Please review this policy, as it is instrumental to the success and safety of the candidate education process. This policy can be found at sam.org/risk. Additionally, on the next two pages, you will learn more about the Good SAMaritian Policy and the TRUTH Campaign.
Candidate education programs shall be limited to 8 weeks or less, including the initiation ceremony. No chapter, colony, student, or alumnus shall conduct nor condone hazing activities. Permission or approval by a person being hazed is not a defense. Hazing activities are defined as: “Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips, or any other such activities carried on outside or inside of the confines of the chapter house; wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with academic achievement, fraternal law, ritual, or policy; or the regulations and policies of the educational institution, or applicable state law.”
Candidate class trips (road trips or walk outs) are prohibited unless the following conditions are met: (1) The trip cannot be mandatory or serve as a requirement of initiation, (2) Candidates may not make up more than 50% of the participants, (3) At least one member of the Chapter council must go on the trip, (4) If visiting another chapter, the chapter being visited must be contacted four weeks prior to the trip and they must give permission for the visit to occur, (5) Weekend trips should not exceed seven hours of travel time (round trip), and (6) All participants must sign a waiver agreeing to abide by Fraternity Risk Management Policy and agreeing to hold the chapter and Fraternity harmless.
Intensive final week(s) or day(s) of candidate programs are prohibited, as are any events that require the candidates to “sleep over”. “Hell Week/Day”, “Help Week”, “Inspiration Week”, “Work Week” and other such intensive activities are specifically prohibited.
