NATIONAL POLICY

ANTI-HAZING

PURPOSE: To ensure the implementation and execution of our hazing policy across our Sorority’s footprint. 

USE BY: All Members

SOURCE: National Executive Board, Membership Committee

HISTORY: First issued July 2016; Revised March 2020

GOVERNANCE: This Anti-Hazing Policy prohibits acts of hazing in connection with the admission, acceptance, or retention process of any group or individual, and to prohibit retaliation for bringing a claim alleging a violation of this policy or participating in a review of any such claim. Any violation of the Anti-Hazing Policy as it relates to any and all of this process, is strictly prohibited. Those who choose to condone, participate, or have a working knowledge of any deviance away from this policy, will be subjected to sanctions including but not limited to membership expungement.

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All acts of hazing are prohibited. Members and Auxiliary, new and existing, are entitled to be treated with consideration and respect and no member or Eta Alpha Pi Sorority, Incorporated shall engage in an act that is likely to cause physical or psychological harm to any other person. Furthermore, any such behavior is expressly forbidden when related to the admission, initiation, pledging, joining, continued membership in, or any activity. A person commits the offense of hazing if the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a member or interest, applicant or auxiliary into or with the Sorority, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a member or interest, applicant or auxiliary membership or status in the Sorority, causes, coerces or forces a member or interest, applicant or auxiliary to do any of the following:

• Violate federal or state criminal law; 

• Consume any food, drink, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance that subjects the member or interest, applicant or individual to a risk of emotional or physical harm;

• Endure brutality of a physical nature, including whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics or exposure to the elements;

• Endure brutality of a mental nature, including activity adversely affecting the mental health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment;

• Endure any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the member or interest, applicant or admitted individual.

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Under Section 1006.63, of the Florida Statute on hazing, the crime of “hazing” includes, but is not limited to, the following:

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• Any brutality of a physical nature including:

  • Forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance

  • Exposure to the elements

  • Beating

  • Branding

  • Whipping

  • Any other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety;

  • Endure brutality of a sexual nature; and

• Any activity that would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as:

  • Sleep deprivation

  • Forced exclusion from social contact

  • Forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment

  • Forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity

  • Pressuring or coercing the student into violating state or federal law

The definition of hazing does not include reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement or military training, contests, competitions or events. Hazing is also a crime and constitutes a summary offense. If the hazing results in or creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to a members, interests, auxiliary, or other individuals, it is a misdemeanor of the third degree. 

Hazing that results in serious bodily injury or death to members, interests, auxiliary, or other persons associated with any entity operating under the sanction of Eta Alpha Pi Sorority, Incorporated where a person acts with reckless indifference to the health and safety of members, interests, auxiliary, or other persons associated with any entity operating under the sanction of Eta Alpha Pi Sorority, Incorporated, applicant or auxiliary or the person causes, coerces or forces the consumption of an alcoholic liquid or drug by the member or interest, applicant or auxiliary is considered aggravated hazing and is a felony of the third degree. The participants are subject to criminal penalties for intentionally, knowingly and recklessly promoting or facilitating hazing or aggravated hazing. Consent is not a defense to a criminal charge of hazing or a charge under the Sorority’s Code of Conduct. The sanctioning or approval of the conduct by the Sorority is not a defense to a criminal charge of hazing or a charge under the Sorority’s Code of Conduct. 

Eta Alpha Pi Sorority, Incorporated requires each chapter to adopt a written anti-hazing policy and, pursuant to that policy, adopt rules prohibiting members, interests, auxiliary, or other persons associated with any entity operating under the sanction of Eta Alpha Pi Sorority, Incorporated or recognized as a chapter or auxiliary by the Sorority from engaging in any activity which can be described as hazing. Policies adopted pursuant hereto shall apply to acts conducted whenever such acts are deemed to constitute hazing. 

In addition to any criminal and civil penalties, members, interests, auxiliary, or other individuals found responsible for violating this policy will be sanctioned according to the Sorority Code of Conduct. Possible sanctions range from probation to expungement for individual members, interests, auxiliaries and probation to permanent revocation of recognition for chapters. These sanctions will be in addition to any other sanction(s) imposed for violation(s) of other Sorority policies to which the violator may be subject. National, Regional and Chapter Leadership who fail to prevent hazing of members, interests, auxiliary, or other individuals will be reported to the National Executive Board. Eta Alpha Pi Sorority, Incorporated reserves the right to communicate incidents of hazing to any local, state, regional, national, and federal law enforcement and authorities. To report hazing, please email or click here: nohazing@etaalphasorority.com. Your submission will be held in the highest of integrity and confidentiality, protected by the Sorority’s Whistleblower Policy.

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REQUESTS FOR GUIDANCE REGARDING THIS POLICY: 

Requests for guidance regarding this policy will be directed to the National Executive Board.

BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND DISASTER (BCD) PLAN: 

Unless otherwise indicated, requirements in this document remain applicable during a business continuity and disaster (BCD) situation.