Pledging:

What were the rules governing the pledge period?

Each pledge shall:

          -wear his pledge pin on his shirt, sweater or jacket at all times.

          -carry his pledge book at all times except for Sunday &
                     Saturday night (after 6:30).

          -appear neatly dressed and groomed at all times.

          -wear jacket, dress shirt and bow tie on Wednesday until after
                     dinner.

          -conduct himself at all times in a gentlemanly manner.

          -address the brothers with proper respect and comply with their
                     reasonable requests.

          -carry matches at all times.

          -not shave his upper lip from the time of pledging until after
                     formal initiation.

          -be responsible for everything covered in the pledge meetings.

-get the signatures including middle names, majors, minors and
 hometowns of all brothers and pledges.

         -attend all duties assigned by brothers (especially the
                     pledgemaster).

Do you remember the scores of the merit and demerit system?

                   -Maximum for one offense          -5

                    -Insubordination                         -5

                    -Not carrying pledge book          -3

                    -Not wearing pledge pin              -3

Who had to sign your pledge book first?

                    Your sponsor (aka fraternal father).

What was the command to pledges prior to paddling (banned in 1969)?

                    Assume the position.

And what was the proper response to being paddled?

             “Thank you sir, that was like the gentle waft of springtime
                    flowing gently over my arsehole, may I have another.”

What other pledge requirements or activities do you remember?

kidnapping, hell letter, hell night, hell trip, frozen Adirondack or Summit camping, painting the testicles on the horse in front of the State Capitol (blue and white), Lecture Hall football, empty fountain swims, ---- ------ get off your ass n’ jam, moving the entire contents of the rushmaster’s room out into the lounge, torch run.

Have you ever heard of Elmer E. Ellsworth?

                   

The first union officer killed in the Civil War, friend of Abe Lincoln and founder of the unit known as “Ellsworth’s Zouaves”.

(It was a pledge requirement by guys from Mechanicville–his hometown.)