Hounsell '11 on the "Meaning of Pledging"
12/05/07
Pledging the Xi
James Hounsell ‘11
Pledging. I had often heard the word before coming to Wesleyan and it rarely had a positive connotation. My conception of what it took to enter a fraternity was molded by stereotypes that I had come across in the media and conversations with others, which led me to view fraternities with a sense of distance. They seemed fun but I never thought I would join one. The pledging process seemed too demeaning, too pointless to be worth my while—especially since I was coming to Wesleyan to learn.
During my first few weeks as a freshman at Wesleyan I met many of the Brothers of Psi Upsilon at the chapter house and around campus. Rather than the rowdy “Animal House” type brothers I expected to encounter, they were regular guys who took their academics very seriously and were involved in many activities outside of the fraternity such as student government and athletics. They were also very friendly and I began to spend more and more time around them, especially during rush week. Despite unknowingly befriending multiple Brothers in my first weeks at Wesleyan, I still found the prospect of accepting a “bid” unsettling. I still had not decided what I would do if invited. I was concerned with what pledging might entail. Nevertheless, when I got my invitation, I accepted. I wanted to be a part of the organization that had the power to affiliate students from all walks of life who had become my friends and so, I decided to try pledging.
Now that the end of the pledging process is near, I can look back with certainty and say that I made the right decision. Pledging allowed me to become closer to the people that are some of my best friends at Wesleyan. Between balancing a rigorous academic schedule, varsity baseball practices, and my obligations as a pledge, I learned how to manage my time much more effectively than I would have otherwise. In addition, the pledge events taught me the value in camaraderie, confidence, and trust. There were no meaningless events and each one brought me closer to the pledges and Brothers.
What began as a nerve-wracking decision helped me make some great friends and changed my entire attitude towards fraternities. With all that Psi Upsilon has given me throughout the process, I can hardly wait to become a brother and have the chance to return the favor by serving others. The experience has enriched my understanding of how an individual’s actions can strongly reflect the organization, and I plan to represent Psi Upsilon in the most positive light possible in return for all they have taught me along the way.
