Sweethearts wearing letters?

[fantASTic]

Actually, in my state, calling a new member a pledge is against the law because it's hazing. Nationals also condemns it. It is reminiscent of the days in which a new member was required to participate in unfortunate events in order to initiate, aka hazing.

At least in AST, not allowing a new member to wear letters IS hazing, because it's telling them that they can't do certain things unless they're initiated. It's the same thing as requiring them to wear certain clothing all the time, which IS hazing.

Whether a certain org's nationals have strict rules about non members wearing letters is one thing. However, if Nationals does NOT say that it is verboten, then it is left up to the individual chapter, and it shoudln't matter to us.

[kathykd2005]

Hazing is defined as any action or situation with or without consent which recklessly, intentionally or unintentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or creates risk of injury, or causes discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule or which willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a chapter or colony of an NPC member fraternity. All member groups will affirm their policies denouncing hazing and inform their membership of this NPC position denouncing hazing through mailings and through their inter/national magazines.

http://www.npcwomen.org/policies/p_resolutions.php

Kind of cryptic, but it covers all of the bases, I guess.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by kathykd2005

Hazing is defined as any action or situation with or without consent which recklessly, intentionally or unintentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or creates risk of injury, or causes discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule or which willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a chapter or colony of an NPC member fraternity. All member groups will affirm their policies denouncing hazing and inform their membership of this NPC position denouncing hazing through mailings and through their inter/national magazines.

http://www.npcwomen.org/policies/p_resolutions.php

Kind of cryptic, but it covers all of the bases, I guess.

Since Alpha Epsilon Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta and Pi Beta Phi do not allow their "new members" to wear their letters prior to initiation, I guess the NPC doesn't consider it hazing. Or at least it doesn't fall under the y'all's Unanimous Agreements.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

Actually, in my state, calling a new member a pledge is against the law because it's hazing.

I'm sorry, but I simply can't believe that. Aside from the fact that the First Amendment would trump any law that prohibited the use of a word, which is what you're talking about, there are too many fraternities that still officially use the word pledge. I have seen lots of legal definitions of hazing, and I have never seen a legal definition, as opposed to, say, the NPC's definition, that would cover calling a "new member" a pledge. (And I think it's debatable that the NPC definition covers it as written, but I will certainly defer to the NPC's interpretation of its own policy.)

[RutgersPIKE]

I guess its a good thing im NIC because we a)use the word pledges and b)dont allow pledges to wear letters, we allow them to wear PIKES but not the letters. I dont see why that is hazing, its just like making your high school sports team, if you dont make the team, you dont get a jersey, so why is it different for fraternities or sororities, if you dont make it, why should you wear the letters?

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by RutgersPIKE

I guess its a good thing im NIC because we a)use the word pledges and b)dont allow pledges to wear letters, we allow them to wear PIKES but not the letters. I dont see why that is hazing, its just like making your high school sports team, if you dont make the team, you dont get a jersey, so why is it different for fraternities or sororities, if you dont make it, why should you wear the letters?

Mind set for some!


What ever one wants to call it, you still allow nebies to wear some kind of recognition and that is good!

It is still called ADVERTISING Your GLO for others on campus, right?

Gosh, who may seem some neat guy or gal and say hey, I want to talk to you about Your GLO! OOPS, may get a new prospect! Da, Me for not getting it!

[RutgersPIKE]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Mind set for some!


What ever one wants to call it, you still allow nebies to wear some kind of recognition and that is good!

It is still called ADVERTISING Your GLO for others on campus, right?

Gosh, who may seem some neat guy or gal and say hey, I want to talk to you about Your GLO! OOPS, may get a new prospect! Da, Me for not getting it!

Yea we can advertise our GLO to others on campus by the brothers wearing the letters and if we do allow others to wear the shirts, we allow them to wear shirts with PIKE on it and not ΠKA, since pike is our nickname. Im sorry but I just see the meaning behind the letters as being more than just the letters.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

Actually, in my state, calling a new member a pledge is against the law because it's hazing. Nationals also condemns it. It is reminiscent of the days in which a new member was required to participate in unfortunate events in order to initiate, aka hazing.

Which state?

At least in AST, not allowing a new member to wear letters IS hazing, because it's telling them that they can't do certain things unless they're initiated. It's the same thing as requiring them to wear certain clothing all the time, which IS hazing.

That may be an Alpha Sigma Tau rule, but it isn't for all organizations. Again, my understanding is that Alpha Epsilon Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta and Pi Beta Phi do not allow their "new members" to wear their letters prior to initiation.

Whether a certain org's nationals have strict rules about non members wearing letters is one thing. However, if Nationals does NOT say that it is verboten, then it is left up to the individual chapter, and it shouldn't matter to us.

There is specific language in Sigma Chi Fraternity's Constitution or the By-laws that states who may wear letters etc.