Interfraternity Council chapters have been working to follow their creeds and be more honest with the public about their pledge processes.
Phi Delta Theta has taken its pledge process to a new level by updating its syllabus, said Larry Bassow, program coordinator for Greek life.
Fraternities were required to re-evaluate their pledge processes two years ago under President Paul Zingg's policies for social organizations, Bassow said. The policies required fraternities to behave according to their individual creeds, which define brotherhood, service and leadership, but past behaviors violated those creeds.
Phi Delta Theta's new member educator, John Hillyer, said his mid-sized fraternity has changed, but it's hard to put fraternity life in a positive light because of its negative past.
"It's a slow process, and it's hard to make change," he said. "But we've come a long way, and no one knows that."
Phi Delta Theta president Drew Lewis said his fraternity has made progress by having the pledge syllabus be more focused on academics. It requires pledges to be tested on the Phi Delta Theta manual and a book called "How to Be a Gentleman."
Lewis' fraternity doesn't have anything to hide and is honest about the dates of events, such as initiation, he said.
Revealing activity dates doesn't take away from the mystery of the pledge process because explaining it is not the same as going through it, Hillyer said. Secretive rituals, such as handshakes, mottos and meetings, are vital but can also cause mistrust.
Lewis said his fraternity doesn't initiate pledges through hazing.
"We don't break them down because we don't have the skills to build them up," he said. "But we do have the skills to make better leaders, better men."
Sophomore Jared Rowsey said the best part of the Phi Delta Theta pledge process last semester was meeting friends.
IFC fraternities change and outline their pledge policies in different ways, Bassow said.
Sigma Nu President Brian Baker said his small fraternity gives pledges a monthly schedule. Rituals and initiation dates are secret and labeled as "events" on the calendar.
Sigma Nu has a members-only book that has been used nationwide to teach pledges what they need to know about rituals and policies.
The pledge process and rituals have gone unchanged in the last two years because Sigma Nu was founded more than 100 years ago as an antihazing fraternity, Baker said.
Theta Chi, the largest IFC fraternity, doesn't have a syllabus, said President Matt Plank. Pledging is a step-by-step process that requires men to study lessons from the handbook to advance.
Brothers don't punish pledges for failing lessons anymore because the new policies shortened the pledge period from 17 weeks to 8 weeks, he said.
"We don't haze them anymore by making them clean the house and stuff," Plank said.
Sophomore Billy Glasspole said Theta Chi's pledge process was time consuming, but the brotherhood made it worth the commitment.
This year's pledge class is focused on developing its own fraternity within the chapter to practice holding positions such as president and secretary, Plank said.
His fraternity's goal for the semester is to show what the Greek system has to contribute to Chico other than partying, Plank said. Many freshmen pledges wouldn't perform community service if Theta Chi didn't stress the importance of serving the community.
Bassow said IFC's goal for the chapters is to live out their creeds through action.
"Become who you say you are or get out."
Stacey Kennelly can be reached at skennelly@theorion.com
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