Since 1990 when the NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic Council) replaced pledging with a Membership Intake Program (MIP) designed to eliminate hazing in Black fraternities and sororities, there has been an ongoing debate as to whether the program is working as planned. Ideally, the MIP called for prospective members to apply, have their applications reviewed by officials of the organizations, then after an interview with chapter members, a designated time and place would be established for some very limited sessions of orientation and education between chapter members and prospective members before the initiation ritual. It was assumed that education on the history, values and programs of the fraternity and/or sorority would be part of a new member's lifelong commitment.

That hasn't worked. College brothers and sisters demanded the right to be able to "make folks right". Eight years ago, the Center for the Study of Pan-Hellenic Issues surveyed students across the country to find out how they felt about the so-called "no-pledge policy". Students were quite explicit in voicing their concerns about the policy. The most common response was that the policy was enacted too quickly without giving college brothers and sisters any input to the new policy. Forty-one percent of students surveyed went beyond the structured responses to the survey and added their personal comments about the policy. A typical response reflecting the hastiness of the new policy was voiced by one 22-year old senior, who noted, "The no-pledge policy was a national level decision and did not take undergraduate opinion into account". One Black sorority member tersely observed, "The voice of the undergrads was never truly heard."

A strong concern of college brothers and sisters was that students would not develop a sense of bonding or coming together as a chapter if people could just apply and wait for the national office to give them their letters. One college senior observed, "The new policy...doesn't give the prospective [members] an opportunity to grow or bond with each other". Another senior echoed the bonding theme when he said, "...people who go through this [membership intake program] will never be able to understand the bond which should be felt between them and the organization." So strong are the sentiments for pledging (underground or not) that a recent replication by Dr. Walter Kimbrough of Albany State University of my 1992 survey revealed that 53% of the students surveyed indicated they "pledged" even though pledging was formally ended ten years ago!

But what is it about pledging that young Black Greeks feel add to their college experience? The answer to that troubling question was offered by one 20-year old junior when he reflected. "Pledging helps us bond with one another, and that bond is eternal...People ...learn about themselves through adversity and that's what pledging brings out...pledging will never stop..chapters will take their pledges underground...continue to haze them and that's when things get hectic. Pledging needs to be above ground." That comment is indicative of the perspectives of undergraduates and deserves a hearing from policy makers and leaders of the NPHC organizations if we are to understand where we stand and where we are headed.

That observation causes us to ask? Can pledging in Black fraternities and sororities be brought back and kept above ground? Or is the risk so great that pledging will forever be banned? Even if we know that such an attitude will only drive pledging and hazing deeper underground? Are there workable alternatives to the no-pledge policy? How can we eliminate hazing and yet allow new members to have a bonding experience?

Recently, discussions have begun between the Center for the Study of Pan-Hellenic Issues and other prominent researchers, student affairs professionals and Black fraternity members to call a national summit to bring the "best minds together to resolve this deleterious problem". It will be critically important at such a meeting that a full and open discussion take place that allows everyone a voice on the issue. It should also be a meeting where calm heads prevail and egos are left at the door. This is not a Kappa problem, an Alpha problem or one left just for Omegas, Sigmas or Iotas to solve. It is a serious problem of national concern that will take the minds of fraternity and sorority leaders, non-Greeks, student affairs professionals, researchers, students and even parents of college students if we are to develop an answer to the problem of underground pledging and hazing in Black fraternities and sororities.