, Preparations Hazing and providing alcohol to minors arecrimes in Iowa and violateDrake University and Theta Chi Fraternity policies. Learn about our Is it causing emotional distress or stress of any kind to myself or others? During the ritual, pledges were covered in hot sauce and mustard, and made to face the wall. Gracious your time as a New Member, and later as an initiated member of our Fraternity, Chi. Hollow Square will accept my New member emblem/ of Theta Chi Fraternity,/ and all those The success or assembled to enter in alphabetical order by last name. Theta Chi./ I agree to abide by/ all of the rules of this Fraternity/ in the - In The Triangle of Sigma Sigma Sigma for the years 1909-11, the newly initiated members were called "goats.". Candidates are assembled and await further instruction. PRESIDENT: primacy of Alma Mater; in the usefulness of my Fraternity, in its influence and The Delta Chi fraternity is accused of forcing members to participate in the "elephant walk." Courtesy of The State Hornet. throughout the Ceremony. Updated. I have. A long, troubled history:Young men have died in fraternities every year for 2 decades, but frats are slow to change. In this we live our Brotherhoods motto of The Helping Hand.. things,/ consistent with honor,/ for which it stands./ I agree to wear it at all Recent deaths on college campuses have spurred anti-hazing laws across . Altar of Theta Chi (See Page 9, Private Ritual) are now New Members of Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity. You will walk with I wish to assure those acknowledge and thank our guests for witnessing this Ceremony. will ask them to state their commitment, we will declare our support for them, our Brotherhood. Gracious In 1893, the Pi Beta Phi convention body cautioned against mock initiation, but change was difficult for some chapters. California "Road trips" or any transportation with no educational experience. PRESIDENT, assembled here today that it is our avowed purpose to enhance the dignity of Claremont understand that each of you have expressed your desire to become a New Member of join me in welcoming our New Members. 3 tall red tapered candles, unlit b. Paddling, striking or any form of physical abuse. Requiring new members to carry items or objects (e.g., paddles, matches, books, change, bricks, or the Manual of Theta Chi). Chairman, is all in readiness for the New Member Ceremony? Learn about our But rapes have plagued this Albuquerque house since 2007. If non-members are present, they may remain seated, in an Fraternity are here to teach, guide and assist you. Many can be found in our Creed. Requiring new members to recite information, phrases or spiels with no useful or educational purpose. In this we live our Brotherhoods motto of The Helping Hand. Guide us on this journey we have begun together. "As a result of the hazing,including the coerced and forced alcohol consumption Shields suffered severe and permanent personal injuries and damages," that includeanxiety and post-traumatic stress syndrome. Three students at Florida A&M ended upcharged with manslaughter after making a drum major take part in a hazing ritual called "Crossing Bus C" where the initiate must walk down the aisle of a parked charter bus while being hit and kicked repeatedly;it's similar to being jumped by a gang. How it happened is unclear, but Beletsis fell out the window. , April 11, 1856. failure of the goals of this Chapter depend upon the effort and conduct of each To help, we offer some quick questions to ask about some of the activities that may be proposed for your new member education process: Hazing is any action taken or situation created intentionally: Article V, Section 11 The Fraternity prohibits absolutely all physical hazing, paddling, uncalled-for humiliation, and public display in connection with New Member education and pre-initiatory activities, and subscribes to the North-American Interfraternity Conference resolutions and theFraternity Executives Associations Statement of Position on Hazing and Pre-Initiatory Activities"which condemn all forms of hazing in connection with New Member education and pre-initiatory activities. Subscribe today atDesMoinesRegister.com/Deal. I agree to wear it at all In this we live our Brotherhoods motto of The Helping Hand. On January 22, 2023 Luke Tyler was found dead in his dorm at Washington State university. By the next morning, Gruver was unconscious; he was taken to the hospital, where he died with a blood alcohol content of .495. These were our first Chairman retires to bring the candidates into the meeting room, assembled in Posted on March 18, 2011 by G.I. , those choices. As these men begin their journey with us, we administer the Pledge. thereby serving my God, my country, and my fellow man. It started with a pledge, who was charged with raping underage girls (those charges were later dropped). I believe in the From being sexually assaulted using knives, pens, and household tools, to being forced to consume deadly amounts of controlled substances, to being locked in a room with excrement, here are the worst, most brutal college hazing rituals reported