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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

as 'rushing'; rushing is the lifeblood of a fraternity. Its purpose is simply to

give you a good impression of the college group, and if that their particular

fraternity is the one for you. 3. After you have agreed on which is the right

organization is for you, you have reached the third and final step. The voting,

this is where the fraternity brothers decide if your right person to join them.

So before the vote you have to do major 'sucking up'. Now you are voted

in, but the strenuous part is not over, the first week is known as the 'pledges

week' in other words initiation rituals. Seven days and Seven nights of

degrading ceremonies. Here are some of the popular initiation activities. 1.

Firstly you cannot wear any clothes in your fraternity household for the week.

Once inside you must strip down or face hefty punishment. For any wrong

doings the penalty will be of paddling, this is were you will be whacked on

the behind many times by your fraternity brothers. 2. Another of their