What is hazing and what happens if a fraternity does it?

The Student Handbook for Northwestern University Defines hazing as the following:

Hazing is any intentional or unintentional situation created, or action committed, that:

• a reasonable person would consider to cause mental, physical, or emotional discomfort, and;

• is for the purpose of admission to, affiliation with, initiation into, or as a condition for continued membership in any group, team, or organization.

This applies to situations and actions that occur on or off University premises and whether the situation or action is presented as optional or required. Acceptance or consent by incoming, new, or continuing members of said group, team, or organization does not then authorize the situation or activity to occur. Members in positions of leadership or power within the group, team, or organization who fail to report an act of hazing committed against another individual may be held accountable for violating the hazing policy.

Additionally, hazing is illegal in the state of Illinois. Hazing is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, expect in the situation where hazing results in death or great bodily harm; it is then considered a Class 4 felony.

For more information, including information on the Stop Campus Hazing Act (federal registration) as well as the Hazing Transparency Report, please visit Northwestern’s Hazing Prevention Website.

Will my son need to drink and party to fit into the community?

No! There are many members of the Fraternity & Sorority community who choose to remain sober and are still active, participating members of their chapter by their own volition. Additionally, your student will never be forced to prioritize partying over academics, as the number one reason they are here is for their education. Your son can learn more about the values and culture of chapters through his recruitment process, and whether they align with his. Lastly, most of our chapter facilities on campus are ‘dry’, which means that alcohol is not permitted anywhere on chapter property, even for members 21 and over.

How will the fraternity support my son’s emotional and physical well-being?

Most chapters in the IFC have a Health and Wellness or Mental Health chairman as well as a Scholarship / Academics Chairman who are responsible for monitoring each member’s health, well-being, and academics and ensuring they are safe, healthy, and passing classes. IFC Officers must maintain a minimum average GPA of 3.0 to be in the executive board. Individual chapters also have their own minimum GPA requirements for membership. If your son’s GPA falls below the requirement, they will typically be placed on social probation to raise their GPA and retain membership. Additionally, each chapter has a Risk Management Chairman to ensure their safety of all persons within the house at all times. Research has been conducted about the benefits of joining a fraternity. Please view the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) research to learn more about the benefits!

What are the living conditions in a fraternity?

The undergraduate members are responsible for the day-to-day upkeep and maintenance of their house, with the support of their House Corporation (a local alumni group, or an extension of their national headquarters) and House Manager, an undergraduate who is elected to monitor the upkeep of the house. This person is typically in charge of coordinating house chores and works with the House Corporation Board to address any necessary repairs.

Some fraternities offer their own meal plans, but meal plans may differ for each fraternity. Most fraternities provide 2-3 meals per day, Monday through Friday with no coordinated meal service on weekends. Fraternity chefs can typically accommodate any sort of dietary restriction; it just needs to be communicated to the house or kitchen manager. On weekends, the pantries and refrigerator in most facilities are stocked with microwavable and easy-to-make items.

What should I do if I think/know my son is being hazed?

If you think your son is being hazed, warning signs can include but are not limited to: Sudden change in his behavior or attitude after joining a fraternity, wanting to leave his fraternity without any real explanation, sudden decrease in communication with friends and family, physical or psychological exhaustion, unexplained weight loss, injuries, or illness, sudden changes in sleeping or eating habits, withdrawal from normal activities, expressing feelings of sadness or worthlessness, an increase in secrecy or unwillingness to share details.

Any violation of the University Hazing policy can be reported to the Dean of Students Office (847-491-8430), the Office of Community Standards (OCS) (847-4914582), or online at https://www.northwestern.edu/report/policy-violation/hazing.html. Timely reports with details are helpful in ensuring the safety of all students. When hazing is reported to the University, the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life can support students by supporting individuals in seeking temporary accommodations and support resources. 

