APO's In Action

[romeo46]

 Or So To Speak. From Today's Stars and Stripes newspaper. What a way to see your brothers in action. I would like to hear from any APOs who did this to hear your experiences.

Comments

[cyberjunkie]

First off, the National Board knew about this last week, as it was publicized elsewhere in video form.

Secondly, to help put some of us at ease here in the US, it is in the Philippines. (They do not have the anti-hazing rules that we have here.)

[fuzzyr]

Actually, APO Phillipines recently enacted a series of anti-hazing rules. Also, these are mostly Actives (not Pledges) doing this, and they've done this for years.

[henrymrx]

If you haven't already, please read Brother Stratton's remarks below.

[fuzzyr]

I have, and it does not change my statement. While it can certainly still be hazing even for Actives, I have spoken to some people who have participated in the Oblation Run. The ones I spoke to do not consider themselves as being coerced. Hazing, as a general rule, involves humiliation, harassment, or abuse, none of which is present in this.

Some background context

[tecie]

The Obligation Run is an annual tradition for APO- Philippines.

This is a useful resource on getting some of the context of the
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/06/18/1587452-100-philippine-students-run-naked-at-university

excerpt:
The "Oblation Run" - named for the university's iconic symbol of a naked man with outstretched arms that symbolizes his selfless offering of himself to the nation - started in 1977 as a gimmick by the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity to promote the screening of a movie about oppressed plantation workers called "Naked Hero." The film had been banned by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Since then, the fraternity has used the stunt to make political statements, from raising AIDS awareness to demanding the resignation of the Philippine president, said Armand Padilla, a fraternity alumnus and organizer of the centennial run.

[spooky_page]

After Keith Olbermann mentioned it last week (and incorrectly stated "freshman pledges").... I googled it and pledges are strictly prohibited from running it.... so it's technically not 'hazing' if it's voluntary?

[henrymrx]

Just because it's supposedly "voluntary" does not mean it's not hazing.

However, there are different standards for these things in the Philippines. The culture is different.

Just so were clear, a chapter in the U.S. doing anything like this would have a serious problem on its hands and could very well lose its charter.

[romeo46]

I think it is pretty cool and it doesn't seem to be a hazing thing since it is brother's participating. I'm actually kind of confused why it seemed this would be a hazing thing? I just liked the fact that brothers made a international paper for doing something a little outlandish.

[jazzhot]

I agree and I do think that it being voluntary absolutely means that it is not hazing. If it doesn't make you uncomfortable and it's not illegal, it's not hazing. Whether it is "appropriate" is obviously for others to judge in their own heads, but I think it's great.

Hazing

[anonymous]

Brothers

Re: Hazing

[merina888]

Aside from the hazing issues, I'm assuming that APO-USA also wouldn't condone this from the standpoint that it's related to political issues. Bringing attention to AIDS is one thing, but trying to get a president to resign is not something I would think the National office would approve of. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought APO-USA was supposed to stay out of political issues (who gets elected, someone resigning, etc.).

Re: Hazing

[anonymous]

The Fraternity's Articles of Incorporation (the highest ranking governing document of the Fraternity) prohibit Alpha Phi Omega from engaging in political activities. That same prohibition would prevent, I believe, chapters from doing the same.

The specific language in the AoI reads:
"No part of the activities of this corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, nor intervening in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office."

It isn't a question of whether or not the National Office would condone it; rather, the legal document that establishes Alpha Phi Omega as a not-for-profit corporation in the state of Missouri prohibits it. As an officer of the Fraternity, I would be obliged to enforce that limitation.

Fraternally,

Mark

Re: Hazing

[fuzzyr]

Brother Stratton, I appreciate your input on this issue. I think one of the key things that both students and adult volunteers need to keep in mind is that if something doesn't feel right, think hard about it before you do it. That's really the heart of Risk Management (and hazing, by extension).

If you were referring to something I said, I apologize for not being clearer. An action being voluntary doesn't exclude it also being a form of hazing.

One thing I try to pass on to my students is that tons of trouble can be avoided simply by thinking things through and running it through the "grandmother filter" (I don't remember who first told me this): If you would be embarrassed explaining it to your grandmother, it's probably not a good idea at all.