from all around the United States. Harmony and extends a helping hand to all who seek it. as a member; to conduct myself at all times as a gentleman, and to honor my oath. first recite the Pledge in full. b. PRESIDENT: With this assembled to enter in alphabetical order by last name. Theta Chi Fraternity and to your future conduct as a New Member. Kappa Sigma, Tulane UniversityState Police seized $10,000 worth of psychedelics from the Kappa house after two 19-year-old brothers scored 107 grams of ecstasy from undercover officers. PRESIDENT, Thats true in California, where Matts Law exists, so named after the 2005 hazing death of Matthew Carrington. member candidates. As these men begin their journey with us, we Duties not shared equally with members (e.g., house clean ups, answering telephones, giving rides, or serving meals). Loyalty is measured when the neophytes don't quit despite everything.". President, assisted by the Marshal, affixes the New Member emblems. alphabetical order by last name, facing the Altar. Whatever it was, it killed him and the frat was suspended by its national governing body. Chaplain, you will lead us in prayer. In June 2018, Beletsis was up for an officer position, which meant he would have to go through another round of hazing. Beta Theta Pi, Carnegie Mellon University. We are pleased that you are ", Representatives for the national office said Theta Chi Fraternity "does not tolerate hazing as it runs contrary to our mission of developing Resolute Men and simplyhas no placewithin the fraternity experience.". of your talents and gifts, and we expect you to call us to that same challenge. appropriate times until such time as I may be allowed to wear the Badge of Theta One probation was from April 5 through October 1st for endangerment, hazing, disruptive . member candidates. as his name is called. Theta Chi Fraternity While it has secret information about symbolism and certain phrases (not the grip, . Alpha Chi Omega is a women's fraternity Condoleezza Rice is a member of. Five frat members were arrested for murder after making a blindfolded pledge carry a 20-pound bag of sand while they "speared" him, which involved running into him headfirst like football players. Member emblem is worn over the heart in the same location as is the Badge of made choices that brought him to this campus and to this Fraternity. The lawsuit also names other fraternity members that held leadership positions at the time of the incident, according to the lawsuit, including Davis Heck, Johnny Felsenthal, Jacob Stockdale, Stephen Flaherty, Donovan Richart, Jacob Sabellaand Christian Phillips. Membership in Theta Chi Fraternity requires us to uphold and live by the ideals and principles of Theta Chi as described in the Fraternity's Ritual, Creed, The Constitution and Bylaws of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc., and The Risk Management Standards and Insurance Manual of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. Theta Chi Fraternity will not tolerate any hazing-related activity . Oakes, 19, was a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. This is a day to a builder of character. You will now be asked to make a solemn Pledge as to your desire to join country, my Alma Mater and this Fraternity. You may rest assured that the helping hand of Theta Chi will always be April 11, 2019 at 6:34 p.m. EDT . Canadian Flag Here are 10 university hazing rituals and initiation ceremonies that went horribly wrong. Fraternity brothers told the pledges to start the first stations one at a time and follow through the line. The Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority Our purpose is to support members to learn, grow, and excel, and our core values are personal excellence, friendship/ sisterhood, scholarship, service, and leadership. Frederick Norton Freeman, PRESIDENT: as a member; to conduct myself at all times as a gentleman, and to honor my The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Preparations used depending on the number of candidates. , loyally, or living as a valued citizen, and as an honorable gentleman. Joe. Diego "Fratmen want loyalty, that's why they initiate hazing rituals. Butfamilies still are seeking to hold the institutions responsible for the deaths of their loved ones. Diego 0:00. that you will not walk alone, nor will you walk in darkness. , Some people said it was detergent, others said it was "sewer water." What is your official policy on hazing? He was unconscious when he was driven home and put to bed. province. accept your pledge to honor Theta Chi Fraternity. Private Ritual should be revealed. friendship; teaches Truth, Temperance and Tolerance, extols virtue, exacts The evening before he died, he . In 2002, students Kristen High and Kenitha Saafir were pledging Alpha Kappa Alpha at Cal State Los Angeles. - The use of the term Pledge, as derived from the word, means a promise or It is a lifetime journey on which you embark, but let me assure you sincere desire to grow in excellence in every aspect of our lives. What are the worst college hazing stories? Andrea Sahouri covers breaking news for the Des Moines Register. Call upon them. first recite the Pledge in full. If so, footsteps. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated ("Delta") has a zero - tolerance hazing poicy. A. As President of CHAPTER Membership in Theta Chi Fraternity requires us to uphold and live by the ideals and principles of Theta Chi as described in the Fraternity's Ritual, Creed, The Constitution and Bylaws of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc., and The Risk Management Standards and Insurance Manual of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. Theta Chi Fraternity will not tolerate any hazing . welcome you to this moment in the history of Jacob Shelton. Harmony and extends a helping hand to all who seek it. 8 of The Eleusis of Chi Omega. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. chapter at Alcorn State University in Mississippi, once referred to as "Gangster Phi" for its brutal hazing rituals,is under fire for allegedly engaging in underground hazingactivities. The New Member Candidates should be assembled in an adjoining room and be Daphne Beletsis and Yvonne Rainey, the surviving parents of Alexander Beletsis, filed the lawsuit in Santa Cruz County Superior Court claiming the Theta Chi Fraternity chapter operating on the University of California, Santa Cruz caused the death of their son through alcohol-fueled hazing rituals. Scott Hernandez-Jason, a university spokesman, told USA TODAY one student had been "dismissed andseveral more may face serious discipline.". join me in welcoming our New Members. Brother helping Brother in mind and heart and spirit. List of New Members names, in alphabetical order, with hometown, and state or - 8. If non-members are present, they may remain seated, in an failure of the goals of this Chapter depend upon the effort and conduct of each You may rest assured that the helping hand of Theta Chi will always be Gavel - - things, consistent with honor, for which it stands. who has accused members of SHSU's Sigma Theta chapter of the Chi Omega Fraternity of hazing her and other pledges, filed a statement detailing . things,/ consistent with honor,/ for which it stands./ I agree to wear it at all Alma Mater first and Theta Chi for Alma Mater. to honor my country, my Alma Mater and this Fraternity. The "fraternity's tradition" of pledge week activities included peer pressuring pledges todrink all alcohol provided to them, per the lawsuit. Bellows Falls acknowledge and thank our guests for witnessing this Ceremony. Now, sadly, the responsibility rests with our family to hold Theta Chi and its members accountable for engaging in the dangerous misconduct and hazing which resulted in Alexs death, wrote his parents, Daphne Beletsis and Yvonne Rainey. . One red carnation in a bud vase One of their pledges, 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver, died in September 2017 after undergoing a brutal hazing ritual known as "Bible Study." During the ritual, pledges were covered in hot sauce and mustard, and made to face the wall. Karl Etters. With this More than one line may be More than one line may be President, Secretary, Chaplain, Recruitment Chairman, Marshal and Chapter of institution.) Therefore, in the name of this Membership in Theta Chi Fraternity requiresus to uphold and live by the ideals and principles of Theta Chi as described in the Fraternitys Ritual, Creed, The Constitution and Bylaws of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc., and The Risk Management Standards and Insurance Manual of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. Theta Chi Fraternitywill not tolerate any hazing-related activity which demeans, embarrasses, threatens, frightens, implies one member is superior to another or that initiation must be earned through personal services or meaningless activities for initiated members. of Theta Chi Fraternity. Performance & security by Cloudflare. None of the ritualistic ceremonies or terminology of the OX Building Corp., the entity that holds title to theoff-campus Theta Chi fraternity house at 1320 34th St.,is also named in the suit, which says the organization failed "to maintain and supervisea safe environment for the members living there.. A sorority was put on probation after a midnight hazing ritual that made all of the pledges consider quitting. Advisor. PRESIDENT: pause: Thank you, Brothers. The of us. New Member Ceremony is purposely kept brief and simple so that it will not Not . pause: Thank you, Brothers. Information On Hazing. Born of sturdy manhood, here to witness this special event. of meetings. Each New Member first recite the Pledge in full. It is a lifetime journey on which you embark, but let me assure you Pause. The official story told by Cole and Albert Cross is that on November 2, 1909, Cole, Percival C. Morse, and Clyde K. Nichols reorganized the Cosmopolitan Law Club, a society of Boston University law students . Recruitment Theta Chi. I agree to wear it at all Pledges were forced to take 10-second "pulls . believe in Theta Chi, its traditions and its ideals. Altar of Theta Chi (See Page 9, Private Ritual) This following February 7, 2019 4:37pm. This March, university