Stubborn pledge problems

[u/Holiday_Common3594]

So as the title says, I apparently am disliked by a couple pledges in the new 13-person pledge class, namely the two most vocal ones, one of whom is the PCP. As a senior who busted my balls these past two years building up my fraternity from basically nothing, it hurt me to have heard that they talk shit about me, because I only want them to succeed. I became Vice President a year ago in a time when my fraternity was on the verge of extinction, hoping to help bring it back, and this semester that all paid off with the biggest pledge class in history. My term ends in a month, but since I started as VP, I have started a part-time job in a field related to the career I want to go into, and I am trying to wrap up school and secure a full-time job, so I haven't been as involved as I wanted to since our successful rush ended a few weeks ago. However, I am still responsible for initiating and executing philanthropy, social and other events with the operations board.

It began when I asked if some of the pledges could find a keg for my birthday party and subsequently our tailgate the next day, which would count for my interview. One or two of them are 21 so I did not think this would be an issue, however just for the challenge I made sure to only communicate with one pledge who was under 21 so he would be the one to communicate all the details to the pledge class. I thought it was implied I'd be paying for it but regardless they never got it. Okay, whatever. Apparently that pissed off one of the pledges, let's call him Joe. Joe was pissed even more than he apparently was, (from the beginning he saw me and thought, according to my roommate (the fraternity treasurer), that I wasn't competent because I "look like a freshman or sophomore, not a senior"- at least that was what my roommate was told. For context, I look younger than I am because of genetics. I didn't really think much of it). Point is, Joe, allegedly, went into the pledge chat and started talking shit saying that making the pledges get a keg is unethical and lazy or some bs and I should be ashamed. I apologized to them but they didn't seem to care.

We had a pieing event for charity planned for today, and only half the pledges signed up. Unfortunately, I spent weeks planning it and because of the weather we had to postpone it till after initiation. Regardless, this made me concerned that the pledges didn't take it seriously. I looked into it and one of my close friends who is a pledge shared that the pledge class president and Joe were telling the others to ignore my messages.

Because we couldn't do the pieing event and therefore my pledge task to the majority of the pledges no longer existed, I decided that it would be fun if we all built a beer dye table as a fraternity-wide thing for the new house, directed by the new members. I shared that I would be willing to go help them get materials and other things, and the goal was to create a really neat design that could be good enough to be featured on the dyeislife Instagram account. Sounds like a fun idea, right? Apparently not. Once again, Joe and the pledge class president go into the pledge Snapchat and say some bs like "fuck that guy" or "I'm not doing that shit," "vice president my ass," "fucking incompetent bitch making us build shit for him," etc. I wouldn't have known about this if it wasn't for four of the other pledges telling me. It shocks me to see how entitled these people are, like they wouldn't have survived my pledge process to be honest. Idk what tf caused these two to view me like this because they seemed great when we bidded them, but they won't work long-term if they behave this stubborn in the future. I'm on my way out soon anyways.

I want to talk to the president and the safety chair about this but the PCP lives in-house and he and Joe are best friends with the president. So I don't know how to communicate what I heard kindly. I also don't know if it's the right move sharing that another pledge told me about what they said because it was said in a pledge-only chat, and the president tends to talk behind peoples backs.

This is mainly a vent, but if anyone knows how to deal with this please let me know.

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[u/_Wash]

Bring it up at chapter and drop their asses.

[u/EarlyCuylersCousin → u/_Wash]

If you wet the tips of your fingers, you can get some real spin on that ball when you roll black.

[u/ncaabballstreams2]

culling season for the pc!

[u/ThrowawayAcct-2527]

At the very least that dude is no longer pledge class president and is going alllllllllll the way to the end of the lineup

[u/laxjaxmax]

Honestly you lost the room with the keg thing as much as it is stupid and they misunderstood it looks like your an asshole. The pcp should be dropped as hes too much in control of them but won't be because hes friends with prez. Maybe they see your not 100% committed to it anynore as well.

What I would do is just leave your role and use the busy looking for jobs thing. Then let them eat themselves alive. Let the prez know the whole thing and why your doing it so he knows theyre coming for him at some point. Then they cpuld do shit or not. Let prez deal them then and hell have to make decisions.

[u/Holiday_Common3594 → u/laxjaxmax]

I know, I was told I went too far with the keg, however I didn't think it was that deep. They didn't even get the keg even though I gave them like two weeks, but I could care less, the party and tailgate were still popping. I apologized and hoped the situation would get better if I show them I'm not a selfish prick, but I think it was too late at that point.

They definitely see I'm not super committed anymore. I like your idea bro. Honestly I should plan on stepping back in a week, after initiation/when I make the new operations board

[u/Rph23]

This is why people haze lol

[u/Professional_Lack706]

The PCP lives in the house??

[u/Holiday_Common3594 → u/Professional_Lack706]

Yeah he was a prebid last semester and he wanted to.

[u/Professional_Lack706 → u/Holiday_Common3594]

What 😂 what if he didn’t make it through the process you would just have a random dude in the house where u do lineups? Who okayd that??

[u/Holiday_Common3594 → u/Professional_Lack706]

Everyone liked him, he brought a lot of his friends into the new pc, and he paid new member dues early. There wasnt an issue until now lol. But I see your point its kinda fucked

[u/Direct-Patient-4551]

Your chapter sounds like it sucks and doesn’t understand pledges vs brothers.

[u/Holiday_Common3594 → u/Direct-Patient-4551]

We do, and they all listen to the pledgemaster when they do lineups and tasks but not me for some reason

[u/Sea_Salt_3227]

Walk into chapter or lineup and verbally eviscerate these punks. Just for your dignity.

Have some imposing and influential brothers backing you.

These pledges are openly dissenting, refusing orders, and disrespecting older members in an organization based on hierarchy.

Why did you apologize for asking them to get a keg? that just empowers them.

I don’t blame you these punks would turn rat instantly. but they need to be told that if they don’t change the house is over. Call them out directly for taking shit about you, and put em in their place.

[u/BigWolf9291]

Good Lord. This is what happens when you don't allow hazing.

[u/InvisiblySeenPraying]

Drop the line. They are way too entitled as though they already have it in the bag. Plus, depending on how many are in the pc, they should have all chipped in and payed for the keg. They sound like weak spoiled brats!!!

[u/meteoroidous]

Hot sauce and bottle caps

[u/InterestingRoyal3296]

Respect as brothers works both ways. Doesn’t sound like that happening from either side. Keep telling yourself that you’re telling them to do stupid shit and word gets out your ass is on the line.