When is too far too far?

[GtownGirl98]

Hey all... I need to figure out what an alumnea group can and can not do with the chapters. We were told during recruitment this year that we could not do anything with just recruitment classes... that IHQ had deemed that hazing. But we aren't a big alumnae chapter and having something with all the chapter is a little overwhelming for us. SO we want to break the chapter down into smaller groups... but what would and wouldn't be considered hazing?

Edited: Thanks all for the ideas. We are going to have a planning meeting for the next year and I will present your ideas to everyone. THanks!

Lynn, good point... didn't really think about that.

[epi_girl]

Don't single out a specific group, like the new member class, for events. Do a mixed group - like eveyone who has birthdays in X,Y, and Z months or who are studying the same major...stuff like that.

[agdbirmingham]

I think a lot of groups are really trying to crack down on anything that even remotely would be considered hazing, so I have no idea what would or would not be considered hazing anymore!

I would suggest also to just break up the chapter into smaller groups. Maybe by year in school (assuming the whole new member class is not all in the same year)?

[DCDisney]

You could always do the usual counting off ... then everyone that is a "1" is a group, etc. etc. To break up the monotany ... for creating three groups, we've asked everyone to count off with "Alpha", "Gamma", and "Delta", and then the "Alphas" are one group, etc. etc. Or there's "red" "buff" and "green".... combined, that could be six groups if you need that many groups. The "red" "buff" and "green" groups have been used to spread out the load of attending campus events, so that not everyone is always expected to attend things that the Office of Greek Life pushes that Greeks attend (i.e. homecoming events, faculty events, etc.). Once an event is known, the Activities Coord. or chapter president announces the dates, times, etc. and assigns a group. If the event is "required", then everyone in that group must attend, or find a substitute from another group. That way Alpha Gams were well represented at each particular event, without some members always going and other members who never show up.

[GtownGirl98]

These are great suggestions. The only thing is that I don't understand why having specific events for specific classes is considered hazing? It is nice to have class specific events that are geared toward that phase of sisterhood. It is silly to not have all the new members at the new member tea, and crazy to have a "we'll miss you" event where not all the Seniors aren't there. It is just nice to know what if the alumnae make goody bags for the event, who will be in attendance and what "stuff" would be best for them.

I just want to know, how far are we going to take "hazing" into concideration (ignor spelling)... next thing you know the house is going to have be ramdomly matched for room mates and no one of the same class will be allowed to room together.

Hey BIG SQUIRRELS, please PM me if you have an comments on this because I have another issue that seems to be trying to raise it's ugle head.

[DCDisney]

My interpretation of the question was related to "requiring" or "making" certain groups hold or attend events. For example, requiring ONLY new members to hold a fundraiser (i.e. like having a booth to sell nachos in a dormatory lobby) is considered hazing because of requiring the NMs attend or hold the event and NOT making it required for other members. Singling out NMs, treating them differently from the other members, can be a "red flag" in determining hazing.

My interpretation of the question was, for example, asking if it is okay to plan an event, or plan to endorse a campus event, and say that all freshman must be present, or must help, etc. Using the classes (fresh, soph, jr, sr) as ways to designate who helps, participates, attends, etc. can cause problems of TOO much class unity and not enough chapter unity. Since most NM classes are made up of the same school class (usually fresh.), then always or mostly using school class to create sub-groups can cause "pledge class" (I know... old school term) unity that may not be desirable.

Therefore, mixing things up, and creating subgroups, can help the chapter grow stronger in sisterhood, by creating the opportunity for members to meet each other and work with each other.

I don't think the original question was for using an assignment method for everything, like roommate selections, or "targeted" events such as a senior appreciation event .... just for those assignments where needed, such as assigning members to recruitment event committees.

[GammaIota1009]

I am a collegian and I think that the hazing issue is rediculous. 1. I love my sisters so why would I want to hurt them.
Really if you wanted to you could say anything is hazing- Chapter is mandatory, that makes me uncomfertable- I am being hazed. NO! There is nothing wrong with activities that bond pledge classes beause that is important because at a point they are going to be the leaders of the chapter and need to know each other well enought to work well together. It is a sad thing when all of your traditions are taken away and there is nothing that makes your chapter special or unique anymore. The fun is being taken out of my chapter because everything might be hazing. I know for a fact that since I have been in my chapter- going on 4 years- there has been no hazing. So why are advisors so afraid it is happening? Why does everything have to be so scutinized that the fun is taken ot of everything?

[epi_girl]

Take a look at your chapter's leaders. They aren't all from one pledge class, are they? That's why your line about bonding with your pledge class because you're going to be leading with each other doesn't hold up. You'll be leading with your sisters from all other pledge classes....so you should be bonding with everyone! Hence getting to know you activities with all of your sisters and not just your pledge class.

[AGDee]

It only takes a few minutes of reading the Risk Management & Hazing section of Greek Chat to understand the concerns of advisors and the Volunteer Services Team.

[GammaIota1009]

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