[shadokat]

TKErd345--

I encourage you to read what it was that TKE was founded on before you ask anyone else to get their head out of their ass. Also, as a member of an NIC fraternity, it is your job to abide by THEIR policies as well...and thusly, here is the NIC resolution on hazing from 1986.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the North-American Interfraternity Conference hereby unequivocally repeats its historic repudiation of any pre-initiation or initiation practices antithetical to the laws and underlying principles for which each member fraternity stands;

FURTHER, that this body expects each fraternity to take appropriate action to implement the intent of this resolution;

FURTHER, that the Conference not only records its continuing disapproval of hazing in the strongest possible terms, but declares its intention to monitor closely the incidents of this activity through the establishment of a special ad hoc committee for su ch purpose, and

FURTHER, that all member fraternities endorse this resolution.

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I would further advise you to read California's Hazing Law below:California Hazing Law
EDUCATION CODE

SECTION 32050-32051

32050. As used in this article, "hazing" includes any method of initiation or preinitiation into a student organization or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization which causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm, to any student or other person attending any school, community college, college, university or other educational institution in this state; but the term "hazing" does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions.

32051. No student, or other person in attendance at any public, private, parochial, or military school, community college, college, or other educational institution, shall conspire to engage in hazing, participate in hazing, or commit any act that causes or is likely to cause bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to any fellow student or person attending the institution. The violation of this section is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both.

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Now, with that said, no matter how you try to justify hazing within your chapter, the simple truth is that it's against the law. Forcing someone to wear a pin is hazing, but asking them to wear a pin with the stated intent that if they don't want to, that's ok too, isn't hazing. I have never met a new member in my own sorority that refused to wear their new member pin. It's not asking someone to wear the pin, but how you're asking to wear the pin that constitutes hazing.

We don't call our pledges pledges anymore, because it was resolved by the National Panhellenic Conference to use the term new member, which, as a member of the NPC, is what we do.

New members are well aware of what is expected of them when they come through the doors of our house for new member orientation. Membership in our organization requires weekly meetings, learning of history, ideals and values of our organization through various positive activities, learning about the NPC and its role in sorority life, learn how a sorority works in terms of chapter management and leadership positions, etc. None of this is hazing.

I guess the question I ask is if you're choosing new members who aren't willing to do the tasks required to gain membership into your organization, then maybe you're not choosing new members wisely? I'm not sure...we never had anyone who refused to learn about our organization, come to meetings or follow through on new member stuff who didn't end up depledging immediately after New member orientation started.