La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Incorporated has historically maintained that mental and physical abuse have no place in our NEW MEMBER EDUCATION PROCESS. Our New Member Education Process is intended to foster true Hermandad. Acts of hazing or other mental and physical abuse, in addition to running counter to everything La Fraternidad holds dear, threaten to undermine the integrity of La Fraternidad. The actions of a few wayward Hermanos could potentially harm the welfare of our entire organization. Therefore, La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Incorporated UNEQUIVOCALLY PROHIBITS any acts of “hazing” and Every Hermano should be required to report any such incidents; failure to do so can subject them to be similarly reprimanded to any Hermano that engages is such conduct. Report such incidents to the Board of Trustees and National Council.

The Fraternity’s official Anti-Hazing Policy is below:

La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. (“Fraternity”) is a non-hazing fraternal organization.  It does not require the men undergoing the membership intake process (“Caballeros”), otherwise the New Member Education Process (“NEW MEMBER EDUCATION PROCESS”), to be subjected to any form of hazing activity in order to become a member of the Fraternity.  Consistent with the Fraternity’s and college and university campuses’ anti-hazing guidelines, rules, regulations, and policies, and local and state anti-hazing laws, any form of physically, mentally, or verbally humiliating, demeaning, insulting, intimidating, disgraceful, and abusive activity is hazing, and therefore strictly prohibited.  Any submission to, approval of, or direct or indirect participation in any form of hazing activity violates the Fraternity’s anti-hazing policy.  Accordingly, any individual undergoing the NEW MEMBER EDUCATION PROCESS who violates the Fraternity’s anti-hazing policy will be immediately suspended from undergoing the NEW MEMBER EDUCATION PROCESS. Further, any current member, otherwise “Hermano”, who violates the Fraternity’s anti-hazing policy will be subject to disciplinary action, including immediate deactivation from the Fraternity and the stripping of any and all rights and privileges belonging to a member of the Fraternity.  Indeed, the Fraternity vehemently opposes and does not condone any form of hazing activity.

The Board of Trustees and National Council define “hazing” as requiring or asking a Caballero (pledge) to:

(1) Act in a way that is demeaning, embarrassing, or discomforting to the individual;

(2) Participate in any action that recklessly or intentionally endangers mental or physical health;

(3) Consume alcohol or other drugs; or

(4) Perform any act that may be seen as contrary to federal, state, local laws, or the chapter’s university campus code of conduct. Individuals, either inside or outside of La Fraternidad, should report possible acts of hazing to the Board of Trustees or identify the chapter and/or Hermanos involved. The Board of Trustees and National Council have the responsibility and the authority to investigate reports of hazing and assess penalties in accordance with the severity of the act. These regulations against hazing apply to all Hermanos as well as all chapters.

The penalties for Hermanos found to be in violation of these regulations include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Suspension of active Hermano status for no less than one year.

2. A fine of no less than $200 dollars payable to La Fraternidad.

3. Full deactivation from La Fraternidad as stipulated in the Bylaws.

The penalties for chapters found to be in violation of these regulations include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Suspension of all pledging rights and privileges for at least one year.

2. Suspension of active chapter status for no less than one year.

3. A fine of no less than $500 dollars payable to La Fraternidad.

4. Full revocation of the offending chapter’s charter.

Note: These penalties will be final and irreversible.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs

Hazing Policy

 

Philosophy

The Greek community believes that true brotherhood and sisterhood is nurtured in an atmosphere of social and moral responsibility, respect for duly constituted authority, and commitment to the objectives of higher education.  Furthermore, students engaging in hazing activities may subject themselves to criminal penalties. Therefore, a fraternity or sorority program which includes hazing is contrary and detrimental to the purpose of the University, the education and personal development of its students, and thus, has no place within the University and Greek community.

