University of Alabama Alpha Phi Expelled for Racist Video

[Kevin]

So here's what I haven't heard--I haven't heard anyone from an NPC org state that the 'ol rule about not being able to require new members to do anything differently from initiates as being something actually written down anywhere. If you're following the FIPG guidelines, there are plenty of activities new members could do which are not hazing. You just have to work within those guidelines.

[panhelrose]

I've heard it this way from a fraternity friend of mine: women's recruitment is difficult, but their new member process is easy. Men's recruitment is easy, but their new member process is difficult. How many times do we tell PNMs that they should stick with recruitment even when they get cut from chapters they love, because they'll find their home? I'm sure these fraternity pledges are hearing something similar when faced with pledge tasks.

I've seen a difference in membership retention and involvement once initiated when a new member is treated like a china doll versus like an adult. New members who are given so many gifts and told they can just cheat on new member exams or miss meetings are often rudely awakened when they are initiated and need to buy a shirt for every philanthropy, need to come to not only chapter but recruitment, makeup ritual, workshops, and philanthropy. That's why I'm glad my chapter is very up front about what the expectations for membership are during recruitment, so that girls know what they're getting themselves into if they join a chapter. Yes, we love our new members and give them gifts for big little week and would never haze them, but the new member process is about learning about your new sorority, not just getting gifts and likes on your instagram. There needs to be a balance.

[PhilTau]

Individual members being thrown out of their fraternity or sorority for misconduct is nothing new. Although 30 years ago nationals rarely (if ever) came in and eliminated the memberships of everyone in an entire chapter. So I'm talking about members being thrown out for individual conduct. I suspect that thirty years ago (other than nonpayment of dues) most adverse membership actions for fraternities and sororities typically involved, without going into detail, some type of alleged sexual misconduct. This happened fairly often and to even long-time active members who did not conform the then cultural norms.

It is clearly a different world now and the reasons for ejecting active members are very different. My question, for those who are in a position to know, is this:

Do you see a greater number of ejections of initiated members for individual misconduct now than say thirty years ago when pledging was a longer process?

[carnation]

I remember people being thrown out of fraternities and sororities back in the day, although it was usually for something egregious. Like one of our cheerleaders got thrown out of her sorority for running naked from her date's car to her sorority house.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Kevin

So here's what I haven't heard--I haven't heard anyone from an NPC org state that the 'ol rule about not being able to require new members to do anything differently from initiates as being something actually written down anywhere. If you're following the FIPG guidelines, there are plenty of activities new members could do which are not hazing. You just have to work within those guidelines.

I would have to track down information from when I was active 10+ years ago to see what was written down. All I know is that we had handed down to us instructions that stated we were not to include anything in our new member program that wasn't outlined by our national organization. They indicated we could get approval for additional activities, but we were told by a nearby chapter who made an attempt that they found the process difficult, and ultimately, they ended up just stepping in line with the new guidelines.

Now, maybe something has changed. But in knowing how a handful of chapters have operated since, I can't see that any of them are including additional programming or required events for only the new members within the six-week program (aside from their weekly new member meetings and an exam).

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I would have to track down information from when I was active 10+ years ago to see what was written down. All I know is that we had handed down to us instructions that stated we were not to include anything in our new member program that wasn't outlined by our national organization. They indicated we could get approval for additional activities, but we were told by a nearby chapter who made an attempt that they found the process difficult, and ultimately, they ended up just stepping in line with the new guidelines.

Now, maybe something has changed. But in knowing how a handful of chapters have operated since, I can't see that any of them are including additional programming or required events for only the new members within the six-week program (aside from their weekly new member meetings and an exam).

So I wouldn't characterize adding material to your new member education program as hazing. I would characterize it as adding new material to your new member program. If that in itself is verboten, then it's not hazing, but it's also not allowed and that's of course just fine and it's probably much smarter than what my organization does.

Sigma Nu does have its LEAD program which has 10 sessions as part of the new member education program. It also has various leadership and interpersonal workshops which happen throughout a member's experience with the fraternity. I think our new member program is great. Most chapters implement it. Most chapters are also given leeway to have their own local traditions

We just can't do things which violate this:

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 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.

http://fipg.org/

So could we require new member class lock ins? Camp outs? Requiring new members to do some house chores? Require them to participate in a ropes course? Yes, absolutely, so long as those things aren't conflicting with their academic obligations and aren't humiliating or degrading.

For instance, we could require a new member to vacuum the dining room twice per week. We could not require them to do it at 3 AM dressed in a French maid's costume.

For us, there is no such rule stating we can't require new members to do things the initiates don't have to do. Hazing is hazing, that does not fit any definition of hazing I've ever worked with.