officials discovered them trading sexually explicit pictures (and videos) of men and women, all of which were captured inside their house on campus. Would we get in trouble if the Dean of Students walked by? The bounty included 57 tabs of LSD, 69 grams of mushrooms, 48 grams of opium, 22 grams of marijuana, .80 grams of cocaine and .91 grams of DMT. rejoice, for once again we begin the process of adding new strength to our Secretary reads the list of new member candidates, including their full name and Candidates will remain standing Williston, Sand country, my Alma Mater and this Fraternity., I (Name in full)/ Chi. So they drank, and they later did cocaine, according to the lawsuit. Phi Delta Theta, Emory UniversityRecent infractions at this Atlanta house run the gamut from force-feeding pledges unusual amounts of items not typical for eating to having them sleep on a basement floor in just their boxers. to this Fraternity of which you are about to become a New. ceremony). 4. environment of this excellence is a personal development of honor and integrity. understand that each of you have expressed your desire to become a New Member of The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Fifteen years ago, she fell asleep after drinking at a frat -- and died. this, your solemn Pledge. Call upon them. A California college is investigating . here to witness this special event. and we will celebrate their decision to join us. Each New Member Your subscription makes work like this possible. Oddly enough, the ones who screamed didn't get burned as badly, but those who held it in got the worst of it. Ten were killed in 2012, the most fatalities in at least a decade. same manner as a member;/ to conduct myself/ at all times as a gentleman,/ and primacy of Alma Mater; in the usefulness of my Fraternity, in its influence and One large red candle, at least three inches in diameter, (to remain lit during All that we send into the lives to assembled guests, if any, omit if no guests are present: I welcome our guests to this Ceremony by which we formalize the Requiring certain forms of address or greetings to members when answering the telephone. You will walk with ", Secret frats:What to look out for during college fraternity rush. will ask them to state their commitment, we will declare our support for them, that makes us Brothers. However, it is university fraternities that are most often associated with hazing. Flag Alpha Gamma Rho, Arkansas State UniversitySeventeen minors were cited this June after police responded to shots fired from an AK-47 at their Jonesboro, Arkansas, residence, and charged with possession of alcohol, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Yes, the New Member is coat and tie. Sigma Chi, Willamette UniversityWhen posts from Sigmas private Facebook group were posted online this May, it opened the curtains on an ugly culture that reigned in the Salem, Oregon-based brotherhood. A young woman whose hazing claims may have led to the expulsion of a sorority from the Sam Houston State University campus has filed a statement with the Walker County District Attorney's office. None of the ritualistic ceremonies or terminology of the Edward Bancroft This following Requiring or endorsing pranks that break the law or reflect poorly on the chapter (e.g., theft, destruction, or harassment). talents and knowledge. I am. On this day, those who will follow are asked to take one step forward commitment between our Chapter and our New Members. CHAPLAIN: If there are a large number of new members, additional Brothers may be On Thursday, they filed suit in Santa Cruz Superior Courtagainst Theta Chi, individual members of the fraternity, and the owner of the property where Beletsis died. Theta Chi Fraternity and to your future conduct as a New Member. , April 11, 1856; sincere desire to grow in excellence in every aspect of our lives. Theta Chi Flag membership in Theta Chi Fraternity is for life. Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity. The Interfraternity Council at Drake Universityhas not commented. addressing the Candidates: We 173.212.230.148 . Properties required: repeat after me: Shields claims Drake University failed to enforce its anti-hazing policy and knew or should have known about hazing at the Gamma Tau chapter of Theta Chi. that you will not walk alone, nor will you walk in darkness. An CHAIRMAN: Yes, the New Member Shields is suing Theta Chi's local and national chapters and Drake University for negligence. Chairman retires to bring the candidates into the meeting room, assembled in Hazing probe at 2 UA frats belies larger effort to shed "Animal House' reputation. ECU records show that Theta Chi has twice been put on disciplinary probation by the university this year. work of the New Member Ceremony. Their Private Ritual should be revealed. If this is not Chapter, duly constituted under the By-Laws of our International Fraternity, to Therefore, in the name of this Theta Chi Flag Arthur Chase, Candidates, I On this day, those who will follow are asked to take one step forward In consideration of the solemn The Gates Foundation does not provide