Is Any Hazing Legal?
 

I KNOW THAT THE NPHC HAS MADE HAZING ILLEGAL FOR ALL OF THE DIVINE NINE ORGANIZATIONS. THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THE LAW IS CRUCIAL. ALSO, ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ADDED IT TO THEIR CONSTITUTION.

WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH OTHERS?WHAT IS YOUR GOVERNING BODY AND WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT HAZING?

Hazing is illegal, immoral, and impractical.

Re: Is Any Hazing Legal?
 

Hi X,

I think it's safe to say that all national fraternities and sororities have outlawed hazing of any kind. My guess is that all or most locals have as well.

Our "board of directors," if you will is called the Arch Chapter. Our Bylaws officially do not allow hazing. We have closed numerous chapters over hazing violations.

I doubt if we've completely eliminated it, but we're trying.

I'd be VERY surprised to see a national office that condones hazing since in most states it is against the law.

That said I'm glad they're against it. It has no place at all in today's society.

I think it all depends on what you personally consider hazing and then what your state considers hazing.


This is what NYS considers to be hazing:

Hazing is defined as "any action taken or situation created, intentionally,whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities may include, but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks, quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other activities carried on outside or inside the confines of the chapter house; wearing in public apparel which is conspicuous and not in normally good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery, morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with fraternal law, ritual or policy or the laws and policies of the educational institution.



By New York State hazing laws, my sorority hazes. If you went by state laws, every moment of my pledge period was hazing, but if you had ever asked me at the time, I would never have considered it hazing. I do not condone what most people consider to be hazing, such as physical, mental, or emotional abuse. However, I think that there is nothing wrong with a scavenger hunt.

State Laws
 

Legaility depends on the definition and how any action is seen to fit or not fit that definition. Most all National organizations have anti-hazing policy. Universities and Colleges also have policies against hazing that effects all organizations on campus, from ROTC, to athletic, to greek. Most States also have laws against hazing.

A good source for state laws on hazing can be found at http://www.stophazing.org

If you have to question "can my action be seen as hazing" you're better off siding with not doing it.

Artimis

Hazing is bad. Don't do it.

We have a general rule that as long as sisters are involved in ANY activity that the pledges do then we are ok. We instated this after we were charged with hazing over having a pledge wash dishes a few years back. Basically, we have never had any problems. Its a school rule that if two sisters are involved then its not hazing.

Your policy is probably not completely necessary although it would probably be a fairly good rule of thumb. Hazing is essentially any activity that makes someone uncomfortable, whether it is on purpose or not. You could probably imagine situations where you could haze and not even realize you were doing it. It's always smart to have whoever is in charge of your risk reduction as well as whoever is in charge of new members well read on this subject.

i got paddled last week ! but ive been in for 2 years :cool: stuff just seems to happen sometimes :D but being paddled isnt that bad...

Hazing is defined in our chapter as anything that ANYTHING that makes a person feel uncomfortable. Not only does this cover the obvious forms of hazing, but it also includes such low-key things as nicknames, or referring to the new girls as "new girls." Oops, I guess I just broke our own rule. Oh well.

P.S
 

Bottom line...


Hazing is wrong. Don't do it.

Our policy on hazing is very simple: We don't tolerate it. Therefore, we reaffirm our opposition to hazing, and we subscribe in policy and practice to the following statements.

Hazing Policy of Phi Gamma Delta

No chapter, colony, student or graduate Brother shall conduct nor condone hazing activities. Hazing activities are defined as:

Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities carried on an outside or inside of the confines of the chapter house; wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with academic achievement, fraternal law, ritual, or policy, or the regulations and policies of the educational institution, or applicable state law.

fiji, ours policy is exactly the same as yours. I wonder if that's all of NIC?

All I can say is when it comes to a topic like this everyone on the same page is fine by me. Makes questions to different chapters easier to answer if we are all basing off the same rules.