Greek Follies is hazing. New event ideas?
 

Every fall on my campus, we host Greek Follies. This is an event where each chapter's new member classes perform a dance on stage to a variety of songs, usually with themes and costumes and props. It is not mandatory for every new member to participate, or for it to be just new members; but every year each chapter makes their new members participate and don't provide assistance. This year our Greek advisor decided that we can no longer do Greek Follies because it's hazing. I was wondering if anyone had ideas as to an event we could do in place of Greek Follies or how to make it not hazing. Everyone in Greek Life loves this event and most new members do as well. I want to still host something fun that everyone will enjoy, without hazing the new members. Please let me know if you have any comments or ideas!

It is my understanding that if your brothers join with the new members to perform then it would no longer be considered hazing as long as it is not mandatory. Your advisor is being very cautious because haziing can be defined as something that makes one uncomfortable and may be mandated or via pressure forced upon a person in a subserviant position. Get a group of brothers together and plan to perform and ask the pledges if they would like to join. Run this by your advisor. Good luck.

It IS hazing - same as it is hazing to have pledges only participate in Derby Daze or building the Homecoming float or any other event that isn't specifically educating them about the sorority or fraternity they're joining.

Just have the whole chapter perform instead of only the pledges and you're good.

This.

Why not take it a step further and open it up to all campus groups? Call it Campus Follies, or Your-Org-Here Follies, or Follies for Philanthropy, you get the idea...

Yes to the two previous posts. It's that simple.

Thank you for the ideas! I was trying to stray away from having the whole chapter participate because in the Spring during Greek Week we have Greek Sing where the whole chapter participates. I think it would be a good idea to open it up to other organizations on campus though.

so limit the number of people on a team- say no more than 10 or 20- just as long as they represent the entire chapter, and not just pledges. or pair up groups so say a fraternity and sorority participate together on a team.