Lambda Tau Phi Risk Management Plan

1) Purpose:

a) The purpose of this document is to set forth rules and regulations for Members of Lambda Tau Phi to follow. These rules and regulations are tailored around certain events and situations that have happened or may occur and their repercussions.

b) All members of Lambda Tau Phi must sign and abide by this document.

2) Pledging:

a) Hazing:

i) Lambda Tau Phi’s anti-hazing clause - zero tolerance – Under no circumstances will an active or inactive member of Lambda Tau Phi take part or encourage physical and mental harm of its members or prospects. The term hazing is used to describe actions and rituals involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used to initiate a person into a group. I.E; Forcing someone drink anything or until the point of intoxication, any and all forms of physical abuse (assaulting, boarding, until the point of exhaustion or hallucination). Hazing also can be in a mental state where someone is having a mental breakdown; for example, (yelling, public discomfiture/embarrassment).

ii) Examples of Hazing from Alfred State College Website:

(1) Physical activities: calisthenics, sit-ups, push-ups, running stairs, exercise, work sessions, or carrying heavy objects such as bricks or stones is prohibited. Carrying any other items which serve to create physical hardships, discomfort, distress, or excessive fatigue is also not permitted. Depriving pledges of sleep, of maintaining cleanliness and personal hygiene is prohibited.

(2) Physical exposure or abuse: nudity, paddling (including paddle swats), pushing, shoving, hitting, punching, striking, tackling, or throwing any substance at another person or submerging or dunking individuals in water or other substances or any physical contact with a pledge that could be considered to be uncomfortable, unwelcoming, threatening, or intimidating to a reasonable individual. Branding on any part of the body, whether voluntary or involuntary is prohibited, as well as application of foreign substances (rubs, salves, etc.) to the body. There is never any legitimate reason to make physical contact with a pledge or invade his/her personal space as a part of any activity during pledging.

(3) Forced or required consumption of any substance: Requesting the pledge to consume any substance whatsoever; including any food (including but not limited to dishwater, dirty water, raw meat, chili peppers, concoctions of any kind), objects, drugs, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, regardless of if the item was swallowed or not, is prohibited, as any physical contact with a pledge by anyone in a pledging activity (formal or informal, organized or unorganized) is considered a violation of the personal space of the pledge and is prohibited.

(4) Psychological abuse and/or humiliation:

(a) Dress - requiring individuals to dress in revealing (nudity, near nudity, exposure of any genitalia), embarrassing (anything that could be construed as derogatory or pejorative to a reasonable person), or uncomfortable clothing. Depriving pledges from maintaining normal schedule of cleanliness and personal hygiene (minimum of one shower a day) is prohibited. Depriving pledge of normal personal level of privacy is not permitted. Pledge hats and shirts are permissible as long as they do not reveal, embarrass, or make derogatory references to the pledge.

(b) Weather - exposing individuals to extremely uncomfortable or dangerous environments (too loud, dark, small, hot – over 75 degrees or cold - below 30 degrees).

(c) Interrogation/verbal abuse - any form of interrogation of individuals, name-calling, or screaming at individuals; requiring individuals to perform any acts which are construed to be humiliating or degrading in nature which include but are not limited to being disrespectful, mean-spirited, putting/placing the pledge "below" the member with rules that infer control over personal behavior such as barring pledges to look at others, speak to others, spend time with others. Members can give feedback and only in a manner that is respectful and not mean-spirited.

(5) Harassment (including physical, bias-related, or sexual) - any form of unwelcome, threatening, or intimidating behavior is harassment and includes behavior such as threatening harm to a pledge for dropping or quitting pledging or harassment of any form of a former pledge. Forcing or coercing pledges to list of their faults or "sins" believing they must disclose that information to members. Requiring the pledge to engage in sexual acts, bias-related behaviors, or physically or verbally harassing behaviors with anyone else or upon themselves is also harassment.

(6) Psychological hazing: any act which is likely to:

(a) compromise the dignity of a member or pledge,

(b) cause embarrassment or shame to a member or pledge,

(c) cause a member or pledge to be the object of malicious amusement or ridicule, or

(d) cause psychological harm or substantial emotional stress. Any degrading or malicious references made to the pledges or about the pledges are prohibited.

(7) Depletion: refusal to allow emotionally or physically depleted individuals the opportunity to recover as a result of any activity or incident that occurs during pledging is prohibited.

(8) Forced servitude: requiring pledges to complete tasks or chores that personally benefit individuals affiliated with the organization or another student group such as cleaning the rooms of members, other Greek organization members, and/or advisers’ and/or running personal errands, or other services or duties not normally shared by initiated members.

(9) Requiring activities that are prohibited under state law or college regulations: awakening individuals during the night for organization activities, requiring excessive periods other than for regular library hours and/or interfering with normal sleep or study schedules (i.e., pledging activities that occur before 7 a.m. any day or past Midnight Sunday through Thursday and/or past 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday). Requiring pledges to steal, damage, or destroy property is prohibited.

(10) Kidnapping: involuntary transportation or abduction of individuals (pledge kidnaps) or leaving individuals at off-campus locations and requiring them to find their way home is prohibited.

(11) Caves: required sleeping and/or living as a group in any residence hall other than those to which they are assigned to as overnight guest when such numbers exceed the beds available is not permitted.

(12) Academics: Any pledging activity (organized or unorganized) that interferes or disrupts the pledge’s attendance or successful participation in classes, study schedules, academic work groups, college work commitment, or access to established tutoring or learning assistance programs is prohibited.

