Social Clubs

Zero Tolerance for Hazing

Lipscomb does not tolerate hazing, and all social club members and prospective members should be familiar with these guidelines. Hazing is a broad term encompassing any action or activity, which is performed for admission/acceptance in an organization, and which:

• does not contribute to the positive development of a person;
• inflicts, intends, or may reasonably cause physical or mental harm or excessive anxieties;
• demeans, degrades, disgraces, or otherwise adversely affects the dignity of a person by making that person an object of amusement or ridicule;
• is illegal, contrary to the policies/purposes of the university, or compromising to the moral/ethical principles of a person. The definition will apply in any circumstance-regardless of the location, intent, or consent of participants.
• Some activities are easily categorized as "hazing," while others may not be so easily classified.

Is it hazing?

Generally, if you have to ask if an activity is hazing, it probably is. Do not do something simply because it has always been done, because older members had to do it, because everyone else is doing it, or for no other reason than you want to do it. Whatever your involvement in the process be bold enough to have accountability and to take the "high road!"

When the answer is unclear as to whether an activity may be hazing, it may be helpful (both for members, and for new initiates) to consider the following questions; affirmative answers should provide reasonable assurance as to appropriateness:

1. Does the activity confirm or promote the values of Christian faith and practice?
2. Can one argue reasonably and strongly that this activity/experience contributes to a productive or educational purpose?        
3. Does the activity have value in and of itself?
4. If known outside the group, or witnessed by others, would this activity potentially add to the respect/esteem held for the organization by non-affiliates?
5. If called to, could I reasonably and genuinely defend this activity in a court of law?
6. Would I willingly and unashamedly allow my parents to witness this?
7. Are prospective new members and initiated members participating together or equally in this?

New initiates have a responsibility to themselves and to the organization(s) they join to preserve the productive nature and integrity of the organization(s) by refusing to participate in or condone any form of hazing. Already inducted members shoulder that burden even more heavily. Creating a productive and positive initiation process for a tight-knit group is not an easy process, and it is mired in potential for abuse when people (individually or collectively) are careless about their own purposes and motivations.


 

Constructive Orientation Activities

Here are some orientation activities that the administration regards as having the tendency to be constructive. This is a guideline for formulating and judging the appropriateness of any activities used in the orientation process. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but is provided only as an example. If after thoughtful consideration there are any questions about whether an activity is hazing, contact one of the deans in the Office of Campus Life at 615.966.5690.

• Initial goal-setting retreat in which the class defines and commits to several significant/ambitious projects or goals they will accomplish before initiation
• Holding mandatory study sessions of significant length (not limited to the study of club materials)
• Community service projects, especially those in which both members and prospectives participate
• Educating about the organization's history/ideals, procedures, member responsibilities, etc.-or having prospectives learn basic information about actives, and each other, through visitation
• Participation in team-building exercises such as a ropes course, paintball, team athletics, etc.
• Involving prospectives, as a group, in campus-wide activities or programs
• Scheduling meetings exclusively for prospectives in which they can get to know each other, plan accomplishment of goals, or talk with the organization's president or new member coordinator (or both) about their experience in the process
   

Nonconstructive Hazing Activities 

Here are some orientation activities that the administration regards as having the tendency to be nonconstructive. This is a guideline for formulating and judging the appropriateness of any activities used in the orientation process. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but is provided only as an example. If after thoughtful consideration there are any questions about whether an activity is hazing, contact one of the deans in the Office of Campus Life at 615.966.5690.

• Forcing or pressuring someone to consume any substance, including food or drink
• Calisthenics or physical activity of any kind (e.g., push-ups, sit-ups, running) or any kind of uncommon/intimidating physical contact (e.g., paddling, pushing, etc.)
• Having prospective new members line up, or walk in a particular way
• Requiring inordinately uncomfortable or ridiculous dress
• Marking, branding, or the application of not-easily-removable substances to the body
• Antagonistic yelling or verbal berating of a prospective new member
• Shackling/binding or blind-folding of a prospective new member
• Any road trips, treasure/scavenger hunts, "kidnappings," etc. which are not approved by the Office of Campus Life.
• Making such inordinate demands on time, so as to interfere with academic performance, class/chapel attendance, or adequate hours for sleep
• Conducting or referring to any activity as Hell Week, Hell Night, or the like
   

Tennessee Hazing Law

49-7-123. Hazing prohibited.

(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Hazing" means any intentional or reckless act in Tennessee on or off the property of any higher education institution by one (1) student acting alone or with others which is directed against any other student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student, or which induces or coerces a student to endanger such student's mental or physical health or safety. "Hazing" does not include customary athletic events or similar contests or competitions, and is limited to those actions taken and situations created in connections with initiation into or affiliation with any organization; and

(2) "Higher education institution" mean a public or private college, community college or university.

