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Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism University of Southern California
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U.S. Fraternity Bans Pledging

The national fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon has abandoned their pledging tradition.

The national fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon has abandoned their pledging tradition and replaced it with a process called the "true gentleman experience." The fraternity's council said, "We decided to enact this change between conventions in order to protect SAE's future and to eliminate a class structure between our new members and our active members."

Instead o the near-semester long pledging period, members will be initiated in just 96 hours. Alcohol will be prohibited. USC Interfraternity Council President Tanner Sandoval sees pledging as a beneficial pat of Greek life, "I see the pledging process and I think the way that IFC and the entire Greek community fraes the pledging process is an educational experience." 

SAE says that one of the reasons for this decision is because of a number of incidents and deaths that occured during the pledging process. "A lot of the incidences that have happened with SAE nationally - you know, being considered the deadliest fraternity on the national level - is what really prompted that decision." 

USC's SAE chapter president Matthew Kasten offered a statement about the decision, saying "Although the pledge experience was an important and formative process for all members of the California gamma chapter, we stand behind the decision to eliminate pledging and otentially save the lives of young men who aspire to become brothers."

Many students believe that SAE's decision was positive. One student said, "I know that fraternities take their pledging very seriously but hopefully its a good start twoards other fraternities eliminating hazing as well." Another student agreed, saying "It's actually considerate because they're realizing that they're putting peoples' lives in danger." 

Last night USC's chapter initiated its new members. They plan to continue to implement the True Gentleman Experience into their chapter. 

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Interesting content, but my goodness, please consider spell check Annenberg :-)

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