If your son reports that he is being hazed, first talk with him and console him. The degree of hazing can vary in each case and it is important to make sure your son is doing well psychologically. Students can also contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for mental health support.  After this, try to gather as much information as possible. This can include but is not limited to screenshots, text messages, dates and locations on when the instance or instances occurred, who was present, and how many other individuals were also potential victims. Next, you will want to reach out to either the national organization that your son is a part of or Northwestern University directly with the information that you have gathered. As previously mentioned, when reaching out to Northwestern University, you can either contact the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life (OFSL) or submit a hazing report with OCS. At this point, someone from Northwestern or a national organization will reach out to you and explain the next steps. When hazing is reported to the University, the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life can support students by securing immediate temporary campus housing and arranging a no-contact order through NUPD, if a student fears retaliation or retribution. If you have any further questions regarding safety, health, and well-being, please contact‍ community-standards@northwestern.edu.

Is the fraternity experience distracting or detrimental to academics?

The fraternity experience at Northwestern is not detrimental to academic success, and in many cases supports it. Each chapter has a designated officer committed to providing resources for time management and classes, and will make sure your son is performing to the best of his academic ability. Additionally, many fraternities hold academics in high regard, as reflected in their founding values, and have minimum GPA requirements for their members. If a member falls below the minimum requirement, they are typically placed on probation and will be required to raise their GPA the following quarter to maintain membership within the fraternity.

What is the time commitment of being in a fraternity and how do members manage all of their obligations?

The winter quarter of the freshman academic year will likely involve the largest time commitment because it consists of their main rushing events and likely also still dealing with the stressful transition into college. During the winter quarter, your son’s main focus regarding the chapter will involve new member education, which is the curriculum required by the chapter’s headquarters. This usually involves the history of the fraternity and the chapter, policies locally and nationally, and general education on the fraternity. While the time commitment can range from chapter to chapter, it is very manageable, and chapters will do their best to make sure that new members are not falling behind academically.

What happens if my son has a conflict between a fraternity event and a mandatory academic/professional event?

Exact procedure differs between chapters, but all chapters recognize that a member’s academic and professional career holds precedence over fraternity events. Depending on the fraternity event, such as mandatory programming, your son will have to make up for the absence in the future. For non-mandatory academic/professional commitments, it is up to the discretion of the member on if they can or cannot attend the fraternity event.

Can my son join other clubs/organizations on campus while in a fraternity?

Yes! Joining on-campus clubs and organizations is highly encouraged. Chapters will not ask members to chronically club and professional commitments for non-mandatory fraternity events.

If you have any further questions regarding academics and time commitment, please contact nu.ifc@u.northwestern.edu

What exactly is “rushing”?

“Rush” is the process in which fraternities recruit potential new members (PNM). Rush, from the perspective of a PNM, is a process that allows you to scout fraternities that align with their values, academic interests, and social scene. At Northwestern University, there is a formal and informal rush process. Informal rush occurs throughout the year and is a more relaxed process with chapters hosting independent rush events, whereas Formal Rush is a structured process organized by IFC where students visit every chapter on a set schedule usually during the first week of winter quarter.

What should my son ask/be aware of during the rush process?

As mentioned above, your son should be utilizing the criteria to determine which fraternity is the best fit for him. However, your son should also be looking at how each fraternity treats him both in person and digitally. In order to accurately gauge the culture of the brotherhood, he should try to meet as many of the members of the fraternity as possible. In regard to questions, he should be able to fully comprehend what also if he chooses to living in the house will look like. This includes his weekly time commitment to fraternity-related events, living arrangements, overall costs, and how the house will help him academically. Furthermore, he should also ask questions about how the brothers will help him in the future in respect to alumni connections, job opportunities, leadership positions within the fraternity, and anything else that directly interests him.

Will my son fit in if he’s more shy and introverted?

