LADDER OF RISK: MGC/NPHC EDITION

The letters FIPG have become well known through out the Fraternity and Sorority Life community. FIPG has become

the standard of Risk Management for nearly every Fraternity and Sorority.

FIPG is more than just risk management. It is the document for our members to reduce our risks as an organization and

as individuals.

What is FIPG?

At first glace the FIPG Policy can be very Intimidating.

When boiled down, it is simply a way to STAY LOW ON THE LADDER OF RISK.

Each time we violate one of the guidelines, we climb up a rung on the ladder and increase the chance that a fall from the ladder will harm our organization.

RUNG ONEThe possession, sale, use, or consumption of

alcoholic beverages during a chapter event, in any situation sponsored or endorsed by the chapter or at any event an observer would associate with the fraternity must be in compliance with any and all applicable laws of the state, city, and institution of higher education, and must comply with either BYOB or third party vendor guidelines.

RUNG ONEThe possession, sale, use, or consumption of

alcoholic beverages during a chapter event, in any situation sponsored or endorsed by the chapter or at any event an observer would associate with the fraternity must be in compliance with any and all applicable laws of the state, city, and institution of higher education, and must comply with either BYOB or third party vendor guidelines.

RUNG ONEThe possession, sale, use, or consumption of

alcoholic beverages during a chapter event, in any situation sponsored or endorsed by the chapter or at any event an observer would associate with the fraternity must be in compliance with any and all applicable laws of the state, city, and institution of higher education, and must comply with either BYOB or third party vendor guidelines.

RUNG ONEThe possession, sale, use, or consumption of

alcoholic beverages during a chapter event, in any situation sponsored or endorsed by the chapter or at any event an observer would associate with the fraternity must be in compliance with any and all applicable laws of the state, city, and institution of higher education, and must comply with either BYOB or third party vendor guidelines.

RUNG ONESimple: DRINKING AGE IS 21 in all states

and anyone (a member or guest) who consumes alcoholic beverages underage runs the risk of trouble.

In addition, chapter events ( Which can be any event an observer would associate with the chapter) with alcohol present must abide by BYOB or 3rd party vendor guidelines. Simply put chapters do not have a liquor liscenses.

Anything else is a set up the ladder.

RUNG TWONo alcoholic beverages may be purchased

through or with chapter funds nor may the purchase of same for members or guests be undertaken or coordinated by any member in the name of or on behalf of the chapter. The purchase or use of a bulk quantity or common source(s) of alcoholic beverage, for example, kegs or cases, is prohibited.

RUNG TWOThere is a major risk when chapters

purchase or coordinate the purchase of alcohol.

This includes drink specials at 3rd party events or free drinks for members at events.

What is wrong with this flyer based on

Rung Two?

RUNG THREE

OPEN PARTIES, meaning those with unrestricted access by non-members of the fraternity, without specific invitation, where alcohol is present, are forbidden.

RUNG THREENO OPEN PARTIES!

In order to decrease risk events with alcohol MUST HAVE A GUEST LIST and non-members of the Fraternity must have an invitation or have bought a ticket. Know who your guests are.

RUNG THREE

What is wrong with this flyer based on

Rung Three?

RUNG FOUR

No members, collectively or individually, shall purchase for, serve to, or sell alcoholic beverages to any minor (i.e., those under legal drinking age).

RUNG FOUR

Don’t break the law!

(Should be pretty easy)

RUNG FIVE

The possession, sale or use of any ILLEGAL DRUGS or CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES during a chapter event or at any event that an observer would associate with the chapter is strictly prohibited.

RUNG FIVE

Don’t break the law!

(Should be pretty easy)

RUNG SIXNo chapter may co-sponsor an event with an alcohol distributor or tavern (tavern defined as an establishment generating more than half of annual gross sales from alcohol) at which alcohol is given away, sold or otherwise provided to those present. This includes any event held in, at or on the property of a tavern as defined above for purposes of fundraising. However, a chapter may rent or use a room or area in a tavern as defined above for a closed event held within the provisions of this policy, including the use of a third party vendor and guest list. An event at which alcohol is present may be conducted or co-sponsored with a charitable organization if the event is held within the provisions of this policy.

RUNG SIXNo Co-Sponsoring! What does this look like?

When clubs and bars offer to pay for extras such as flyers, or drink specials.

RUNG SEVEN

No chapter may co-sponsor, co-finance or attend or participate in a function at which alcohol is purchased by any of the host chapters, groups or organizations.

RUNG SEVENAny chapter co-hosting or co-financing an event with another chapter or student group is liable for an incident where alcohol is purchased if any of the groups do the purchasing. That means the chapter SHARES THE RISK even if they follow all of the other FIPG guidelines.

