Associate Membership Process

[GinaD79]

I am not a huge poster here on GC but I really like to hear what people have to say about Greek Life, Rush, AI, etc. Today I have a few questions about hazing and university policies as they apply to your education process.

I know that most education processes are secret so I don't expect too much detail, but how do you get around the system if your process is just tradition? I am not really referring to physical aspects of the process but more location oriented things, where things are done (on/off campus), having Associate Members follow certain instructions, give respect, etc.

Do you modify your entire process to comply with university regulation? How do you make sure Associate Members don't run and scream "hazing" to the administration?

How do you handle these types of issues? Thanks for your consideration and help.

[adpiucf]

I wouldn't say our education processes are secret. Our ritual, however, is.

How do you make sure your new members don't cry, "Hazing!" to administration? Don't haze them. Educate yourselves and your chapter on what is hazing, and eliminate/modify chapter traditions that are hazing. Your campus Greek Adviser can help you in this education and elimination/modification. Remember, the mark of a good leader is not just doing it as it has always been done. A good leader looks at the way things are done, recognizes what isn't working (in the eyes of the organization, the law, the campus) and makes things right, even in the face of adversity. This is a true mark of a leader.

Are you a local? One way to avoid university suspicion of misconduct is to appoint a faculty member to be your group's adviser. If you would like, make this person an honorary member of your organization. Or not. But this adviser will become an integral part of chapter operations.

Your new member coordinator should draft lesson plans for new member education. It should include in detail all activties for bid day, new member education sessions, retreat and initiation week . Be painstakingly specific in these lesson plans (obviously, you don't have to write down your ritual in these plans!). The bonus is that years from now, the new member educator will have piles of lesson plans to draw from for inspiration in her role!

By being specific in your lesson plans I mean, if you're playing the "M&M's" game as an activity, list full and complete directions in how you play it. (IE: Each person receives an M&M. If you receive a green one, it means that you say something nice about the person to your left, a brown one means....). Also, attach any handouts you might give the new members (supplements like a one-sheet about the history of the house, academic resources, a semester calendar of activities, etc.)

Submit these plans to your adviser for approval. He/She may recommend changes that ensure your new member program is in compliance with university/Panhellenic policies and that none of the activities are considered hazing. You might also want to be proactive and show your lesson plan to the campus Greek Adviser for approval, to ensure that none of the activities you have described are hazing activities in the eyes of the university, state or NPC.

Once it is approved, follow this outline to a T! If there are any changes to dates or activities within the lesson, plan make certain your Adviser and Greek Adviser are cc'd and approve the change! You are doing this to ensure your chapter is in compliance with the anti-hazing policies of the state, the university and NPC.

Meet regularly with the initated members who are sponsoring the new members through the pre-initiation program. Monitor the relationships between the new members and their sponsors. Recommend activities to the sponsors that they can hold with the new members. Make sure that all members have been through training on "what is hazing" (your greek adviser can make recommendations on how to do this workshop).

Great ways to promote respect and unity:
*Focus on all-chapter unity, rather than unity between the new member classes. You will have one group working for the greater good of the organization, rather than 4 dissident cliques trying to outdo one another. Investigate a team bonding activity like a ropes course.
* Bring alumnae and seniors into your new member sessions to talk about what it means to be a member of XYZ. They can talk about the importance of self-respect, respect for letters, and respect for one another, even show scrapbooks of what life was like when they were freshmen, etc, and what campus was like back then. They can start a dialogue with the new members about friendship, and what is means to be a good friend. You can incorporate some kind of craft activity that symbolizes your discussion on respect and friendship.
* Bring in a motivational speaker to talk to your chapter about the importance of team work and the imporatance of respect for one another.
* Include your new members in chapter goal setting. It will make them feel an integrated part of the chapter and allow them to see "the bigger picture."

