledges will be required to attend 4 Fellowship Events during the pledging period. One of these Fellowships will be chaired by the pledge class and 100% participation is required in order for this event to count.
Fundraiser Requirements:
Pledges will be required to participate in at least 4 Fundraiser Activities during the pledging process. One of these Fundraisers must be chaired by the pledge class and 100% participation is required for this activity to count.
Interchapter Activity Requirements:
Each pledge must attend at least 4 Interchapter Events during the pledging process. One of the four events will to attend Sectionals at Cal State Hayward on Saturday, March 6, 2004. Sectionals will be a MANDATORY event. If serious conflicts arise in a pledge schedule with Sectionals, it is to be brought to the Pledge Master/Trainers attention as soon as possible. These conflicts will be evaluated by the President and if granted, the pledge will be allowed to make up Sectionals with more requirements.
Big Brothers:
Each pledge will be assigned to a Big Brother by the second pledge meeting. The purpose of a Big Brother is to assist their pledge throughout the pledging process by answering any questions or help deal with problems that might arise during the semester. Pledges will be required to fulfill 10 hours of Big Bro/Lil' Bro hours during the pledging process. Both pledges and Big Brothers are required to be present at Big Bro/Lil' Bro activities for the hours to count toward their requirements. Pledges have the choice to spend individual time with their Big Brother in off-campus activities which will be explained in further detail at the second pledge meeting.
Interviews:
Each pledge will be required to conduct interviews with all fellow pledges, five active brothers and five brothers/pledges from other chapters. The purpose of these interviews are to meet new people and discover new things about each other. Interviews of fellow pledges will be written in a spiral notebook that will be collected at the last pledge meeting. Interviews with active brothers will be assigned by the Pledge Master by the second pledge meeting. These interviews will be presented in a creative manner and must include a picture of the pledge together with the Brother. Questionnaires will be given to pledges to conduct interviews with brothers/pledges of other chapters. Details will be explained further at the pledge meeting.
Pledge Quizzes and Final Exam:
Pledge Quizzes will be given by the Pledge Master & Pledge Trainers during the weekly pledge meetings. The policy on quizzes and the Final Exam is this:
• Pledges will be given information at each pledge meeting to study preceding each quiz. Each pledge is responsible for studying the material given to them.
• Each quiz will be graded and a 70% or better must be achieved. Pledges will receive their quizzes at the following pledge meeting to prepare for the Final Exam at the end of the pledging process.
• An 85% or better on the Final Pledge Exam is required in order to cross over into brotherhood.
• No cheating will be tolerated during any of these exams. If a pledge is caught cheating, his/her exam will be taken away and will be automatically disqualified from the pledging process. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
Pledge Class Officers:
The pledge class will be required to nominate and elect the following offices:
President, Vice President, Fellowship Chair, Service Chair & Fundraiser Chair. The President and the Vice President will be required to attend weekly E-Board meetings.
Attendance at Meetings:
All pledges will be required to attend all chapter and pledge meetings. Two unexcused absences from the general meetings will lead to inactivation of a pledge.
The pledge class will meet once a week. The time and location will be decided by the pledge class and the Pledge Master. Attendance at these meetings is mandatory for all pledges. Two unexcused absences from pledge meetings will lead to inactivation.