Join Us!

Recruitment is one of the most important aspects of a fraternity. The very nature of such an organization dictates that its members need to be constantly looking for people who will uphold the principles and traditions of the group when they are gone.

Lambda Chi Alpha is no different from other fraternities in this respect. However, we do differ in the form which our bond of brotherhood takes. The members of our chapter enjoy a bond that transcends what you may find in most clubs or organizations. Because we don't want to see that bond weakened, we must be selective in our recruitment. We are looking to attract the highest-caliber men that Wake Forest has to offer. Although we have been one of the top academic fraternities on campus for the past seven years, that doesn't necessarily mean we're looking for the smartest people. What's more important to us is to find men of integrity who value their morals and ethics more than a 4.0 GPA. In addition, we strive for diversity and campus involvement on an individual scale. Not only are members encouraged to get involved elsewhere, they are each required to be a part of at least one extracurricular activity throughout the duration of their education.

Considering what we see as important, it should be obvious that it doesn't interest us in the least whether you fit the "fraternity type" mold. Most of the men within our bond can tell you that they never thought they'd ever join a fraternity. Some were vehemently opposed to it. However, they all realized that there is indeed something different about Lambda Chi -- something that sets us apart from the average fraternity.

The Question

You may be exactly the kind of man we're looking for. So, now the question is: How can we convince you that Lambda Chi is the place for you? The following paragraphs succinctly address some of the most common issues involving fraternities today:

PLEDGING
One very real objection you may have is towards pledging. Pledging often involves having extra duties, taking tests and quizzes, and often hazing. It can be demeaning to an individual, and in our opinion, it does more to destroy brotherhood unity than it could ever do to build it. That's why in 1972, Lambda Chi Alpha became the first fraternity to abolish pledging. We shifted our focus from "pledge" unity to chapter unity -- work duties and other responsibilities are shared by everyone. Rather than pledging, we give you the option to become an associate member of the fraternity. Associate members have the same rights and privileges as initiated brothers -- they are allowed to hold office and even permitted to vote on anything other than their own initiation. By eliminating double standards, Lambda Chi has a greater ability to develop and foster true brotherhood. 

DRINKING
We make every effort to use alcohol responsibly and according to University policies and state laws. All of our formal recruitment events are dry.

HAZING
Horror stories abound about what some college men are forced to do while pledging fraternities. Although hazing is portrayed in a funny light in movies such as Animal House, the truth is that hazing can be extremely hazardous. Nowadays, most fraternities will tell you that they don't haze. But how is "hazing" defined? Our definition is by far the broadest--hazing is "any action taken or situation created intentionally to produce physical discomfort or mental discomfort by embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule." That's one of the reasons that we got rid of pledging; pledgeship is a program that dwells on the separation of initiated members and pledges with a primary emphasis on subservience. By our definition, that's hazing. Such a separation cannot be allowed because it comes into direct contradiction with the very goal of our fraternity--brotherhood unity. So, how does this all translate into black and white? What sort of treatment can you expect if you decide to associate with Lambda Chi Alpha?

• No separate meetings, dress codes, or responsibilities for associate members
• No associate member "class officers"
• No kidnapping of any members
• No walk-outs, associate member retreats, or other activities which separate the associate members from the initiated members
• No verbal or physical abuse of members by other members
• No use of the term "class" or the function of a class system within the chapter

In truth, there are very few distinctions between the initiated member and the associate member; those that do exist are natural ones that come about due to age and years in school.  In Lambda Chi Alpha, all members share equal rights, privileges, and responsibilities.

Material on this page paraphrased or quoted in part from The Paedagogus,
47th edition, (c) 1997 -- The Manual of Fraternal Education of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity

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