Thanks for the clarification, JoLaine! This is exactly how I interpreted the concept in the first place: not an evil hazing but a good-natured game among dance-loving youth...another potentially effective vehicle like the "ants, pants" thing. This is the kind of fraternity I would have jumped at. Maybe it takes a younger guy like me to see all that, but I didn't think so.
I really like the idea of a fraternity built around social dancing rather than drinking, mischief and all the rest. In a way, I think many of us profound gypsies could say we have something of an adult fraternity, maybe making up for what we didn't have in our college experience (at least in my case). I'm still laughing inside at the very idea of an old-school sadistic hazing-type frat taking any interest whatsoever in contra dancing. If they wanted to be evil about it, why not make them wear a skirt to a less friendly context...maybe a dance club. Then again, I could picture them getting bounced at the door, so maybe not. Yes, folks, I'd say this is humor - not humiliation. Now the question is whether the idea of a contra fraternity might spread to other campuses... -----Original Message----- From: "JoLaine Jones-Pokorney" <[email protected]> First let it be said that the frat guy who came up with the idea thought the pledges would find it fun, not humiliating. His idea was that they would LIKE contra and want to keep coming. Why would it be humiliating to join in a group where there are others dressed in the same way and doing the same thing? Its not like asking a guy to wear a skirt to the mall or church. In the conversation, there were lots of ideas thrown around. Perhaps none of it will happen.