Your new member period should not be a time of the new member having to prove themselves. That is what recruitment was for. Your new members are testing the waters to determine if this experience is right for them. You've worked very hard to recruit them. Don't risk alienating them. It costs time and money to recruit quality members. When your retention is low, you lose out-- bad publicity, you have to recruit more often, you have less members to choose from to fulfill leadership roles, and the members who are there get burned out and resentful. You don't need to have a chapter of 200 members to be sucessful, but you do need to stay out of the red and be respectful of all your members, new and initiated. Hold open dialogue within the chapter on the importance of respect and hold chapter education sessions that focus on membership enrichment-- instilling respect and friendship. When the entire chapter participates equally, you win.

Remember, just because you're doing things the way they've "always" been done doesn't mean that they're right. Challenge yourself and push yourself to do right. It will help your organization surivive and grow and succeed.

[ISUKappa]

Originally posted by adpiucf
. . . Your new member period should not be a time of the new member having to prove themselves. That is what recruitment was for. Your new members are testing the waters to determine if this experience is right for them. You've worked very hard to recruit them. Don't risk alienating them. It costs time and money to recruit quality members. When your retention is low, you lose out-- bad publicity, you have to recruit more often, you have less members to choose from to fulfill leadership roles, and the members who are there get burned out and resentful. You don't need to have a chapter of 200 members to be sucessful, but you do need to stay out of the red and be respectful of all your members, new and initiated. Hold open dialogue within the chapter on the importance of respect and hold chapter education sessions that focus on membership enrichment-- instilling respect and friendship. When the entire chapter participates equally, you win.

Brava!

May I use this for the chapter I advise? We're going through a difficult stretch and I think this may help.

[emb021]

Originally posted by GinaD79
I am not a huge poster here on GC but I really like to hear what people have to say about Greek Life, Rush, AI, etc. Today I have a few questions about hazing and university policies as they apply to your education process.

I know that most education processes are secret so I don't expect too much detail, but how do you get around the system if your process is just tradition? I am not really referring to physical aspects of the process but more location oriented things, where things are done (on/off campus), having Associate Members follow certain instructions, give respect, etc.

Do you modify your entire process to comply with university regulation? How do you make sure Associate Members don't run and scream "hazing" to the administration?

How do you handle these types of issues? Thanks for your consideration and help.

Well, let me explain how I see this in my Fraternity, APO.

APO has a National Pledging Standard which gives the 20 elements that should be part of each chapter's pledge program. Some items (like no hazing, etc) are hard and fast rules. Others are more flexible, allowing each chapter to define how they do it at their school. Our education process is not secret. (our rituals and certain items of our fraternity are).

APO also has a Membership Policy and Risk Management Policy that clearly addresses issues like hazing and the like. Most GLOs have these or something similiar.

APO also follows the policy that university policy overrides fraternity policy. For instance, APO states in the NPS that the pledge program should be 6-10 weeks long. Some universities mandate a shorter period. Not an issue for APO. Chapter at such shools follow that policy. Also, some schools do not allow for a true pledge program. Again, not an issue, APO allows for an 'alternate new member education program' in cases like this.

Chapters are suppose to develop their pledge program (including their pledge requirements) in line with the NPS *and* university policy. So long as chapters (and their members) keep in mind those policies, there shouldn't be any issues.

Hope this helps

[Tom Earp]

Pledgeships for a better lack of a word are not governed by the school, but by the National Greek Organizations!

This is called Risk Management. The reason that there are now Officers in place to cover this is because of some stupid things that Chapters do to remain true to "The Good Old Days"! If I did it, then they can do it and it just perpetuates the system that gets any of the Local Chapters in trouble for when something happens!

I think All National Glos have Hazing Polocies and they are to be followed! Period! Now, I wonder why you would ask such a question?

If you are just a Local Group, then the Insurance would be on your head, with a National Organization who allows Chapters to get Insurance through them, it is ls Expensive! But when one finds out how much of your dues are and what portion goes toward Risk Management it is stagering! Oh, Our is throught Lloyds of London! Does that tell you something?

[preciousjeni]

I know that most education processes are secret so I don't expect too much detail, but how do you get around the system if your process is just tradition?

Indeed! My sorority's "education process" is very private, because most everything has significant meaning to us. That's all I can say about that!

Do you modify your entire process to comply with university regulation?

We just don't haze.

How do you make sure Associate Members don't run and scream "hazing" to the administration?

This question is the reason I posted a reply. One of the problems I see with aspirants is that there will always be some people who just want there stereotypes of Greek Life to be proven right. These people will pick apart everything that you do, whether it be sitting through a meeting (an entire meeting?? Perish the thought!!) or learning information within a period of time. You do your best to find people who will stand up against hazing but also who will not try to destroy your Greek system with false accusations.

[Rudey]

Basically your question is how do you prevent disorder. The best answer is to maintain control.

1. We have full control. That means there aren't large events with more pledges than brothers, non house members, etc.

2. We don't bring in unnecessary risks. There is a difference between tradition and being traditionally stupid. If you can't speak about it with your mom and dad without worrying, we don't want to do it.

3. We remember our goals at all times in the pledge process and think of ways to meet them. That means we aren't so rigidly defined and can "bend" tradition.

4. We document things. By document I don't mean papers and videos. All pledges are informed that we do NOT haze. Events are often at public places. Perhaps they volunteer with a group, they study in a library, work out at the gym, go out with a sorority...but someone always sees.

5. They are given proper outlets to voice their concerns. They have every brother's phone number. They have contact info for the national office.

6. Most importantly, we're smart and the pledges we pick are smart. We don't want high-risk idiots who would lick our shoes and do it to the next generation.

This is for MY chapter. I recently of a chapter where a pledge attacked a police officer to the point that the officer's leg was broken severely. That would never have even happened in my chapter.

-Rudey

[Rio_Kohitsuji]

how do you get around the system if your process is just tradition? I am not really referring to physical aspects of the process but more location oriented things, where things are done (on/off campus), having Associate Members follow certain instructions, give respect, etc.

Location's change for us (it keeps it more interesting ) Also, our pledges know that if they start disrespecting us, we'll rip them and if they do it one more time, they're automatically blackballed. If you keep a stiff upper lip and show them that you're serious about your organization and you show it to them correctly, they'll catch on and act accordingly. Remember, if you dont' show them respect, they won't show you any.

Do you modify your entire process to comply with university regulation? How do you make sure Associate Members don't run and scream "hazing" to the administration?

Honestly, the University doesn't care. As long as a pledge doesn't die they stay out of the GLO's business. We're pretty picky about pledges, we won't take anyone we have doubts about. Plus, if your activities are that bad that cause pledges to go and complain about hazing, the activity had probably gone too far.

[adpiucf]

I saw this on an LXA website, and thought it was great to see a fraternity really stepping up to support zero tolerance hazing policies:

Hazing has absolutely no place in Lambda Chi Alpha. However, Lambda Chi Alpha's definition of hazing and harassment activities - activities which are not permitted under any circumstances - is the most broad among all fraternities. In Lambda Chi Alpha, hazing is defined as "any action taken or situation created intentionally to produce physical discomfort or mental discomfort by embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule."

Additionally, Lambda Chi Alpha considers pledgeship hazing, and pledgeship hazing is a program which dwells on the separation of initiated members and pledges with a primary emphasis on subservience. Within our definition of hazing, separation between associate members and initiates is not allowed because an associate versus initiate concept is in direct conflict with the goal of fraternity education and Lambda Chi Alpha. The key is unity.

Hazing is degrading, dangerous, and contrary to that which our Fraternity stands. It serves no useful purpose, is criticized by all thoughtful persons, and is extremely poor public relations. You may already be aware that this concept and our fraternity education program are unique among fraternities, although some fraternities on campus may have similarities. You may also be aware of pledges of other fraternities who must undergo a period of "pledge training" or "pledge education" before being permitted to participate fully in the affairs of the fraternity. And, there are pledge activities that may be common in other fraternities but which are not allowed in Lambda Chi Alpha:
- No separate meetings for associate members.
- No tests or quizzes of associate members.
- No separate dress codes for associate members.
- No separate work responsibilities for associate members.
- No associate member "class officers."
- No kidnapping of any members.
- No walk-outs, associate member retreats, or other activities which separate the associate members from initiates.
-No verbal or physical abuse of members by other members.
- No use of the term "class" or the function of a class system within the chapter.
-In Lambda Chi Alpha, all members share equal rights and responsibilities.