Office of Student
Life:
GREEK LIFE
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Operating Procedures for Fraternities & Sororities
2004-2005
HAZING - WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
(A Guide for the Well-Informed Greek)
WHAT IS HAZING?
Hazing is defined as any activity, which endangers the physical safety of another
person; produces mental or physical discomfort; causes embarrassment, fright,
humiliation, or ridicule; or degrades an individual.
WHY IS HAZING BAD?
The Greek system is a target for widespread criticism. While most comes from persons who have never experienced the manifold values inherent in fraternity and sorority membership, it spokespeople are so numerous, and their audience is so predominantly made up of non-Greek men and women lacking gin understanding of what a fraternity or sorority really stands for, that it is difficult to counteract the unfavorable publicity.
In other words - Greeks are vulnerable.
There is a more practical side, however. In the past, pre-initiation horseplay in the Greek world has led to numerous physical injuries and deaths. As a matter of law, it has been established that chapters which conduct activities that can be described as hazing are liable for damages for the injuries inflicted, and that similar liability is incurred by the chapter members who participate in hazing.
HOW DID HAZING GET STARTED?
Hazing, as we now know it, is strictly an American phenomenon -arising from the crude behavior of the 19th century "cowboy" towns on the frontier and, later, from forms of military discipline imposed during "boot camp" or "basic training". Hazing did have parallels in Medieval Europe and the British prep schools of the 1700’s, but these practices disappeared centuries before the American version developed.
Hazing persists today, because it is a "TRADITION". It is a "rite of passage" which entitles the survivor to presumed special recognition. IT NEEDS TO BE ERADICATED!
TO WHOM DOES HAZING APPLY?
Our greatest contact and familiarity with hazing comes from the Active/Pledge relationship. If hazing is occurring, usually the Active Member is hazing a Pledge or Associate Member.
Hazing, however, is not limited to members’ interactions with pledges. It is also possible for a pledge to haze a member; a member to haze another member; or a pledge to haze another pledges.
WHAT KINDS OF HAZING ARE THERE?
There are two basic types of hazing...physical and mental.
Listed below are some examples of each:
Examples of Physical Hazing
* Paddling
* House cleaning duties
* Personal servitude
* Being doused with water
* Exposure to bright lights
* Lack of sleep
* Pushing, shoving, punching
* Exercises, calisthenics
* Exposure to discomfort
* Forced eating or drinking
Examples of Mental Hazing
* Mandatory memorization
* Blindfolding
* Demerits
* Verbal harassment
* Hell Week*
* Pranks*
* Mandatory study halls
* Overly long pledge period
* Calling pledges degrading names
* Degrading or embarrassing apparel
Hazing, both mental and physical, can range from MILD DISCOMFORT, to INTENSE
STRESS and PHYSICAL EXERTION.
HOW WILL I KNOW IF I AM HAZING?
If you have to ask if a particular activity is hazing...then it probably is.
The key here is sensitivity to others, and doing activities on a cooperative basis. Some of the activities listed wouldn’t be hazing if everyone did them together and no on e was forced to do something they didn’t want to do.
Think about it. You (and your chapter) could start a whole new tradition -- one of NO HAZING.
PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING COMPLAINTS
When an individual or organization is observed or reported to be in violation of a college policy pertaining to Greek organizations; the following procedure shall be followed.
* A written detailed report of the alleged violation will be submitted to the Dean of Student Life.
* The Dean of Student Life will review the complaint and determine what process of resolution will be followed. The Dean may request interviews with any individual(s) pertinent to the complaint, if he/she deems it necessary.
Resolution:
* The Dean of Student Life may find no merit to the complaint and dismiss it.
* The Dean of Student Life may review and act on the information received according to previously defined sanctions.
* The Dean of Student Life may seek an informal resolution by working directly with all parties to discuss the complaint informally for the purpose of effecting an informal resolution. The informal resolution shall be committed to writing by the Dean of Student Life or his designee and communicated to all parties pertinent to the complaint.
* If the accused chapters are affiliated with a Greek Council with an approved judicial process, the Dean of Student Life may refer the matter to a Greek judicial process.
* The Dean of Student Life may seek an administrative hearing. An administrative hearing will consist of a panel of one to four college staff and/or students designated by the Dean of Students. Opportunities will be provided for both the complainant and the accused to present information in an Administrative Hearing.
* The Dean of Student life may determine that all or part of the alleged violation(s) constitutes a breach of policy by an individual chapter member and refer the case to another Dean for adjudication.
A summary of the Administrative Hearing will be forwarded to the Dean of Students with written recommendations for dismissal of the case or imposition of specific sanctions.
All appeals from an administrative hearing are directed to the Vice President for Student Development and Services and must be made in writing within five business days of receipt of the decision based on the recommendation of the Administrative Hearing Panel. |
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