Alternatives to Hazing
1. FOSTER UNITY
- Have the members of your group/organization work together on a community service project.
- Visit the ropes course at Lake Wauburg (http://www.recsports.ufl.edu/lakeWauburg.aspx) to work on group cohesiveness, communication and leadership skills.
- In fraternities and sororities with chapter houses, the group might work together on a chapter room improvement project.
- Work together to plan a social or athletic event with another group.
2. DEVELOP PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITIES
- Discuss the organization's weaknesses such as poor recruitment, apathy, and poor scholarship, and plan solutions that the organization might then adopt.
3. DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS
- Encourage participation in school/campus activities outside of the organization. For more info visit: http://www.union.ufl.edu/involvement/
- Encourage new members to get involved in organizational committees and/or leadership roles. For more info visit: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/cls/
- Develop a peer mentor program within your group for leadership roles.
- Invite school/community/business leaders into the organization to share their experiences.
4. INSTILL A SENSE OF MEMBERSHIP
- Plan special events when the entire organization gets together to attend a movie, play, or religious service.
- Plan a "membership circle" when current and new members participate in a candlelight service in which each person has a chance to express what membership means to them.
5. PROMOTE SCHOLARSHIP:
- Take advantage of your school/college/ university academic and tutoring services. For more info visit: http://www.teachingcenter.ufl.edu/
- Designate study hours for members of your organization.
- Invite college/university or community experts to discuss test-taking skills, study methods, time management etc.
6. BUILD AWARENESS OF THE ORGINAZTION'S HISTORY
- Invite an older member to talk about the organization's early days, its founding, special chapter traditions, and prominent former members.
7. AID CAREER GOALS
- Use college resources for seminars on resume writing, job interview skills; various careers. For more info visit: http://www.crc.ufl.edu/
8. INVOLVE MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY
- Get involved with campus and community service projects.
- Plan fund-raisers for local charitable organizations.
9. IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
- Encourage new members to plan social or service projects with other new members of organizations
- Work together to plan joint social or service activities.
Adapted from: StopHazing.org