Statement of Position on Hazing
Hazing is prohibited by the Fraternity. No chapter, associate chapter, member, or student shall conduct or condone hazing of any brother or new associate member at any time. Any chapter, associate chapter or member who engages in any form of hazing shall be subject to discipline.
Hazing is inconsistent with the cardinal principles of why Phi Kappa Tau was founded. What would our Founders think if they witnessed hazing activities (what would your parents think?). Again, Phi Kappa Tau is a Fraternity that promotes justice to our fellow man. Hazing is not consistent with that mission.
Hazing is defined as any action or situation created whether on or off Fraternity or campus premises, which produces mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule, no matter how good the intent or end result. Someone giving “permission” to haze them is not a justification to haze. Giving permission is not a defense.
Hazing is against the law in more than 40 states and is a violation of PKT’s Health & Safety Policy. Liability insurance does not cover a violation of Health & Safety Policy.
This list of hazing activities, including examples, is intended as a guide. It is NOT complete.
Forced road trips off campus, kidnapping of members. This prohibition is not intended to abolish trips to other chapters, the National Fraternity, and the like. It is meant to abolish situations in which members are left stranded in the middle of nowhere, and any other similar activity.
Personal errands run by associate member for initiated members (servitude).
Assigning pranks such as stealing, painting objects, panty raids, or harassing another organization.
Brothers intentionally messing up the house or a room for the associate member to clean.
Lengthy work sessions.
Ridiculous work assignments (e.g., cleaning floors with toothbrushes, etc.).
Any form of forced physical activities and exercise, whether extreme or not (e.g., push-ups, sit-ups or other calisthenics, runs, walks, etc.).
Squirting member with hoses or fire extinguishers.
Scavenger hunts that promote theft, vandalism, destruction or property and humiliating public acts.
Paddling, paddle swats, or any other striking, beating or hitting.
All-night work or study sessions.
Forcing or requiring members to ingest any liquid or solid matter, edible or non-edible (e.g., any alcoholic substance, chewing tobacco, goldfish, raw onions, spoiled food, etc.).
Dropping food or any other item into the mouths of members.
Requiring members to wear unusual, conspicuous, embarrassing, or uncomfortable clothing or clothing that is not normally considered to be in good taste.
Uncomfortable or inconvenient sleeping arrangements, including sleeping outdoors.
Associate member-brother games designed to physically harm members of the associate member class.
Sleep deprivation - waking members up during the night.
18. Humiliation in front of members or non-members by reference to “Membership Orientation.”
Verbal abuse such as calling an associate member derogatory names; yelling and screaming at associate member.
Line-ups of the associate members, or grilling individuals or groups of associate members with questions of any kind.
Preventing associate member from practicing personal hygiene, including making him wear the same clothes day after day.
Requiring associate member to enter or exit the chapter house through a prescribed door or window.
Forcing an individual to participate in any activity or become involved in any situation that is in violation of federal or local laws, contrary to the person’s genuine moral or religious beliefs, or contrary to the rules and regulations of the educational institution or the Fraternity.
Carrying or wearing objects designed to make members look foolish.
Physical or mental shocks, regardless of degree of nature.
Unwarranted touching of the body.
Ceremonial burials.
Degrading games and activities.
Public stunts of buffoonery.
Degrading games and activities.
Tests of courage, bravery.
Tests of stamina.
Any situation that risks serious harm or damage to an individual, whether physical or mental.
Any activity that would degrade or otherwise compromise the dignity of the individual.
Any activity that requires an unreasonable or inordinate amount of the individual’s time, or in any manner impairs the individual’s academic efforts.
Any activity that makes the individual an object of amusement or ridicule.
Dangerous stunts.
Forced nudity at any time; causing a member to be indecently exposed or embarrassed.
Wearing or carrying items such as paddles or rocks.
Throwing food, water, paint, etc. on a member.
Memorization of pointless, arbitrary information.
Putting associate member in a room that is uncomfortable (noise, temperature, too small) at any time (including during pre-initiation or between portions of the Ritual).
Associate member not permitted adequate time for studies (including during pre-initiation period).
Deception prior to the initiation designed to convince the associate member that they will not be initiated.
Constantly, or many times a day, or routinely every day, asking associate member to think about what to expect in the Ritual.
House duties and cleaning for associate member that would not normally be assigned to brothers and that are not shared by the brothers.
Associate member versus brothers in athletic contests that are purposefully unfair and do not promote friendly competition.
The marking or branding of an associate member.
Preventing a associate member from attending class.
Having associate member write lists of their faults/sins, believing they must read them to other members.
Not being allowed to eat for any reason.
Poling or dunking any member because of a pinning, lavaliering, engagement, birthday, etc.
Education Is Our Goal
The purpose of Fraternity membership education is just that - education about the Fraternity, about the chapter and about the institution. It is education about past and present members, and it is education about what makes a good member.
It is the responsibility of EVERY member to educate in a constructive harmless way. By taking the oath of the Fraternity, it is the responsibility of every member to help maintain the anti-hazing standards of Phi Kappa Tau Health & Safety policy.
Areas of Concern
The senseless act of hazing not only creates liability risk for the chapter and the entire Fraternity, but also hinders the development of the friendships that are the basis of brotherhood.
In recent years a number of states have enacted laws that make hazing an illegal act. This means that, in those states a lawsuit resulting from a hazing activity might exclude insurance coverage for members who were aware of or condoned a hazing activity. This exclusion would result because you cannot be insured for an illegal act.
In addition, the PHI KAPPA TAU liability insurance coverage specifically excludes coverage for members and the chapter(s) who have participated in hazing.
Therefore, hazing carries a number of risks, including:
· A civil lawsuit.
· Criminal prosecution for an illegal act.
· Discipline, including expulsion, by the Fraternity.
· Discipline, including expulsion, by the institution.
· Possible loss of insurance coverage.
Not to mention the mental and physical harm that can come to a person.
“But What We Do Is Not Hazing”
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So is hazing. What you may consider to be perfectly harmless way of making associate members learn their lessons in education, may, in the view of others, be an act of violence that can be criminal.
The role of the chapter is to see that the education process is rewarding, not only for the associate members, but also for the brothers. This calls for a precise agenda for membership education, including a list of activities, dates and times.
Where Hazing Begins
Answer these questions about each activity in your membership education program. If there is one question that has a negative answer, then you know that it should be eliminated.
Would you be willing to allow parents/university president/Founders/a judge witness this activity?
Is this activity an educational experience?
Does this activity promote and conform to the ideals and values of the Fraternity as expressed in the Creed, Association Ceremony and Ritual?
Will this activity increase new members’ respect for the Fraternity and the brothers?
Is it an activity that new member and brothers participate together?
Does the activity have value in and of itself?
Would you be able to defend it in a court of law?
Does the activity abide by the Fraternity’s hazing policies?
Membership Orientation New Member Program
As an independent, self-governing chapter, as long as the chapter adheres to the basic guidelines established by the National Fraternity, the associate member program is the program every chapter is expected to utilize. Modification to the program needs to be reviewed by the Executive Offices staff. The Fraternity’s Membership Orientation New Member program is available and provides a comprehensive and effective way to bring your newest members into the chapter. Contact your Chapter Consultant for more information.