You do? So you aren't going to do another show? I thought you were talking about auditions just the other day. Huh.
What pledges in Alpha Psi Omega are asked to do is perform. It's not comparable to a performance in front of an audience in that it is private. Actors are asked to do monologues from Shakespeare all the time. To divulge some semi-private stuff about DX in a public forum, actors are asked to improvise in front of audiences all the time. What about it is hazing, when the people we are talking about are actors? They're being asked to do the same thing in the ceremony that they will be asked to do again that very night in front of a paying audience, it's just different lines. And the lines themselves are not degrading, embarrassing, etc.
So what about it IS hazing? I have a hard time explaining why it is not because I look at the two and can't see a difference.
1) DX missed something, then. It is not allowed to reject someone for not doing well in the initiation ceremony.
2) And one-dimensional theater folks aren't worthy of honor. Sorry if this isn't PC, but too bad. Everyone should have to see all sides of the coin. the National requirements for membership explicitly state that you MUST work in a variety of production tasks, so you CAN'T become a member by only being a actor, or only a tech.
3) OK, I'll give you this one.
4) But I'm not sure how any of that added up to "if I'm to remain their friend". Theater is full of surprises, we've all had to deal with the unexpected under the lights. Yes, including me who spends all of his time backstage. At the same time, I think this is your best point and maybe DX needs to re-examine their traditions with a copy of the RPI Handbook hazing policy in their hands at the time.
1) I knew ahead of time that I wouldn't get rejected for a poor performance, but it still felt that way. Getting criticized for a weak performance while on stage in front of your friends feels like rejection, even if you become a member afterwards. 2) This would be valid if the actors had to do something tech-related. The plaque isn't "real-time" enough, and I have no doubt that some plaque development was outsourced.
4) It has been a requirement at least since 1997 that ALL requirements be given to the pledges in writing in advance. In the case of DX, that would include the additions to the nationally required stuff.
This is definitely one case where DX should comply with national standard.
In regard to number 2 - there have been many folks initiated into our cast especially that are PURE techies. Most of them have had their hands in multiple tech roles, but they are not actors and most of them have no desire to be. Our objective requirements and point system doesn't force us to look at actor versus tech but just at what is considered major or minor roles. So I do kind of agree with Marc on this one. There is definitely room for some kind of happy medium on this though I'm not sure exactly what.
I also agree that the "surprise" factor does kind of suck.
BUT when it comes down to it I think how I got through the ceremony BY MYSELF. Most of our pledges at least have each other to support which I would think would help ease the stress of the situation at least a little bit.
There is no EASY solution to any of this. GLAD I'M NOT YOU right now, lol.
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What pledges in Alpha Psi Omega are asked to do is perform. It's not comparable to a performance in front of an audience in that it is private. Actors are asked to do monologues from Shakespeare all the time. To divulge some semi-private stuff about DX in a public forum, actors are asked to improvise in front of audiences all the time. What about it is hazing, when the people we are talking about are actors? They're being asked to do the same thing in the ceremony that they will be asked to do again that very night in front of a paying audience, it's just different lines. And the lines themselves are not degrading, embarrassing, etc.
So what about it IS hazing? I have a hard time explaining why it is not because I look at the two and can't see a difference.
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1) DX missed something, then. It is not allowed to reject someone for not doing well in the initiation ceremony.
2) And one-dimensional theater folks aren't worthy of honor. Sorry if this isn't PC, but too bad. Everyone should have to see all sides of the coin. the National requirements for membership explicitly state that you MUST work in a variety of production tasks, so you CAN'T become a member by only being a actor, or only a tech.
3) OK, I'll give you this one.
4) But I'm not sure how any of that added up to "if I'm to remain their friend". Theater is full of surprises, we've all had to deal with the unexpected under the lights. Yes, including me who spends all of his time backstage. At the same time, I think this is your best point and maybe DX needs to re-examine their traditions with a copy of the RPI Handbook hazing policy in their hands at the time.
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2) This would be valid if the actors had to do something tech-related. The plaque isn't "real-time" enough, and I have no doubt that some plaque development was outsourced.
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This is definitely one case where DX should comply with national standard.
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I also agree that the "surprise" factor does kind of suck.
BUT when it comes down to it I think how I got through the ceremony BY MYSELF. Most of our pledges at least have each other to support which I would think would help ease the stress of the situation at least a little bit.
There is no EASY solution to any of this. GLAD I'M NOT YOU right now, lol.
Reply
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