(b) Each higher education institution shall adopt a written policy prohibiting hazing by any student or organization operating under the sanction of the institution. The policy shall be distributed or made available to each student at the beginning of each school year. Time shall be set aside during orientation to specifically discuss the policy and its ramifications as a criminal offense and the institutional penalties that may be imposed by the higher education institution.

[Acts 1995, ch. 500, § 1.]
 

Additional information about hazing and pledging programs is at:

www.stophazing.org
www.insidehazing.com

ICC New Member Orientation Guidelines for Lipscomb University

It is essential that administrators, advisors, actives, and prospectives work together to make the New Member Orientation Process constructive and in keeping with Christian principles and the mission of the university. All parties to the process are individually responsible for maintaining the following regulations.

1.  New Member Orientation Period

a. Club presidents and advisors must present the anti-hazing guidelines and new member orientation guidelines to all active members participating in rush and orientation activities. Each club member must sign a contract agreeing to the Tennessee state anti-hazing laws and Lipscomb University guidelines.

b. A calendar of all new member orientation activities must be approved by the advisor, the director of Greek Life and the deans of campus life before a club begins the new member orientation process on Bid Night.

c. All prospectives are required to attend prospective informational meeting. Advisors and club officers are invited to attend. The university’s anti-hazing policy will be distributed at this meeting.

d. Bid Night is the beginning of the 10-day orientation period. Prospective new members from each club will be introduced at Bid Night.

e. New Member Orientation activities may begin after Bid Night and must conclude no later than 11:59 p.m. on the second Saturday following Bid Night. This deadline includes formal induction ceremonies, which must also be completed by 11:59 p.m. on the same date.

2.  New Member Orientation Schedule

a. New member orientation activities must begin no earlier than 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday. The only exception is for kidnap breakfast, which must be approved by the advisor and the office of campus life.

b. New member orientation activities may not occur before 1 p.m. on Sundays. The only exception is for worship services on Sunday morning.

c. All new member orientation activities must end no later than 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday.

d. Advisors are to meet often with their club’s prospective new members, a minimum of once a week during new member orientation.

3. Personal Time

a. Because it is essential that prospective new members be given time to sleep, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 7 a.m. is considered personal time.

b. Actives may not require, expect, or ask a prospective to volunteer any of this time for any type of school, club, or new member orientation-related task or activity.

c. Actives may not contact the prospective new members during this time, even by phone or email. The only exception to this policy is that the club president and or new member orientation chair may contact the prospective new members in the case of an emergency.

d. Advisors are expected to take an active role in ensuring that each prospective be given adequate time to sleep and to study.

4.  Dedicated Study Time

a. Prospective new members will need to manage their time carefully during the 10 days of new member orientation and take advantage of their opportunities to study.

b. Additionally, club advisors, officers, and actives must insure that each prospective has a minimum of two hours of uninterrupted study time each day. These hours of study must not be scheduled before 7 a.m. or after curfew.

c. The club president is responsible for documenting this study time to the advisor and/or to the office of campus life.

5.  Curfew and Sign-Out

a. Prospective new members must be in their residence hall no later than 11 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday.

b. Prospective new members are not permitted to sign out of the residence halls (for a few hours or overnight) without permission of the Office of Campus Life.

6.  Hazing

a. Under no circumstances can hazing, as described by the university student handbook, be permitted or encouraged.

b. The university, club advisor, club president, and all club members may be held legally liable in cases of hazing.

7.  Accountability for New Member Orientation Activities

a. Final responsibility for orientation activities rests with the advisor and club president.

b. All actives and prospective new members have the responsibility to insure that hazing does not take place.

c. Advisors must be aware of and approve all new member orientation activities in advance and work with the president to insure that the club’s new member orientation calendar is approved by the deans of campus life before any new member orientation activities begin.

d. New member orientation should be carefully planned in order to prevent spontaneous activities that may result in hazing or non-constructive activities. (Anything that happens during new member orientation is considered a new member orientation activity.)

e. Advisors must be present at all key new member orientation activities including all induction or initiation activities. In the event that an advisor cannot be at a new member orientation activity, responsibility for the activity rests with the club president and the orientation chair, both of whom must be present for all activities that the advisor cannot attend.

f. The club president is responsible for timely communication to the office of Campus Life if a prospective new member is to become ill during the 10 day new member orientation period.

g. Advisors, club presidents, and orientation chair may, solely at their discretion, immediately suspend any activity. In addition advisors and club presidents may, at their discretion, immediately suspend any or all new member orientation privileges by their club or individual members.