September 21-25 is National Hazing Prevention Week. Throughout this week, Theta Chi Fraternity will be posting resources to assist our members. This year's theme is "These Hands Don't Haze", an idea derived from a poem by Cherie Michaud. It reads:
These hands can
Do a lot of things
They can give a
Handshake or a hug,
They can play,
Basketball or football
But do you know what these hands don't do?
These hands don't haze.
These hands are helping hands.
These hands will stand up against hazing.
You see these hands?
Yes, these hands.
They can do a lot of things , but
These hands don't haze
This week, Theta Chi Fraternity is asking its members to recommit to extending the Helping Hand. What will your hands do to create a positive collegiate environment? What do they do to prevent hazing?
Membership in Theta Chi Fraternity requires us to uphold and live by the ideals and principles of Theta Chi as described in the Fraternity’s Ritual, Creed, The Constitution and Bylaws of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc., andThe Risk Management Standards and Insurance Manual of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc.
Theta Chi Fraternity will not tolerate any hazing-related activity which demeans, embarrasses, threatens, frightens, implies one member is superior to another or that initiation must be earned through personal services or meaningless activities for initiated members.
From The Constitution and Bylaws of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc.:
Article V, Section 11
The Fraternity prohibits absolutely all physical hazing, paddling, uncalled-for humiliation, and public display in connection with New Member education and pre-initiatory activities, and subscribes to the North-American Interfraternity Conference resolutions and the Fraternity Executives Association’s “Statement of Position on Hazing and Pre-Initiatory Activities" which condemn all forms of hazing in connection with New Member education and pre-initiatory activities. The active chapters shall carry out the Fraternity’s policy and conform strictly to this policy, not only to escape the danger of bringing discredit to the Fraternity and injuring the entire fraternity cause, but also to build higher respect for the chapters and the Fraternity in the minds of New Members and to instill a finer type of loyalty thereby. The Fraternity prohibits all forms of public initiation, and pre-initiatory and initiation activities shall not be permitted to interfere in any way with the scholastic obligations or class attendance of those involved.
Prohibited Hazing Activities
The following activities are hazing and will not be tolerated. This list is by no means all-inclusive; many other activities could be added. Keep in mind that the intent of the activity is as significant as the activity itself.
- Forced or coerced consumption of alcohol or food.
- Calisthenics of any type, or at any time.
- Paddling, striking or any form of physical abuse.
- Any type of abandonment (e.g., kidnaps, "ditches," or "bags").
- "Road trips" or any transportation with no educational experience.
- Any form of "line-ups" or interviews.
- Prevention or deprivation of sleep or study time.
- Duties not shared equally with members (e.g., house clean ups, answering telephones, giving rides, or serving meals).
- Requiring new members to carry items or objects (e.g., paddles, matches, books, change, bricks, or the Manual of Theta Chi).
- Any act of personal servitude.
- Verbal harassment or yelling at any time.
- Requiring or endorsing pranks that break the law or reflect poorly on the chapter (e.g., theft, destruction, or harassment).
- Requiring uncomfortable, inappropriate dress or conforming dress.
- Restricting or requiring the use of certain doors, entrances, or public rooms or furniture in the chapter house.
- Interrogations and testing that is inconsistent with normal testing of educational material (e.g., threatening or harassing new members through psychological or verbal intimidation including the use of pledge courts or pledge reviews).
- Requiring certain forms of address or greetings to members when answering the telephone.
- Requiring new members to recite the Creed or Greek Alphabet "to a match" or in any other manner that is designed to denigrate or intimidate the new members.
- Misleading new members to believe that they are brothers or "active."
- Use of blindfolds.
- Requiring new members to recite information, phrases or spiels with no useful or educational purpose.
- Keeping vigil over any object or device.
Though 2015's National Hazing Prevention Week is September 21-25, Theta Chi Fraternity's commitment against hazing remains in place each and every day.
If you are being hazed or are aware of others being hazed, call our anti-hazing hotline at 1-855-824-4840. Also feel free to click on the banner below for more information on Hazing Prevention and National Hazing Prevention Week.