RUNG EIGHT

All INTAKE activities associated with any chapter will be non-alcoholic. No INTAKE activities associated with any chapter may be held at or in conjunction with a tavern or alcohol distributor as defined in this policy.

RUNG EIGHTDon’t mix neo activities/intake activities with alcohol.

What about new member shows?

If members drink prior or to after new member shows, this is alcohol at a new member event.

RUNG NINE

No member or pledge, associate/new member or novice shall permit, tolerate, encourage or participate in "drinking games”. The definition of drinking games includes but is not limited to the consumption of shots of alcohol, liquor or alcoholic beverages, the practice of consuming shots equating to one’s age, “beer pong”, “century club”, “dares” or any other activity involving the consumption of alcohol which involves duress or encouragement related to the consumption of alcohol.

RUNG NINENO DRINKING GAMES

Just like bulk quantity “DRINKING GAMES” ENCOURAGE HIGH RISK DRINKING which increases the risk of an accident. Chapters that do not permit drinking games reduce their risk.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE EVENTS?

Events can take place at a third party vendor

Must be a guest list/ticket sale list

The space must be secured for your chapter event only – cannot be a general population party/event

If charging to attend the party, tickets can be sold in Break Point Games Room

No ticket sales at the door

The chapter cannot make money off of the bar sales

SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL BOIL DOWN TO?

HAZING No chapter, colony, student or alumnus shall conduct nor condone hazing activities. 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."

Hazing is any action taken or situation created intentionally:that causes embarrassment, harassment or ridiculerisks emotional and/or physical harm to members of an group or teamwhether new or not, regardless of the person's willingness to participate

Still confused? Ask yourself these questions:Would I feel comfortable participating in this activity if my parents were watching?Would we get in trouble if the Dean of Students walked by?Am I being asked to keep these activities a secret?Am I doing anything illegal?Does participation violate my values or those of my organization?Is it causing emotional distress or stress of any kind to myself or others?If someone were injured, would I feel comfortable being investigated by the insurance carrier?When I apply for jobs, can I take the onus of having a criminal arrest on my record?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

Can you haze someone who is not yet in an official process?

Can you haze someone who has already completed process?

TRUTHS ABOUT HAZING

Theta Delta Chi – 2001Hazing

Kappa Sigma – 2008Hazing

Alpha Kappa Alpha – 2010Inappropriate contact outside of approved MIP

Sigma Gamma Rho – 2011Hazing

HAZING AT VCU

§ 18.2-56.  Hazing unlawful; civil and criminal liability; duty of school, etc., officials

   It shall be unlawful to haze, or otherwise mistreat so as to cause bodily injury, any student at any school, college, or university.

Any person found guilty thereof shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, unless the injury would be such as to constitute a felony, and in that event the punishment

shall be inflicted as is otherwise provided by law for the punishment of such felony.

Any person receiving bodily injury by hazing or mistreatment shall have a right to sue, civilly, the person or persons guilty thereof, whether adults or infants.

The president, or other presiding official of any school, college or university, receiving appropriations from the state treasury shall, upon satisfactory proof of

the guilt of any student found guilty of hazing or mistreating another student so as to cause bodily injury, expel such student so found guilty, and shall make report

thereof to the attorney for the Commonwealth of the county or city in which such school, college or university is, who shall present the same to the grand jury of

such city or county convened next after such report is made to him.

VIRGINIA HAZING LAW

No tolerance policy on any hazing activities where the chapter is found responsible

If you don’t know . . . AskMany activities can be re-worked so that they are not hazing or so that they do not break the policies and procedures outlined by the

council, university or your organization

IMPLICATIONS

Hazing is everyone’s problem. At HazingPrevention.Org, our mission is to empower people to prevent hazing. How can you be empowered? First,

understand what hazing is and be able to recognize it. Second, take responsibility when you see it occurring or when it happens to you by reporting it immediately. Third, make others aware of what hazing is and their responsibility for preventing its occurrence. Finally, use the resources, programs and services

we offer at HazingPrevention.Org and help support our efforts by becoming a sponsor, donor or volunteer for our organization.

Hazing is everyone’s responsibility.Virtually every college or university, school, national governing body, athletic

department, fraternity/sorority, organization and workplace has an anti-hazing policy and most have procedures for reporting violations. If you don’t know what

those are, ask an administrator or executive.The most important thing you can do is report it. Don’t be a bystander. Right

now, 44 states have laws against hazing. Find out if yours is one of them: Hazing Statutes 

You can call the national toll-free anti-hazing hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293). If you have an iPhone, you can use the free GIN Anti-Hazing iPhone

App. To learn more about the app, visit http://info.theginsystem.com/antihazing/

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

QUESTIONS