The Green caldron - University Library

10
The Green Caldron
told me about their seminars and compulsory study periods for pledges and
as they pointed to their shiny scholastic trophies adorning the walls. I was
also told that in addition to providing every opportunity for success in school
the Greek system offered the freshman pledge an incentive to work hard.
In order that I might get ofif to a good start in school and become familial
with my daily routine, I was treated as a guest for the first week of classes
Then, on the eve of the second week, I was pulled out of bed to be initiated
into pledging. At this time, I was informed of my pledge duties as well as
the fraternity traditions. True to their boastings, the members ordered me tc
be in the library when not in class, from eight to four, Monday througl"
Friday, with a one-hour break for lunch. At four o'clock, I would return tc
the house to pick up laundry and shine shoes for members. At seven o'clock
I would take my books and go to the dining room, where a member serving
as a proctor would put me on silence and would order me to glue my eyes
to a book for the next three hours. Realizing the importance of a good night's
sleep, the pledge trainer required me to be in bed by eleven. This was th(
time-table as outlined for me in the pledge policy and as executed on the first
and only the first, day of pledging.
From then on the emphasis seemed to change from school to pledging
Instead of going to sleep at eleven, I would wash floors and do houseworl-
till two or three in the morning. On Tuesday and Thursday, my first class
was at ten o'clock, but nevertheless at eight I was in the library sleepinc
peacefully with a book opened before me, and absorbing knowledge bj
osmosis.
Just as the school week was devoted to pledging, so the weekend wa;
committed to this same servitude. Pledges were required to have a certair
number of dates and to attend all social functions. Many weekends, I woulc
have liked to sleep and then study for a coming hour examination, but ]
always had to get up early on Saturday morning and rake leaves or was!
windows, and then go out that night.
As a result of my busy schedule and divided attentions, neither my lif(
nor my time was ever my own. From time to time, physically exhausted anc
mentally forlorn, I would lose track of my primary purpose in being here
Having been a member of a fraternity one semester, in addition to m)
first semester of pledging, I realize that pledging is basic to the fraternity
and I will always have fond memories of my first semester. However, ]
must confess that I think I would have been better off living independentl}
my first semester and adjusting to college at my own rate. In this way, ]
could have studied when I wanted to, slept at night and dated when I wa;
caught up in school. In general, I could have assumed full responsibility foi
my actions and matured on my own. Then, after the first crucial semester
I could pledge a fraternity, confident that I was a college student, and eagei
to take part in this other, less important phase of college living. I definitel}
believe that pledging should be banned to the first semester freshman, but ]
personally encourage students to go through second-semester rush.