(13) Goals & Laws: Any activity superfluous to the organizations stated purposes or goals, is a violation of college policy, regulations, New York State or Federal law is prohibited.

b) Pledging Violations

i) Class 1 Violation – A failure to perform duties or cause a significant disturbance at a pledging event such as changing the intended information to be learned.

Consequences:

(a) May be removed from the event.

(b) The brother may be addressed and allowed to continue to event (depending on the situation).

ii) Class 2 Violations – a violation in which a member goes beyond a Class 1 violation and causes conflict, if the member is under the influence of drugs or alcohol or purposefully interrupting.

(1) Consequences:

(a) The member may receive a $20 fine after the situation has been reviewed by the executive board.

(b) The member will not be allowed to attend any future events or meetings until the fine is paid in full.

iii) Class 3 Violations – Any act or intention to endanger the health or wellbeing of a pledge or another member.

(1) Consequences:

(a) The member may receive a $50 fine at E-boards discretion.

(b) The member will not be allowed to attend any future event or meeting until the fine is paid in full.

(c) The member will be sentenced to an E-board hearing in order to figure out any additional repercussions.

c) Alcohol and drug use is forbidden at any and all pledging events

d) If any of the members gets out of control, they will be removed immediately by the Sergeant at Arms or the Master.

e) If the Sergeant at Arms or the Master get out of control, then it is the Lieutenant Master’s job to remove the member and take over for their duties for the current event.

f) Since hazing is against the law, any and all forms are prohibited.

3) Reporting Hazing:

a) If there are any forms of hazing, the Greek Senate Advisor of Alfred State College and the organizations current advisor will be contacted immediately to report the incident.

i) A follow up meeting will be required at an advisor and the Greek Senate Advisor of Alfred State College’s discretion.

ii) The suspected member will be scheduled for an immediate E-board hearing to present their case

iii) Sergeant at Arms will be required to follow up and present a full investigation

4) Alcohol and Drug Consumption:

a) Drugs are illegal therefore, no member of Lambda Tau Phi shall consume any substance that is considered illegal by New York State and Federal law.

i) If a member consumes any illegal substance as defined above, the member will be scheduled an E-board hearing, to figure out their repercussions.

b) Alcohol is not to be consumed by any member of Lambda Tau Phi under the legal drinking age of 21.

i) If a member under 21 consumes alcohol, the member will be scheduled an E-board hearing, to figure out their repercussions.

5) Academics:

a) Refer to Academic Intervention Plan for any issues regarding academics.

6) Incident Reporting:

a) Any and all incidents will be investigated by E-board.

b) All actions regarding any incident, broken rules or regulations outlined in this document will be reported to Sergeant at Arms.

c) Any reports may be made anonymously by any member of Lambda Tau Phi.

d) All incidents should be handled privately by Sergeant at Arms and affected party.

7) Greek Letters:

a) “Letters” are to be defined as Lambda Tau Phi Greek letters on piece of clothing.

b) Letters are to be worn by each member attending a pledging event.

c) Every member is required to wear letters at any form of a mixer unless previously addressed.

d) Letters are not to be worn in any picture involving alcohol.

8) Social Media:

a) No official business or events are allowed to be posted on social media.

b) Letters are not to be in any picture on social media involving alcohol.

c) Sergeant at Arms is required to keep updated on all active members social media to insure these policies are followed.

9) Emergency Protocol:

a) In the event of a medical emergency the leader of the event, Master, and Sergeant at Arms will be informed of the situation and will be required to take over until emergency personnel arrive.

b) Procedure

i) Contact emergency services

ii) Clear the surrounding area

iii) Check for responsiveness

iv) Contact an advisor and the Greek Senate Advisor of Alfred State College

c) Emergency contacts:

i) Alfred Police Department: (607) 587-8877

ii) Alfred Fire Department: (607) 587-8880

iii) University Police Department: (607) 587-3999

10) Rushing:

a) No rush event will involve alcohol.

b) All rush events will be held on campus or at a previously approved location.

c) All rush events must be approved by E-board and Rush chairman.

11) Events:

a) Different types of events:

i) On Campus

(1) Pledging

(2) Rushing

(3) Fundraisers

(4) Philanthropy

(5) Athletic

(6) Academic

(7) Leadership

(8) Mixers

ii) Off Campus (must be pre-approved)

(1) Pledging

(2) Rushing

(3) Fundraisers

(4) Philanthropy

(5) Athletic

(6) Academic

(7) Leadership

(8) Mixers

b) Event Violations: Any violation that occurs at an event will be reported to the Sergeant at Arms, then would be reviewed by the executive board for repercussions.

i) Failure to attend a required event

ii) Any intoxication prior or during required event

iii) Being disruptive at an event

iv) Leaving the event before designated time

12) Fines:

a) If fine is not paid within two weeks, Chancellor will delegate a task

Work Cited

*Alfred State College. (n.d.). www.alfredstate.edu. Retrieved March 22, 2011, from pledging-regulations: http://www.alfredstate.edu/life-on-campus/pledging-regulations#Prohibited-Treatment-of-Pledges

Lambda Tau Phi

Risk Management Policy

Terms and conditions agreement

I,_____________________, have read the entirety of Lambda Tau Phi’s risk management policy. By signing this document, I agree to the entire risk management policy and will uphold any and all information inside the guidelines set forth by this document.

Print Name:________________________________

Sign Name:________________________________

SaA Signature:_____________________________

Date:_____________________________________

Kappa Psi Upsilon-Lambda Tau Phi