November 23, 2009
www.umd.edu

GREEK 101

What Parents Should Know About Fraternity and Sorority New Member Education at the University of Maryland

By Matt Supple, Associate Director 
Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life

With the advent of the spring semester comes thoughts of warmer weather, March Madness, and Spring Break.  Because the University requires any student who is interested in joining a fraternity or sorority to have at least 12 credits and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, the spring semester also brings with it the first opportunity for many freshmen to consider the possibility of joining a fraternity or sorority.

The University of Maryland has had a long and rich relationship with its collegiate fraternities and sororities.  As an important component of the co-curricular programs for undergraduate students, Greek chapters have supported the central mission of the University by providing an enriched out-of-class living/learning experience since they were first founded here on campus back in 1914, and fraternities and sororities are characterized by a tradition of involvement and leadership in campus life.

The University has been supportive of the ideals and goals of individual chapters and, collectively, a Greek community.  The organizational ideals and goals promote personal development and a strong sense of identity with the institution as well as post-graduate association.  These ideals and goals include scholarship, leadership, community service, individual and group initiative, self-governance, and an array of interpersonal and social skills development.

What should go into the decision to join a fraternity or sorority?
Approximately 12% of the undergraduate population at the University of Maryland belongs to a fraternity or sorority.  Although the majority of students who join a fraternity or sorority are second semester freshmen, making the decision to “Go Greek” or not does not have to happen in the first or second semester a student is on campus.  In fact, many sophomores and juniors choose to join a fraternity or sorority after establishing themselves academically on campus.  If your son or daughter is thinking of joining a fraternity or sorority, we suggest he/she ask each chapter under consideration the following questions:

  1. What are the founding values of your organization?
  2. How do the actions of the members reflect these values?
  3. What is the chapter grade point average for the past four semesters?
  4. How many members of your chapter are active in other student organizations on campus, and what are some examples of the groups with which they are involved?
  5. What leadership opportunities will be available to me through membership?
  6. What community service activities does your chapter sponsor?
  7. What are the financial obligations of joining your chapter?
  8. Are there any disciplinary measures that I should know about before I join?
  9. How much time will the new member education program take?
  10. What is your chapter’s stance on hazing?

What can my son or daughter expect from the new member education period?
The new member education period is the length of time a prospective new member spends becoming oriented to a specific fraternity or sorority.  During the new member education period, potential new members learn about the values and purpose of the chapter, the national and local history of the chapter, and the names of the members.  The University dictates that no new member education period can last longer than six weeks, as measured from the time a student is offered a bid to join the chapter to the date upon which s/he is initiated into full membership in the organization.  Some chapters have shorter programs.  Typically, each chapter will have one or more persons responsible for coordinating the new member education period.  Depending on the chapter, it is possible for there to be more than one new member class in one semester.

How is new member education different from pledging?
For nearly two decades, the national fraternity and sorority movement has been working to eliminate the word “pledge” – as well as the concept of “pledging” – from its vocabulary and from practice.  Thought to invoke allusions to a negative and destructive period of time when students seeking membership were treated as second-class citizens and forced to “prove themselves” to the chapter, the concept of pledging is in direct opposition to the fundamental purposes of fraternities and sororities. 

Greek organizations have, in the past, focused their efforts almost exclusively on educating new members rather than on creating programs that effectively and continually contribute to the development of all members of the fraternity or sorority.  It is our hope chapters have made significant strides to replace "pledge education" with "member education," an on-going development program lasting the entire length of an individual's active fraternal involvement.  Further, it is expected that all new members, as a part of their orientation program, will be made aware of the University Policy on Hazing, contained in the Code of Student Conduct, as well as the Maryland State Law that makes hazing a crime.  These efforts are taken to help eliminate any chance of hazing during the Orientation period.

What is hazing and how do I know if my son or daughter is being hazed?
The University defines hazing as intentionally or recklessly subjecting any person to the risk of bodily harm, or severe emotional distress, or causing or encouraging any person to commit an act that would be a violation of law or university regulations, for the purpose of initiating, promoting, fostering, or confirming any form of affiliation with a student group or organization, as defined by the Code of Student Conduct.  The express or implied consent of the victim will not be a defense.

Hazing typically takes one of two forms: physical or psychological.  Physical hazing includes, but is not limited to, such things as forced consumption of alcohol or other substances, forced tattooing or branding, paddling, and theft or misuse of property belonging to others.  Psychological hazing includes, but it not limited to, such things as sleep deprivation, creation of excessive fatigue, compulsory servitude, restrictions on personal hygiene, yelling, swearing and insulting new members, being forced to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire in public, and sever psychological shock or humiliation.

Are fraternities and sororities the only organizations that haze?
Today we know that hazing extends far beyond college fraternities and is experienced by boys/men and girls/women in school groups, university organizations, athletic teams, the military, and other social and professional organizations. Hazing is a complex social problem that is shaped by power dynamics operating in a group and/or organization and within a particular cultural context. 

What should I do if I suspect something inappropriate is going on in the new member education program?
Although there is a great deal of debate about what is and is not considered hazing among students and scholars alike, the University suggests that if you or your son/daughter have any doubt about the appropriateness of an activity or aspect of the new member program, you should contact one or more of the following departments:

Hazing Hotline: 240.432.6053
Fraternity and Sorority Life: 301.314.7172
Student Conduct: 301.314.8204
University Police: 301.405.3333

So what should the purpose of a new member education program be?
Although each chapter has its own intended outcomes for the new member education period, some commonalities include:

  1. FOSTER UNITY among all members of the chapter, not just among individuals in the new member class.
  2. DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS among the new members by encouraging participation in school/campus activities outside of the organization. 
  3. PROMOTE SCHOLARSHIP.
  4. BUILD AWARENESS OF CHAPTER HISTORY, including a chapter’s founding date locally and nationally, special chapter traditions, and prominent former members.
  5. ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GREEK COMMUNITY, including the governing councils, campus and chapter advisors, and the expectations of the fraternity and sorority community.
  6. AID CAREER GOALS by exposing new members to college resources for seminars on resume writing, job interview skills; various careers.

Who should I contact if I have other questions about fraternity and sorority life?
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life has 22 staff members, all of whom can help you answer any questions you may have. For more information about the fraternities and sororities at the University of Maryland, please visit our website at http://www.greek.umd.edu/. For specific questions about chapters within the Panhellenic Association, please contact Liz Brown at 301.314.7161 or via e-mail at ebrown12@umd.edu. For specific questions about chapters within the Interfraternity Council, please contact Amie Jackson at 301.314.6781 or via e-mail at ajackso9@umd.edu. For specific questions about chapters within the Pan-Hellenic Council or the United Greek Council, please contact Corey Bailey at 301.314.7313 or via e-mail at cbailey4@umd.edu.  For all other questions, please feel free to contact the office at 301.314.7172.