 

Implementation

1. The student officers, primarily the president and new member educator, are responsible for informing members (pledges, new members, associate members, affiliates, guests) of this policy. The policy will be read by the president at the first meeting of the organization each semester and by the new member educator at the first new member/associate member meeting of the semester.
2. All chapters must file the Hazing Compliance Form by the date designated on the Greek Calendar.
3. Any allegations that a chapter has engaged in hazing activities will result in an investigation of the matter by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. All new member/associate member activities will be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
4. In all cases of alleged violations of this policy, alumni and national/international headquarters of the organization will be notified.
5. Individuals involved in alleged acts of hazing and/or individual officers who knew of or should have known of these activities may also face charges pursuant to the University Code of Student Conduct.

 

Definition

Hazing is defined as any action or situation which includes any mental or physical requirement, request or obligation placed upon any person (pledge, new member, associate member, member, affiliate, guest) which could cause discomfort, pain, fright, disgrace, injury or which is personally degrading or which violates any federal, state, local statute or University policy.  Any activity described in this definition upon which the initiation, or admission into, or affiliation with, or continued membership in an organization is directly or indirectly conditional, shall be presumed to be “forced” activity.

 

1. No person shall recklessly participate in the hazing of another.
2. No student or advisor shall knowingly permit the hazing of another.
3. No student or advisor shall fail to report hazing.
4. The negligence or consent of the student/participant or any assumption or risk by the student/participant is not a defense to any action brought pursuant to this policy.

 

Enforcement

Enforcement of the definition shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

 

1. The New Member Information Form must be filed with OFSA by the date designated on the Greek Calendar.
2. The president or new member educator must be in attendance at all new member functions.
3. The president and/or the new member educator must approve all activities planned for new members.
4. All new member activities, which are non-academic in nature, must end by the date published in the Greek Calendar.
5. Actions and activities which are explicitly prohibited include, but are not limited to the following:

• Forcing, requiring or endorsing new members/associate members to drink alcohol or any other substance and/or providing such alcohol or other substance;
• The unauthorized or illegal use of alcohol in any form or quantity during any new member activity;
• Calisthenics (sit-ups, push-ups and runs);
• Branding and tattooing;
• Pushing, shoving, punching, whipping, beating, tackling or any other physical abuse;
• Unauthorized line-ups of any nature;
• Throwing anything (garbage, water, paint, etc.) at an individual;
• Any form of paddling, physical abuse, psychological abuse, deception or shocks;
• Requiring individuals to walk or march in formation of any kind;
• Publicly wearing apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste (uniforms, head apparel, boots/shoes, etc.);
• Not permitting individuals to speak for extended periods of time and/or forced exclusion from social contact;
• Preventing any person from practicing personal hygiene;
• Any activity which interferes with an individuals scholastic pursuits (class attendance, preparation, study time, etc.)
• Forced consumption of food or other substances;
• Theft, defacement or destruction of private or public property
• Conducting unauthorized scavenger hunts, treasure hunts, quests, road trips, paddle hunts, big brother/little brother hunts, big sister/little sister hunts;
• Engaging in public stunts and buffoonery, public displays or greetings;
• Servitude of any nature (food runs, personal errands, academic work, etc.);
• Permitting less than six consecutive hours of sleep each night;
• Conducting a new member related activity between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 7:00am. or awakening individuals during these hours;
• Nudity or exposure to the elements at any time;
• Yelling, screaming or calling individuals demeaning names;
• Engaging in unauthorized activities which involve compelling an individual or group of individuals to remain at a certain location or transporting anyone anywhere, within or outside the city of New Brunswick (road trips, kidnaps, sneaks, drops, etc.);
• Assigning or endorsing “pranks” (stealing composites, trophies, mascots, etc.)
• Conducting activities which do not allow adequate time for study during pre-initiation or initiation periods;
• Conducting activities designed to deceive or convince new members that he/she will not be initiated or will be hurt;
• Carrying of any items (paddles, bricks, rocks, pocket change, dog collars, signature books, etc.)
• Forcing, requiring or endorsing new members/associate members to violate any University, OFSA, national/international policy or any local, state or federal law.