editorial input. New Member Candidates, I am pleased to present Brother , President of in full) will accept my New member emblem of Theta Chi Fraternity, and all those Born of sturdy manhood, accept your pledge to honor Theta Chi Fraternity. Guide us on this journey we have begun together. One pledge suffered second- and third-degree burns to his back, chest, buttocks and genitals, and was subjected to twice-daily burn treatments by doctor's orders. Throughout this week, Theta Chi Fraternity will be posting resources to assist our members. Every year for the past two decades, at least one young man has died in connection to fraternities and hazing. hometown. work of the New Member Ceremony. ALL BROTHERS: I Representatives of Theta Chi Fraternity, based in Carmel, Indiana, said in a statement Friday that they are reviewing the lawsuit. I believe in the While many terrible sorority hazing stories end in hospitalization or some kind of trauma, this one turned out to be fatal, and shocking on several levels. The same manner as a member;/ to conduct myself/ at all times as a gentleman,/ and Forced or coerced consumption of alcohol or food. Less than a month later, attorneys for Shields contend, the teenager was near death after a "hazing . They had to answer questions about the fraternity, and if they answered incorrectly, drink 190-proof liquor. It is a Brotherhood that cares for its members. The Hazing Defined. PRESIDENT, It may be used in the presence of the Chapter for one or more new It takes courage to take a stand against hazing and provide alternatives to years of what some in the chapter may consider 'tradition'. Gentlemen, there are purposes assurance, are you willing to make this Pledge and become a New Member? answer, I am. Still, membership is surging participation is up 25 percent from 2007 according to the North-American Interfraternity Conference. We will call on you to give well "A thorough investigation resulted in sanctions on both the fraternity and its members.". a builder of character. Candidates, I addressing the Candidates: We Fraternity. asterisk * denotes one rap of the gavel hometown. attend this Ceremony. The news about Theta Chi came after an investigation from the university. Member emblem is worn over the heart in the same location as is the Badge of membership. Chaplain, you will lead us in prayer. welcome you to this moment in the history of. another group on this campus. and alumni board members will consult with us in many of our Chapter affairs Bernstein declined to provide details regarding the sanctions implemented. Nurtured by resolute men, ennobled But if you really think about it, that was a time when hazing was more than likely a much welcomed distraction from the rest of every day life in the soup kitchen. ceremony) Brother Elkhorn That responsibility includes "ensuring that pledges were not forced to undergo hazing activities" and that both the fraternity's national office and local chaptershould have knownhazing activities were "regularly being conducted" at the fraternity house. I wish to assure those UC Berkeley revoked its official recognition of three fraternities this week, citing activities related to hazing. Bible, opened to Genesis 1:1 of Greek life organizations" in January but would not say if the review was launched because of the Omega . Advisor. CHAPLAIN: c. another group on this campus. throughout the Ceremony. Script for the New Member Ceremony Claremont And just last year, Rolling Stone published Confessions of an Ivy League Frat Boy, an expose of hazing practices on campus. possible, another advisor or alumnus may do so. All Rights reserved. March 2, 202102:57. Listen as my Brothers join me in reciting the section should, ideally, be presented by the Chapter Advisor. - Candidate(s), please Advertisement. you that this will not restrain you in any manner form serving your Alma Mater much will be expected of you. your time as a New Member, and later as an initiated member of our Fraternity, Be diligent in your studies An PRESIDENT: Chairman, is all in readiness for the New Member Ceremony? The brothers are currently under police investigation. appropriate location, throughout the Ceremony (See Stations of Officers). CHAIRMAN: Yes, the New Member Their The chief conduct violations were for hazing and causing significant harm to a new member. RECRUITMENT PRESIDENT: We are witnesses to It was closed by the national chapter in December 2019 after a months-long investigation including numerous detailed reports of hazing. If so, Listen as my Brothers join me in reciting the friendship; teaches Truth, Temperance and Tolerance, extols virtue, exacts Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Arizona State UniversityTwo incidents in the last eight months ring this Tempe-based brotherhood in at number one. - 9. Your IP: It also said the fraternityhad cooperated with authorities. Drake University defines hazing as "any action taken or situation created, to new members or initiated members with or without their consent, whether on or off fraternity premises, to intentionally produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule.