Alpha Chapter Pledge Guidelines

Fall 2019

All Fraternity information and business is the express concern of the Fraternity and should not be shared with individuals not associated with the Fraternity.

1. Responsibilities and Behavior

   1. Pledges

      1. Meet at least once a week with each Big Brother.
      2. Solicit pertinent information from each Active Brother, Special Active Brother, Alumni Active Brother, Affiliate Brother during the first three weeks of pledging, one page per person. Do not solicit information during classes, rehearsals, or performances.
      3. Know and be prepared to recite requested information by the respective due dates and at all times thereafter.
      4. Know Brownie Point total at all times.
      5. Get to know Brothers and Pledge Brothers on a personal level as well as on a Fraternal level.
      6. Accord all Brothers courtesy and respect at all times.
      7. Avoid arguing with Brothers. Take any problems to a Big Brother or Pledgemaster.
   2. Pledge Leadership

      1. Pledge Captain

         1. Take the initiative in leadership of Pledgeclass endeavors.
         2. Ensure that all members of the Pledgeclass have the necessary information and materials.
         3. Work with Pledge First Lieutenant to ensure the progress of the Pledgeclass.
      2. Pledge First Lieutenant

         1. Act as Captain in the absence of the elected Pledge Captain

            1. Take the initiative in leadership of Pledgeclass endeavors.
            2. Ensure that all members of the Pledgeclass have the necessary information and materials.
         2. Work with Pledge Captain to ensure the progress of the Pledgeclass.
   3. Big Brothers

      1. Make initial contact with Little Brothers after Pledging starts but before the first Pledge meeting.
      2. Stress the importance of initial contact with the Active Brothers on the first day of pledging.
      3. Meet at least once a week with Little Brothers to discuss problems, progress, music, and other matters.

         1. Excepting the first meeting, it is the responsibility of the Pledge to schedule meetings.
         2. Missed Big Brother meetings must be rescheduled by the individual, Pledge or Big Brother, who missed them.

            1. Big Brothers must report missed meetings to the Pledgemasters immediately.
            2. Any Big Brother who does not report a missed meeting or who does not reschedule a meeting missed by their own fault shall be subject to a $10 fine.
      4. Help Little Brothers procure difficult pages or signatures and obtain answers to Brothers’ questions.
      5. Participate actively in the development of the Pledge’s paddle.
   4. Pledgemasters

      1. Be the ultimate authority on all subjects regarding Pledging.
      2. Preside at all official Pledge meetings
      3. Set Pledge meeting times with deference to the Pledges.
      4. Dispense all non-book information required of the Pledges.
      5. Contact Pledge Captains often to give examples of duties, pass on helpful hints, and encourage self-initiated Pledge meetings.
      6. Act as a liaison between Brothers and Pledges.
      7. Arrange for appropriate listening sessions held by Brothers.
2. Pledge Materials

   1. Pledge Pins

      1. Pledge pins must be worn over the heart at all times except when engaged in any strenuous activity that may damage the pin.
      2. Pins must be worn on the outer layer of clothing, excluding jackets and coats.
      3. The loss of a pin shall result in a replacement fee of $8.00.
   2. Pledge Books

      1. Pledge Books shall be carried at all times during Pledging, except when Pledges are engaged in any strenuous activity which may damage them or when they are in the care-of a Brother.
      2. If a Pledge leaves a Book unwatched, any Brother who finds it shall secure it in the MBΨ room. A Pledge whose Book is in the MBΨ room must correctly answer a question about music or the Fraternity to obtain the Book.
      3. Books shall be small, memo notebooks with the letters MBΨ on the front.
      4. Books shall have the Pledge’s name on the lower front cover.
      5. Pledge Books shall contain the following, in order:

         1. Big Brother pages;
         2. Pledgemaster pages;
         3. Active Brother pages;
         4. Special Active Brother pages;
         5. Alumni Active Brother pages;
         6. Affiliate Brother pages;
         7. Any Inactive Big Brother pages;
         8. Inactive and Honorary Brother pages, if applicable;
         9. Pledge Brother pages;
         10. Big Brother Meeting verification;
         11. Blue Chip Points page; and
         12. Brownie Points pages;
      6. Pertinent information to be obtained on the Big Brother, Pledgemaster, Active Brother, and any Inactive Big Brother pages by Pledges during First Period shall be, in order:

         1. Name;
         2. Up to five Nicknames;
         3. Hometown;
         4. Curriculum -and Classification;
         5. University music ensembles for the current academic year;
         6. Past ensembles, non-university ensembles or non-ensemble affiliations;
         7. Up to five ensembles, current, past, or any combination thereof, may be listed
         8. Elected Chapter Offices;
         9. Appointed Chapter Offices;
         10. Chapter Committee chairships;
         11. Chapter Committee memberships;
         12. National Offices;
         13. Standing National Committee Memberships;
         14. Up to five Romantic Attachments; and
         15. Date.
      7. Brothers may write on the back of their pages any time during First Period to request that Pledges get the pages of up to two (2) Alumni and/or Inactive Brothers.
      8. Pledges may open their Pledgebooks but only in the presence of those associated with the Fraternity.
      9. Pledges may not write in the “Pages and Points” section of their Pledge books under any circumstances.
      10. Neither a Pledge nor a Brother may write on another’s page.
   3. Blue Chip Points

      1. Blue Chip Points shall be awarded for completing service activities.
      2. Blue Chip Points shall be deducted the missed deadlines, missed meetings, and failure to attend service events.

         1. The amount deducted shall be in increments of one (1) point.
         2. During the first two weeks of pledging, Blue Chip Point penalties shall be assigned to Pledges individually.
         3. After the first two weeks of pledging, Blue Chip Point penalties shall be assigned to the Pledgeclass as a whole.
      3. Blue Chip Points can be awarded to a Pledge by a Musical Activities Coordinator or a Pledgemaster or any service activity.
      4. Twenty (20) Blue Chip Points must be obtained by the end of Coda Week.
   4. Brownie Points

      1. Brownie Points may be awarded or subtracted by any Brother participating in the Pledging season.
      2. Brownie Points shall be recorded on the pages at the back of the Pledge Book.
   5. Paddles

      1. Paddles shall be distributed at the first pledge meeting and completed by the last pledge meeting.
      2. Paddles shall be carried at all times during Coda Week except when Pledges are engaged in any strenuous activity which may damage them or when they are in the care of Brother.
      3. Paddles, and all materials needed to make paddles, shall be provided by the Brotherhood.
      4. Paddle design specifications are as follows:

         1. Paddles shall be sanded by hand.
         2. Paddles shall be coated in primer.
         3. Paddles shall be coated in high-gloss white paint.
         4. Paddles shall have a stripe of high gloss red paint two inches wide diagonal terminating at the base of the handle. This stripe shall go from “High-Left” to “Low-Right” when looking at the front of the paddle.
         5. Paddles shall have the Fraternity Crest above the red stripe.
         6. Paddles shall have the Greek letters MBΨ placed diagonally above the Fraternity Crest.
         7. Each paddle shall have the Pledge’s name placed vertically down the handle.
         8. Paddles shall have on the back the signatures of the Active and Special Active Brotherhood, all Inactive Big Brothers, five Inactive Brothers, five Honorary Brothers, the Chapter Advisor, and the Chapter Sweetheart.
         9. The Pledgemasters shall give further paddle specifications and instructions.
   6. Containers

      1. Containers shall be constructed during the final five weeks of pledging and completed by the last pledge meeting before Coda Week.

         1. Container designs shall be approved by the Pledgemasters before construction.
         2. Pledgemaster approval shall be solicited at or before the fifth Pledge meeting.
      2. Containers shall hold candy, provided by Big Brothers, for consumption by Brothers.

         1. Containers should always be filled with candy unless Brothers have just removed a significant amount thereof.
         2. Individuals not associated with the Fraternity are not entitled to touch a container, open a container, or consume candy held inside a container.
      3. Containers shall be carried at all times during Coda Week, except when Pledges are engaged in any strenuous activity which may damage them or when they are in the care of a Brother.
      4. Containers, and all materials needed to make containers, shall be provided by the Pledgeclass.
      5. Containers shall be designed and constructed by Pledges without assistance from or consultation with any Brother besides the Pledgemasters.
      6. Container design specifications shall be as follows:

         1. Containers shall have visible the Greek letters MBΨ.
         2. Each container shall have visible the Pledge’s name.
         3. Containers shall have visible the Pledge Class Name.
3. Pledging Process

   1. First Period

      1. This Period shall consist of three (3) weeks.
      2. The purpose of this Period is to develop the personal understanding and respect from which Brotherhood grows. Brothers should stress service and the bond which music serves to strengthen the Fraternity.
      3. Pledges shall be treated as Brothers-in-training.
      4. Pledges must use formal address with all Active, Special Active, and Alumni Active Brothers and all Big Brothers until the Brother in question approves informal address.

