Tips to Avoid Hazing& Havea ProductiveNew MemberEducationProgram
When Developinq NewMemberEducation
a Proqram
. Makethe new memberprogramas consistentas possiblefrom
semester semester.
to Don'tleaveroomfor grossinterpretation.
r Havea clear,writtenmissionstatement yournewmember
for
education program for the Big/Little
and Brother/Sister Program.
. Haveall members involved the process newmember
in of education.
. Don't over programor monopolize newmember's
a time.
. Don'texpector require thingsfrom a new member that you don't
expectfrom a member (e.9. study hours,wearing pledge when
a pin
members aren'twearingtheirmembership badges/pins, daily/nightly
meetings, earlymorningmeetings, etc.)
o Makefraternalvaluesand principlesthe basisfor the newmember
program.
o Makethe academic achievement supportof new members
and a
priorityanda component the newmember
of education program.
o Include conceptof lifetime
the membership the newmember
in
education program.Stress thefraternity/sorority
that experience doesn't
endyourjunior yearandshouldn't upongraduation.
end Discuss the
opportunities lifetime
for involvement: advising undergraduate chapters,
volunteering the inter/national
with organization, alumni chapter
involvement, commitment paying
financial of inter/national
alumni dues,
making financialdonations theorganization's
to EducationalFoundation,
etc.
o lf in doubtaboutthe appropriateness a new member
of activity,ask
the Directorof Fraternity/Sorority Youwillnever
Life. get "introuble"
for
asking whether something be as
could construed hazing!
BeforeNew MemberEducation
o Review your new member program the beginning each
at of
semester withthe helpof the Director Fraternity/Sorority your
of Life,
advisor, inter/national
or organization helpyou review
to
o Set high membership eligibilitystandards and makerecruitment the
processof "earningyour letters"through potential member's
a new
character, academic performance, leadership, potential. member
and New
education should theprocess
be to their
learning integrate existing skills
andtalents theorganization
into and identifying areastheywouldliketo
deve through thefratern
lop rity
ityisoro experience.
. Providea written copy of your new memberprogramand
expectations potential members
to new during recruitment againto
and
newmembers beforenewmember education begins.
. Relaychapterexpectations alumni.Don't afraid set boundaries
to be to
withalumni holdthemaccountable
and as youwould member.
a
. lnvolvefamiliesin the new member education process. Sendcopies
of yournewmember program a letter introduction,
and of the
including
chapter's
stance hazing, thefamilies newmembers.
on to of Develop an
eventwhere families visit chapter
can the duringnewmember education.
. Communicate writingwhat new members
in shoulddo if they are
overwhelmed feel pressureto do somethingthey normallywould
or
not.
DuringNew Member Education
. Takeany concerns by
expressed new members seriously. youdon't
lf
knowhowto handle situation, the Director Fraternity/Sorority
a ask of Life,
youradvisor inter/national
or organization.
o Reviewritual procedures with new membersbeforeinitiationto
any
alleviate fearstheymayhave.
. Host a brotherhood/sisterhood eventfor membersbeforeeach
initiation you
where discuss ritualprocedures itsmessage
and (your
organization's
values expectations).
and
After New MemberEducation
. Review ritualprocess,
the message and your organizational values
with new members during post-initiation
a retreat.
. Ask new members evaluate new memberprogramafter
to the
initiation andprovide feedback waysto improve experience the
for the for
nextgroup newmembers.
of
. Reviewthe new memberprogramafter eachinitiationwith all
membersto determine the experience be improved both
how can for
members newmembers. issues
and lf or problems arose, the Director
ask
of Fraternity/Sorority advisor inter/national
Life, or organization helpin
for
addressing theseissues during nextnewmember
the education program.
. Don'tfall into the trap of treatingnew initiates second-class
as
citizens. Eliminate useof theterm"rookie" used).
the (if Don'texpect or
require things newinitiates youwouldn't
of that of
expect all members.
Developed Allison
by Life
Director Fraternity/Sorority & Leadership
Swick-Duttine, of
at at
University NewYorkCollege Plattsburgh.
Development the State of