Office of Student
Life:
GREEK LIFE
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Operating Procedures for Fraternities & Sororities
PLEDGE’S BILL OF RIGHTS
Statutory Authority
This Pledge’s Bill of Rights has been developed by the Attorney General pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 18A: 3-24 et seq.
Pledge,
For the purpose of this Pledge’s Bill of Rights a pledge is defined as any student
of the college/university attempting to become a member of a fraternity or sorority
or other similar campus organization. |
Definition of Hazing
For the purpose of this Pledge’s Bill of Rights, "hazing" shall mean
As indicated, pursuant to the New Jersey Statue:
- 2C: 40-3
a. A person is guilty of hazing, a disorderly
persons offense, if, in connection with initiation
of applicants to or members of student or fraternal
organizations, he knowingly or recklessly organizes,
promotes, facilitates, or engages in any conduct,
other than competitive athletic events, which places
or may place another person in danger of bodily injury.
b. A person is guilty of aggravated hazing; a crime of the fourth degree,
if he commits an act prohibited in subsection a., which results in serious
bodily injury to another person.
- 2C: 40-4 Notwithstanding any other provision of Title
2C of the New Jersey Statues to the contrary, consent
shall not be available as a defense to a prosecution
under this act.
- 2C: 40-5 Conduct constituting an offense under this
Act may, at the discretion of the prosecuting attorney,
be prosecuted under any other applicable provision of
Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes
- 2. Other behaviors or activities in addition to those
prohibited under N.J.S.A 2C: 40 et seq. defined
as hazing by a college or university with respect to
its students.
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Prohibition on Hazing
A pledge shall have the right to be free of all activities which may constitute
hazing while attempting to become a member of a fraternity or sorority, or
other campus organization. Campus organizations and their members are prohibited
from engaging in or encouraging other to engage in activities that are defined
as hazing.
A broad range of behaviors that may place another person in danger of bodily
injury or behavior that demonstrates indifference or disregard for another person’s
dignity or well-being may be classified as hazing under the above definition.
Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Forced or required ingestion of alcohol, drugs, food, or any undesirable
substance.
- Participation in sexual rituals or assaults.
- Mentally abusive or demeaning behavior.
- Acts that could result in physical, mental, or emotional deprivation
or harm.
- Physical abuse, e.g. whipping, paddling, beating, tattooing, branding,
and exposure to the elements.
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Acceptable Behavior
The pledge initiation process should be conducted in a manner, which respects
the dignity of pledges and protects their mental and physical well being. Examples
of acceptable behavior include pledge activities that are not classified as
hazing, but promote scholarship, promote service, develop leadership and/or
social skills, assist career goals, involve students with alumni, improve relations
with others, build awareness of fraternity or sorority history, instill a sense
of brotherhood or sisterhood, foster solidarity or otherwise promote the institutional
mission of the host college or university. |
Written Notification of
Rights
Institutions shall require all fraternities, sororities, and other similar campus
organizations to provide all pledges with a written Bill of Rights that includes
the provisions set forth herein. The written Bill of Rights shall be signed by
the student pledge and filed in the appropriate office of the institution. |
Other Policies Governing
the Rush or Pledge Process
Delineation of additional responsibilities of fraternities, sororities, and other
similar campus organizations in regard to rush or pledge activities shall rest
with individual institutions. As such, institutions may develop policies and
regulations governing other aspects of the rush or pledge process, which may
include pledge and membership education, student eligibility to pledge, limitations
on the pledge period, and membership selection.
Institutions may develop policies and procedures for discipline violations of
its pledge process. Institutional action on a hazing violation is independent
of any action, which a prosecutor may pursue for violations under Title 2C.
I CERTIFY THAT I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE PLEDGE’S
BILL OF RIGHTS AND WILL ABIDE BY COLLEGE POLICIES REGARDING PLEDGE PROGRAMS
AND PRE-INITIATION ACTIVITIES.
PROSPECTIVE MEMBER’S SIGNATURE ____________________________________________
FRATERNITY/SORORITY ________________________________________________________
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER _____________________________________________________
DATE ___________________________________________________
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