         1. Formal address shall be defined as the title “Brother” followed by the Brother’s last name.
         2. Informal address shall be approved no later than the successful return of the Brother’s pertinent information.
      5. There shall be no harassment or extra tasks beyond normal efforts for the Fraternity.
      6. Required pages must be obtained by the end of First Period, including:

         1. Active Brother pages;
         2. Special Active Brother pages;
         3. Alumni Active Brother pages;
         4. Affiliate Brother pages; and
         5. Inactive Big Brother pages
      7. Pledges must know and recite Active, Special Active, Alumni Active, Affiliate, and Inactive Big Brother pages categorically, in order from top to bottom, within two weeks of procuring each page. The date is not required information.
   2. Second Period

      1. This Period shall consist of five (5) weeks.
      2. Pledges must know and be prepared to recite, in the order they appear in their book, Active, Special Active, Alumni Active, Affiliate, and Inactive Big Brother pages during Second Period.

         1. Pledges are encouraged to get their Pledge Brother’s pages but will not be tested on them.
      3. Good-natured pranking traditionally associated with Pledging shall be allowed, subject to the approval of the Pledgeclass or a majority of the membership thereof, pursuant to 3.4. of this Policy
   3. Listening Sessions

      1. Over one-half of the Pledgeclass must be present at all listening sessions. Those Pledges not present are responsible for the material.
      2. Four listening sessions are required in the Pledging season, one of which must be Campus Tour.
      3. Content must be related to music or to the Fraternity.
   4. Pranking

      1. The rules of North Carolina State University and all federal state and local laws shall be honored in pranking.
      2. The name Mu Beta Psi and any Greek letters shall not be used in or related to pranking.
      3. Pranking shall be allowed only during Second Period subject to the approval of the Pledgeclass or a majority of the membership thereof.
      4. Pledges may not prank other Pledges
      5. Brothers may not prank other Brothers during the Pledging season
      6. Pranking must be practical joke oriented
      7. Pranked items must be the property of the subject being pranked
      8. Pranked items must be- returned upon request of the subject being pranked.
      9. Pranking which might hinder normal and safe operation of a vehicle is not allowed.
      10. Pranked items may not be damaged in any way.
      11. Discretion in pranking should be used at all times considering both the temporary and permanent consequences of actions.
      12. No pranking that one would not accept in return is allowed.
      13. Brothers and Pledges shall strictly follow off-limits lists. The following items are always off-limits:

          1. Electronic equipment;
          2. Animals;
          3. Books;
          4. Book bags;
          5. School supplies;
          6. School property;
          7. Music;
          8. Musical instruments;
          9. Anything bearing or intended to bear Greek letters; and
          10. The Psi Room
   5. Coda Week

      1. Coda Week is the last week of Pledging, starting at 12:00 PM on Saturday and ending at 12:00 PM on the following Saturday.
      2. Formal address should be used with all Active, Special Active, and Alumni Active Brothers and all Big Brothers until after a Paddle Signature meeting with the Brother in question. Formal address shall be defined as the title Brother followed by the Brother’s last name.
      3. Pledges and Brothers should dress formally whenever Paddle Signatures are solicited.
      4. The paddle and container shall be carried at all times unless in the care of a Brother.
      5. All unguarded paddles and containers shall be secured by the Brotherhood.
      6. All required paddle signatures must be procured by the end of Coda Week. Required paddle signatures are:

         1. All Active, Special Active, Alumni Active, and Affiliate Brothers;
         2. All Big Brothers;
         3. Five Inactive Brothers;
         4. Five Honorary Brothers;
         5. All Alpha Chapter Advisors; and
         6. The Alpha Chapter Sweetheart.
      7. Paddle signature meetings shall consist of actions and conversation regarding Pledging and the Brotherhood
   6. Dues

      1. Pledge Dues are defined by the materials needed for the duration of pledging, including Pledgebook, paddle, and national fees.
      2. Pledges are solely responsible for the full amount of the set dues.

         1. Pledges should consult with the Pledgemasters if a payment plan is necessary or desired.
         2. Pledges are responsible for compensation of any materials used for each completed week of the pledging season.
      3. All dues must be paid by 12:00 PM on the last day of Coda Week.
      4. The ultimate authority regarding the payment method of pledge dues resides with the Pledgemasters.

         1. Dues shall be decided by the Pledgemasters and approved by the Active and Special Active Brotherhood prior to the beginning of the pledging season.