The Tightrope program by Plaid (the learning platform we use) is an online safety and risk management program designed for college students, which covers real topics and realistic experiences in Greek life and more across the holistic university experience. It provides education on alcohol and substance abuse, hazing prevention, mental health, and sexual assault awareness.
The program is meant to help students navigate common risks and landmines they might come across. Tightrope provides students with relevant and important information needed to make better decisions and to keep themselves & others safe.
It is REQUIRED that every Associate Member access Plaid (in the Phi Tau Portal) and FULLY COMPLETE THE TIGHTROPE PROGRAM.
The curriculum is split into several short modules, and ALL must be completed by every Associate Member.
Modules include:
Tightrope Introduction
Alcohol and Substance Use Survey
The Facts About Alcohol and Other Drugs
The Culture of Drinking
Mental Health and Hazing Survey
Hazing and Being a Safe Student
Healthy Relationships
Mental Health
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HAZING PREVENTION
POINT OF DISCUSSION:
Hazing is often defended by the people doing it as "tradition," "bonding," or "what we went through." Why do you think those explanations don't hold up under an actual definition of hazing?
Can an activity be hazing even if the Associate Members involved say they're fine with it, or even enjoy it? Why does consent not settle the question?
How would you describe the difference between a challenging new member experience (something that builds real growth, confidence, or brotherhood) and a hazing experience (something that humiliates, endangers, or degrades)? Where's the line, concretely?
If you saw something happening to a fellow associate member that felt like it crossed the line, what would make it hard to speak up — fear of retaliation, not wanting to be "that guy," uncertainty about whether it's "bad enough"? What would help you speak up anyway?
Has anything in your own Associate Member experience so far felt uncomfortable in a way that did NOT seem like healthy growth? What made it feel different? CONVERSELY, what are some examples from your own Associate Member experience so far that felt genuinely comfortable seem like real healthy growth? What made those feel different?
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Health & Safety costs continue to rise, and can have a very real impact on how much your chapter pays...which means it has a real impact on how much each member of the chapter pays in their total dues. When members of the fraternity are well-informed, they have a better chance of being safe and avoiding health & safety violations that could put the chapter at risk of surcharges. Completion of Tightrope is mandatory, it is important for every member's safety, and it is also an important way to help ensure your chapter's costs remain as controlled as possible...which impacts every brother.