Quote:
Originally Posted by chitown
I know we had a 17 year old initiate- and as far as I know she didn't have to get any special permission to go through recruitment. Her family lived about 3,000 miles away so I don't know how she would have gotten a signature- I think the school just took it as if she was old enough to be on her own...
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The problem, I think, has to do with the fact that if someone is under 18, they are not legally an adult and therefore may not legally be bound by anything they sign, including financial documents, liability releases or whatever. If something were to go south while new member was still 17, mom and/or dad, could come in claiming that only they could sign legally-binding documents on behalf of the member until he or she turned 18. Mom and dad
might also be to claim that new member simply could not join without their permission.
Meanwhile, if things go south after new member turns 18, he might be able to claim that nothing he signed is enforceable because he was a minor.
So, that agreement that new member signed when he was 17 saying he would pay all dues and costs owed, releasing the chapter or organization from liability for certain things, etc. . . . quite possibly unenforceable unless mom or dad signed it too. Not a good scenario from a liability standpoint if new member is, in fact, not legally a member.
As I understand it, that's what was behind our decision to say you have to be 18 to pledge, period.