No matter which fraternity or sorority you’re in, all of Greek Life has one agenda that is universally adhered to: Risk Management Policy. On page 18 in the Policy & Procedures Manual for FAU Greek Organizations, you will find an all-encompassing set of criteria outlining what you can and cannot do as a member of FAU’s Greek Life, from alcohol and dry rush events to hazing and overall prohibited activities.

So for any of you Blutos, VanWilders, old schoolers, or nerds out there, you might want to turn the page, as you’re probably breaking any one of these rules right now.

On matters of alcohol consumption, with the exception of Greek Week: any organization found in the possession of alcohol during “Dry” Rush (which starts at midnight on the Monday of the designated week and ends at noon on the Friday of that same week) will be subject to the discipline process of its governing council or an organization’s National Headquarters alcohol policy. Other than Greek Week or any other specific rules within a particular organization, Greeks have to follow the exact same rules as any other student at FAU regarding the alcoholic beverage laws of the state of Florida, federal laws and municipal and county ordinances, including applicable university rules and regulations.

So basically, it all comes down to this: If you’re not 21, don’t drink, don’t get caught with alcohol in your possession (including in the dorms), and don’t have someone else (older brother or sister) purchase alcohol for you.

Other than the words “alcohol” or “party,” there is only one other word that will make all Greeks around the nation stop dead in their tracks: “hazing.” FAU’s policies on hazing are about as strict as they get. Just ask any of the gentlemen from the great fraternities of Pi Kappa Alpha (caught hazing on the day of an anti-hazing seminar) or Sigma Alpha Mu. According to the University Student Code of Conduct Regulation, hazing is strictly prohibited. In particular, the Presidential Policy Memorandum 59 contains explicit guidelines defining actions by students or other persons associated with any University organization and which actions are prohibited by Florida Statutes. Without all the legal jargon, it simply means this: HAZING IS NOT TOLERATED AT FAU.

What is hazing, you ask? Well, the Policy & Procedures Manual for FAU Greek Organizations defines hazing thus (take a deep breath): “any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution.”

Such term includes, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance or other forced physical activity which could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student and also includes any activity which would subject the student to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment or other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the student.”

Failure to follow the hazing stipulations here at FAU carries heavy penalties ranging from the imposing of fines or withholding diplomas or transcripts to probation and/or suspension of the chapter. Just in case you are still not entirely sure on who, what, when and where hazing is or how to recognize it if you see it, here are a few examples of what hazing entails: total or partial nudity at any time, paddling (think Kevin Bacon in Animal House), forced consumption of alcohol and/or illegal substances, kidnappings, belittling or demeaning name calling and last, but certainly not least, wearing of feminine apparel of any kind.

For anyone wishing to test the legalities of all things Greek here at FAU or if you want to check out the possibilities of double-secret probation, then schedule an appointment with either Dr. Leslie K. Bates (dean of students) or Dr. Lisa Bardill (associate dean)…where the buck stops.

For any and all questions regarding all things Greek: http://www.fau.edu/faugreeks