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Fraternity Policies

Mon, 01/26/2009 - 2:07am — admin

POLICY ON HAZING

The Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity & Tau Beta Sigma Sorority neither approves of nor is responsible for actions of members of local chapters which may result in injury to persons or damage to property. Hazing is defined as any actions taken or situation created, intentionally or unintentionally, to produce mental or physical discomfort on or off campus involving members and/or prospective members, which may cause embarrassment, harassment, and/or ridicule.

The following list is not all inclusive but gives examples of the kinds of activities/actions that are strictly prohibited. Forcing, requiring or expecting prospective members or initiated members to participate in any of the following actions or activities is explicitly prohibited.

  1. Expecting participation in any activity in which initiated members themselves will not participate.
  2. Drinking alcohol or any other substance.
  3. Using any drug, narcotic, or controlled substance.
  4. Eating spoiled foods, raw onions, goldfish, or anything a reasonable person would not eat.
  5. Dropping food or other substances (eggs, grapes, liver, etc.) into another person's mouth.
  6. Tying a person to a chair, pole, anchor, tree, or any other object or to another person.
  7. Causing fatigue through physical or psychological shock.
  8. Branding.
  9. Paddling of any nature.
  10. Performing physical exercise (sit-ups, push-ups, runs, rolling up or down hills, crab walk, etc.) except in the case of organized sports and Marching Band activities.
  11. Pushing, shoving, tackling, or any other physical abuse not associated with organized sports.
  12. Throwing anything (whipped cream, garbage, water, paint, etc.) at a person or a group of people.
  13. Exposing oneself indecently or appearing nude or in a way that is considered by a reasonable person to be offensive.
  14. Verbally addressing prospective members in a demeaning manner.
  15. Misleading prospective members in an effort to convince them that they will not be initiated or that they will be hurt during initiation.
  16. Carrying any items (shields, paddles, bricks, etc.) that serve no constructive purpose or that are designed to punish or embarrass the carrier.
  17. Waking prospective members at odd intervals or permitting fewer than six continuous hours of sleep each night.
  18. Conducting membership education activities between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.
  19. Participating in or conducting lineups (actives or prospective members, separate from members, in order to answer actives' questions).
  20. Conducting activities that do not allow adequate time for study and/or classes.
  21. Wearing apparel or accessories that are conspicuous and in bad taste or wearing items that cause discomfort.
  22. Wearing more or less clothing than the temperature or weather indicates.
  23. Defacing property (trees, grounds, buildings, cars, etc.)
  24. Stealing any property (composites, trophies, etc.)
  25. Compelling a person or group to remain at a certain place or transporting a person or group anywhere without their consent (road trips, kidnaps).
  26. Assigning or endorsing pranks (stealing, panty raids, harassing another organization, etc.)
  27. Acting like animals or objects.
  28. Engaging in public/private stunts or buffoonery that causes mental or emotional trauma and/or injury to any individual.
  29. Yelling a prescribed phrase of chant, as an expectation of the membership education program, when entering, passing through, or leaving any building.
  30. Intentionally "trashing" any area for the purpose of annoying others or for having others clean the "trashed" area.
  31. Disallowing prospective members to speak, as an expectation of the membership education program, with the exception of exams and rituals.
  32. Performing marching maneuvers individually or as a part of the membership education program.
  33. Blindfolding and parading individuals in public areas or privately conducting blindfolding activities that serve no constructive purpose with the exception of when entering the ritual room immediately prior to the beginning of the ritual or joint ceremony.
  34. Having prospective members perform personal chores or errands under the threat of negative repercussions.
  35. Placing or receiving phone calls or answering doors with a prescribed chant, riddle, song, or rhyme.
  36. Having only prospective member perform wakes and phone duty.
  37. Allowing perspective members to use only a particular door when entering or leaving any building or to use only a certain stairway within a building.
  38. Conducting quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, paddle hunts, big or little sibling hunts, or walk-outs in a manner unrelated to membership education.
  39. Entering or leaving any building in a dictated manner (hand over hand, backwards, crawling, sideways, etc.)

