FIPG's hazing policy is intentionally broad, and permission from the person being hazed is not a defense. "It was optional" or "they said it was fine" doesn't change whether an activity violates this policy. Here's the definition your chapter is held to, and where the most common blind spots are.
For: All members, especially new member educators and BOG.
When: Before new member education begins, and anytime you're unsure whether an activity crosses the line.
The Definition
Hazing is any action taken or situation created, intentionally, on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.
📌 Policy — No chapter, colony, student, or alumnus may conduct or condone hazing. Permission or approval from the person being hazed is not a defense.
Activities That Qualify — More Than You'd Think
The policy names specific examples, and several of them get treated as harmless "tradition" on chapters where they shouldn't be:
☐ Use of alcohol
☐ Paddling in any form
☐ Creating excessive fatigue
☐ Physical or psychological shocks
☐ Quests, treasure hunts, or scavenger hunts
☐ Road trips
☐ Any of the above carried out inside or outside the chapter house
☐ Requiring members to wear conspicuous public apparel that isn't normally in good taste
☐ Public stunts or buffoonery
☐ Morally degrading or humiliating games and activities
☐ Anything inconsistent with academic achievement, fraternal law, ritual, or policy, or with the educational institution's or applicable state's regulations
⚠️ Watch out — Road trips, scavenger hunts, and "funny" required outfits are explicitly named in the policy. If your chapter has a version of these as tradition, that tradition needs to change, not be explained away.
Where It Applies
This isn't limited to the chapter house or official events. It covers anything done intentionally, on or off premises — including activities members might frame as being "outside" chapter business.
What to Do If You're Not Sure
☐ Pause the activity before it happens, not after
☐ Ask your Risk Management Chairman or Chapter Advisor directly
☐ Treat "does this embarrass, discomfort, or ridicule someone" as the test — not "did we mean harm"
✅ Best practice — If you find yourself asking "is this hazing?" - treat that question itself as the answer, and confirm with your Risk Management Chairman or Chapter Advisor before moving forward.
FAQ
Does hazing require intent to harm someone?
No. The definition covers actions taken intentionally to produce discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule — the intent to create that experience is what matters, not whether anyone meant lasting harm.
What if the new member agreed to it or said they were fine with it?
Permission or approval by the person being hazed is explicitly not a defense under this policy.
Does this only apply to new member activities?
No — it applies to any student or alumnus, at any point in membership, on or off fraternity premises.
What if it happens off chapter property, like on a road trip?
The policy explicitly covers activities on or off fraternity premises, and specifically names road trips as an example.
Questions? Contact your Chapter Services Consultant.
Last reviewed: September 2026.