Ebusiness
By: Bred • Case Study • 3,602 Words • March 11, 2009 • 1,073 Views
Essay title: Ebusiness
On the October of 1996, members of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity at Texas
University traveled to a ranch north of their school to commence the annual
initiation of their new pledges. Jonathan Culpepper a leader of their university
clan poured a can of beer on John Warren a freshman pledge, and ordered
him to do push ups while Culpepper sat on his back. He then pulled up
viciously on his underwear, this eventuating two days later in one of his
testicles being removed. This story is only one of many documented behind
the scene incidents that occurs during a Fraternity initiation. You may have
already guessed that the topic for my speech today is Fraternities. I will
explore fraternity lifestyle, why students decide to join these organizations and
present what happens within a fraternity. The definition of fraternity is "A
body of persons associated as by ties of brotherhood". In common terms,
‘fraternity basically is a glorified club, where members must bond, interact
and live together over the period of the college life'. This club becomes a
place for members to meet, socialize and create friendship amongst other
members. As a result each member gains recognition, sense of belonging in a
family and an ability to feel needed and wanted by the club. A fraternity is an
old university tradition, which started in the early nineteenth century. There
are many Fraternities that exist within each college campus, for example,
Delta Chi and Zeta Beta Tau – to name only a few. A Fraternity also consists
of secret handshakes, new friendships, wild parties and the dreaded initiation
week. First of all, before anyone is accepted into the group, a member must
take part in an "INITIATION". This is not as simple task and often at times,
it is the initiation that many perspective members dread. This will be further
explained later on. To become a member one must follow the following steps:
1. Firstly you will need to choose a fraternity, I imagine this is the most
important decision of all, because if you do select the wrong one your
experience of fraternity life will be one of your down points of your university
career. For example Stephen Rose, when Stephen thought of a fraternity he
pictured brotherhood and a new way of life. But as he pledged himself into a
fraternity the only thing he experienced were endless push-ups, running
around buck-naked and a handful of beatings. So the first step is the most
critical. 2. After you have chosen your desired fraternity, the next step is the
interview conducted by the fraternity brothers. This is sometimes referred to