Hazing Prevention Team

The NMGC does not condone or encourage any act of hazing being conducted by or associated with its Member Organizations. The NMGC defines hazing as: any action taken or situation created, whether on or off university property, to produce mental or physical discomfort, pain, harm, embarrassment, moral degradation, harassment or ridicule, including any activities which are not consistent with federal, state or applicable local and institutional laws and/or regulations.

The NMGC Principles of Excellence require that each Member Organization adopt and maintain an Anti-Hazing Policy and Risk Management Procedures. This Principle reflects the NMGC’s stance on hazing, and its desire to encourage its Member Organizations to educate individual members on the harmful consequences of hazing, in any form.

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Hazing is defined as any action or situation with or without consent that recklessly, intentionally or unintentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or creates risk of injury, or causes discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule or that willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a chapter or colony of an NPC member fraternity.

 Such activities and situations include, but are not limited to, creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; wearing, publicly, apparel that is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and jokes; participating in treasure or scavenger hunts; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities, late night sessions that interfere with scholastic activities or normal sleep patterns; and any other activities that are not consistent with fraternal law, ritual, or the regulations and policies of the member fraternity or the educational institution.

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WHEREAS the definition of hazing has been held to include any action taken or situation created that involves or results in abusive, physical contact or mutual harassment of a prospective Fraternity or Sorority member; and that any such action is considered hazing, whether it occurs on or off the Fraternity or Sorority premises, campus or place where chapters or prospective members meet: and that hazing has also been described to include any action that results in excessive mutual or physical discomfort, embarrassment or harassment; that such activities include, but are not limited to paddling, creation of excessive fatigue, physical or psychological shock, morally degrading or humiliating activities, late work sessions that interfere with scholastic activities and any other activities inconsistent with fraternal law and regulations and policies of the affiliated educational institution and federal, state or local law; and

 BE IT RESOLVED AND RESTATED WITH EMPHASIS ANEW that hazing, pledging, pledge “lines”, pre-pledge “lines” or post-intake hazing are strictly prohibited by these NPHC organizations; and

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, RESTATED AND MADE KNOWN that these

NPHC organizations are committed to eradicate the scourge of hazing and to that end

Thatthe intake process has been recodified by each organization, which permits the conduct of intake only when specifically authorized by the officer placed in charge of the process and at only such times, places and in the presence of persons specifically authorized and certified to conduct the intake process; That prospective members and the parents of collegiate applicants are advised that hazing is not a requirement for membership, nor is it tolerated; That members and prospective members must attest that they are fully aware of the organization’s policy against hazing and will not engage in prohibited conduct and that the organization will fully cooperate with law enforcement authorizes and with university officials in the investigation and prosecution of hazing or other illegal activity;

That members and applicants for membership are also put on written notice that they will be held responsible to the organization for violation of policies against hazing and the organization will pursue full remedies allowed by the law to obtain indemnification for damages caused by the actions of the members or applicants who participated in illegal, unauthorized or prohibited conduct despite notice to refrain from such conduct;

That each organization shall enforce severe penalties, including expulsion, for proven violations of its policies against and impose sanctions against a chapter involved and cooperate with the university in implementing sanctions by the university;

That members and applicants for membership shall be required to immediately notify the national office of the Fraternity or Sorority, the local chapter advisor, university officials and law enforcement officials of any observed hazing incident or improper activity believed to be in violation of the policy against hazing, without fear of reprisal and their application for membership will not be affected by so doing; and, indeed, failure to report known violations may disqualify a candidate for membership; and, finally,

That these NPHC organizations shall continue to encourage their members to participate in activities which promote high scholastic achievement, sisterhood, brotherhood, loyalty and leadership; and shall continue to affirm sound values and the worth of every member working together to accomplish organizational goals and serve the community.

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Any activity described as hazing upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with a university or college organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be forced activity.  The willingness of an individual to participate in such activity doesn't matter.

An Organization can be held responsible and liable for hazing even if the leadership of the organization is not involved in the activity. The organization can lose its recognition both from the University and the National Organization to which it belongs (if any).

If an organization is alleged to be engaging in hazing, once a report is received, the Office of Student Conduct will investigate the allegations and, if there is sufficient evidence and information, a hearing will be scheduled before the Student Conduct Committee.  If a group is found to be responsible for hazing, sanctions can include educational requirements (such as anti-hazing training, required membership education, ect.), restrictions on group activities (such as limiting recruitment practices, limiting or restricting social activities, etc.), or in serious cases may lead to the organizations charter being revoked, which means the chapter can no longer be affiliated with FGCU.

Hazing can occur in student organizations, athletic teams and sport clubs, and marching bands, just to name a few. Whenever a student is confronted with a behavior that could possibly be considered hazing, it should be reported to the University Police or the Dean of Students’ Office.