Hmm, at first it was difficult to even assess the situation because thankfully, my chapter hasn't had a serious issue with hazing in our 9 1/2 year existance.

For the first issue... I must say that I'm very disappointed to hear that we have sisters/chapters out there hazing. Hazing can be so dangerous... because it is inevitable that at some point someone is going to get carried away... and someone will get hurt (or worse yet killed.)

IHQ does not take any form of hazing lightly!!! Delta Sigma in the early years received tsk tsk letters when they did activities that they didn't realize may be viewed as hazing... like the time they had a mini scavenger hunt around campus... or the time they had blind-folded new members follow a piece of yarn around the Art Building that would lead them to their sister-mothers. The events were planned innocently and in such a way that they thought it would be fun and exciting... they certainly didn't find any danger or undue stress in what they had planned... but once IHQ got the reports describing what they did.... YIKES! Letters from every department all over the country scolded and warned them about the how yarn, blindfolds, and scavenger hunts were ALL big hazing don'ts! They learned their lesson... and they weren't even trying to haze! Even if scavenger hunts don't seem harmful at all, it is still a violation of IHQ policy, and it's necessary to follow what IHQ says.

It's really up to you as to what you should do with what you knows about this other chapter. Some things I might suggest...

Hazing can be very dangerous, and, should anything go seriously wrong during one of these hazing sessions, the incident would not only have a negative impact on that chapter, but our whole Fraternity..... and the Greek community. As Greeks, we have a hard enough time keeping membership up thanks to all of the stereotyping and other damage done by movies and television. A genuine incident we do not need. What would I do with the information? I'd go to IHQ. IHQ would conduct their investigation and decide on appropriate action. This could snap them out of it... or not. While this may mean the loss of a chapter (which I'd hate to see), one chapter lost is much better than the loss of the Fraternity. The sisters who are hazing are not living up to the ideals set before us in our Purpose or our Constitution. If they are hazing... they are not Alpha Gamma Delta.

As for the ex-member making the accusations against your chapter... It sounds like this former member's actions are probably a reflection of whatever her friends back home had to say. A group of sisters (perhaps some that were once close to her... like her sister-mother... or some pledge classmates) may want to approach and speak with her about her decision to terminate her membership. If she hasn't already officially left... they may be successful in changing her mind. Otherwise, they may be able to convey to her how sorry they are to see her go... remind her how important she was to the chapter... wish her well... Could smooth some things over. It's hard to understand why people do what they do. As long as the chapter isn't hazing... I wouldn't worry too much about what she's saying to anyone... because it simply isn't true.

Feel free to email me privately if you wish!