Yes! Plenty of members that have joined the fraternities community at Northwestern are shy and introverted. One of the great aspects of this community is that it allows your son to establish a tight-knit group of friends almost immediately. This can be extremely helpful because Northwestern is academically challenging and can be an overwhelming place for students on campus. Additionally, fraternities are self-selecting groups that share similar values, meaning your son will most likely find many like-minded men in his fraternity. Moreover, most fraternities at NU also provide mentorship in the form of a ‘big’. This is an older member within the fraternity who will make sure your son is adjusting to NU and the fraternity without feeling overwhelmed.

What if he joins a fraternity and then changes his mind? Can he move out or disaffiliate and join a different fraternity?

If your son joins a fraternity and then, for whatever reason, changes his mind, he can easily “drop” the fraternity before or during the rush process or prior to being initiated. After being initiated into a fraternity, your son is officially a brother of the fraternity and cannot rush other houses, but may still reduce/eliminate his commitment to the fraternity.

What leadership and professional opportunities exist in fraternities?

There are many leadership opportunities within a fraternities executive board, but specific positions/”chairs” vary between each fraternity. Some positions that all fraternities have include President, Treasurer, Social, Recruitment, Risk Management, etc. These positions can be beneficial to any resume, as these roles are analogous to many jobs and professional opportunities. Additionally, fraternities offer many opportunities to work with real organizations, companies, and non-profits through their philanthropies.

How does the alumni network assist with internships and job placements?

Fraternities’ alumni networks have been the key to breaking into the corporate and professional world for many of our members. Chapters encourage alumni and current members to network with each other at alumni and Founder’s Day events, with many IFC members reporting that an alumnus or current brother has helped them obtain an internship, job, or professional opportunity. Beyond the chapter alumni network, members can take advantage of their fraternity’s national alumni network as well. Lastly, some chapters offer mentorship opportunities between alumni and brothers in the same field, in which an alumnus teaches his mentee on interview skills, resume building, and specific career skills.

What kind of philanthropy/community service do fraternities participate in ?

All chapters in the Fraternity and Sorority community participate in some kind of philanthropy event or community service at least once a quarter. This can range from picking up trash around campus, to homeless lunch packing. Chapters usually help each other’s philanthropy through buy-ins or dual philanthropy events. To learn more about upcoming philanthropy events, visit the Calendar.

How can I help my son during the recruitment process? How involved should I be?

You can help your son during the recruitment process by checking in on what fraternities he is interested in, asking clarifying questions in respect to housing information or other key factors about the fraternity, and encouraging him to use his best judgment as a young adult to make a decision he is comfortable with. While the involvement for parents/guardians will vary based on their relationship and parenting style, it is very important to make sure your son has all of the information he needs to make a decision he is comfortable with. Additionally, if you feel like something is off, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone from the FSL Office or IFC. We are here to help and always love to answer questions pertaining to the Fraternity and Sorority Community!

Are parents allowed to visit fraternities during recruitment?

Chapters don’t prevent parents from visiting fraternities during recruitment, but this rarely occurs, as the emphasis of the recruitment process is about your son. We encourage you to empower your son to reach out to the houses that he is interested in and for you to be supportive. If you are curious about how the house looks or want more information about the chapter, please look at the Fraternities page on our website or reach out to someone in the OFSL/IFC.

How can I be involved with the fraternity once my son joins?

Once your son joins a fraternity, you can become involved in a variety of ways. One of the first ways to become involved is by following the fraternity on social media. Most of our fraternities frequently post updates about what is going on in their chapters on Instagram. Additionally, most chapters have a parents’ group. This allows you to meet and interact with other parents who are in your son’s chapter. Finally, there are usually lots of events that chapters host for parents. These events can include, but are not limited to Parents’ Weekend, Homecoming, Dad’s Day, and Mother’s Day.

If you would like to keep up with the Fraternity and Sorority Community at Northwestern, we hope that you will take the time to follow and connect with us! We encourage you and your son to tag us and let us know about the great things they are doing on campus and in their fraternity so we can highlight the work they are doing.

Northwestern University IFC: Instagram: @nu.ifc Northwestern University Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life Website: https://www.northwestern.edu/fsl/ Instagram: @northwesternfsl