The chapter shall hold a hazing workshop prior to First Degree. This workshop will inform prospective members of the hazing policy, the chapter membership education program, and a line of communication to follow if the prospective members feel hazing may be occurring. A recommendation for the line of communication is to first contact someone in the prospective member's chapter (i.e. chapter vice president in charge of the Membership Education Program or big sibling, etc.), then the sponsor, then the district governor/counselor. The National Headquarters will be made aware of any reports of hazing and will act appropriately. The chapter should understand that their charter may be revoked if hazing is found to be occurring.

POLICY AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

The Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity and the Tau Beta Sigma Sorority expressly prohibits discrimination by any component part of the Fraternity or Sorority or by any person acting on behalf of the organizations on the basis of race, national origin, gender, religion, handicap, sexual orientation, or marital status.

POLICY AGAINST CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

Recognizing its responsibility for the social well-being and welfare of its members; and with the objective that the social atmosphere and environment of its chapters be one in harmony with the spirit and ideas of these fraternal organizations; Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity and Tau Beta Sigma Sorority adopt this policy related to controlled substances.

  1. The possession, consumption, and distribution of alcoholic beverages by a chapter or colony at any function given in the name of or for the benefit of Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity or Tau Beta Sigma Sorority shall be strictly forbidden.
  2. There shall be no sale of alcoholic beverages by a chapter or a colony.
  3. Chapter or colony funds shall at no time be used to purchase alcohol.
  4. No chapter or colony shall sponsor or co-sponsor any activities which are classified as an "open party" that is characterized by realistic and/or public access to alcoholic beverages.
  5. No chapter or colony may co-sponsor an event with an alcohol distributor, charitable organization, or tavern (tavern defined as an establishment generating more than half of an annual gross sales from alcohol) where alcohol is given away, sold, or otherwise provided to those present.
  6. No member and/or prospective member shall permit, tolerate, encourage, or participate in 'drinking games" at any chapter activity or function.
  7. No alcohol shall be present at any prospective membership, pre-initiation, or initiation activity of the chapter.
  8. The fraternity/sorority directs its chapters to implement a membership recruitment program involving non-alcoholic activities.
  9. Chapters are directed to develop a comprehensive alcohol awareness program of education on responsibilities and liabilities of alcohol possession, consumption and distribution.
  10. The fraternity & sorority directs its chapters to develop a balanced social program which incorporates creative, non-alcoholic oriented programming.
  11. The chapter Executive Committee is directed to supervise the design and implementation of the Chapter's social programs so that they conform to the spirit of this policy. It is further directed to take corrective and/or disciplinary measures when warranted on any individual who negatively affects the well-being of the chapter through the use of alcoholic beverages.
  12. The possession, consumption, and distribution of illegal drugs by a chapter or colony at any function in the name of or for the local benefit of Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity or Tau Beta Sigma Sorority shall be strictly prohibited.

The Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity and Tau Beta Sigma Sorority base their position upon recognition that clear evidence exists that the abuse or illegal use of controlled substances can erode the foundations of fraternalism and diminish the complete attainment of the goals and objectives of the organizations and the educational community.

POLICY ON MEMBERSHIP CANDIDATE TERMINOLOGY

At the 1991 National Conventions of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, the national Chapters decided to no longer recognize the word “pledge” of any form thereof as a term to refer to the prospective members of the Membership Education Program. The decision was made at the same time that the Membership Education Programs of the Fraternity and Sorority were revised to promote the positive education of all prospective members throughout the process. In doing so, information within the programs that had any negative connotation suggesting hazing was removed, including any references to the word “pledge.” It is therefore imperative to remove any references to the word “pledge” from all chapter documents, including Membership Education Programs, Constitutions, and any other handbooks on policies and procedures in order to fully comply with the current standards of the National Organizations.