The Risk Management Policy of Sigma Pi Fraternity, adopted by the Grand Council pursuant to Article VI Section 1 of the Constitution, includes the following provisions, and applies to all Fraternity entities and all levels of Fraternity membership.

In any activity or event sponsored or endorsed by a Sigma Pi Entity, including those that occur on or off its Premises:

1. Sigma Pi Entity, members, and guests must comply with all federal, state, provincial, and local laws. No person under the legal drinking age may possess, consume, provide, or be provided alcoholic beverages.
2. Sigma Pi Entity, members, and guests must follow the federal law regarding illegal drugs and controlled substances. No person may possess, use, provide, distribute, sell, and/or manufacture illegal drugs or other controlled substances while on Premises or at any activity or event sponsored or endorsed by the Sigma Pi Entity.
3. Alcoholic beverages must either be: (1) provided and sold on a per-drink basis by a licensed and insured third-party vendor (e.g., restaurant, bar, caterer, etc.); or (2) brought by individual members and guests through a bring your own beverage (“BYOB”) system. The presence of alcohol products above 15% alcohol by volume (“ABV”) is prohibited on any Sigma Pi Entity Premises or at any event, except when served by a licensed and insured third-party vendor.
4. Common sources of alcohol, including bulk quantities, which are not being served by a licensed and insured third party vendor, are prohibited (i.e., amounts of alcohol greater than what a reasonable person should consume over the duration of an event).
5. Alcoholic beverages must not be purchased with Sigma Pi Entity funds or funds pooled by members or guests (e.g., admission fees, cover fees, collecting funds through digital apps, etc.).
6. A Sigma Pi Entity must not co-host or co-sponsor, or in any way participate in, an activity or event with another group or entity that purchases or provides alcohol.
7. A Sigma Pi Entity must not co-host or co-sponsor an event with a bar, event promoter, or alcohol distributor; however, a Chapter may rent a bar, restaurant, or other licensed and insured third-party vendor to host a Sigma Pi Entity event.
8. Attendance by non-members at any event where alcohol is present must be by invitation only, and the Sigma Pi Entity must utilize a guest list system. Attendance at events with alcohol is limited to a 3:1 maximum guest-to-member ratio, and must not exceed local fire or building code capacity of the Premises or host venue.
9. Any event or activity related to the new member joining process (e.g., recruitment, intake, rush, etc.) must be substance free. No alcohol or drugs may be present if the event or activity is related to new member activities, meetings, or initiation into Sigma Pi, including but not limited to “bid night,” “Big/Little” events or activities, “family” events or activities, and any ritual or ceremony.
10. Sigma Pi Entity members or guests must not permit, encourage, coerce, glorify or participate in any activities involving the rapid consumption of alcohol, such as drinking games.

Hazing is contrary to the creed, standards, ideals, mission, and goals of Sigma Pi Fraternity and such activity by our members is hereby prohibited. No chapter shall encourage or conduct hazing activities. Permission or approval by a person being hazed is not a defense. 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 such activities carried on outside or inside 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 humiliation games and activities, and any other activities which are not consistent with fraternal law, ritual or policy or the regulation and policies of the educational institution.”

Sigma Pi Fraternity also has a toll free anti-hazing hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293). The line is available to those who think they, or students they know, have become victims of hazing. Callers may remain anonymous, or they can provide personal information so that their concerns can be responded to directly. The hotline connects directly to a dedicated voice mailbox at the Cincinnati law firm of Manley Burke, the publisher of Fraternal Law.

The Fraternity will not tolerate or condone any form of sexist or sexually abusive behavior on the part of its members, whether physical, mental, or emotional. This is to include any actions, activities, or events, whether on chapter premises or an off-site location, that are demeaning to women or men, including but not limited to verbal harassment and sexual assault by individuals or members acting together. The employment or use of strippers, exotic dancers, or similar, whether professional or amateur, at a Fraternity event as defined in this policy is prohibited.

The Fraternity will not tolerate or condone any form of fighting or physically abusive behavior while on chapter premises or during a Fraternity event, in any situation sponsored or endorsed by the chapter, or at any event a reasonable observer would associate with the Fraternity.

1. All chapter houses should meet all local fire and health codes and standards.
2. All chapters should post by common phones and in other locations emergency numbers for fire, police and ambulance and should have posted evacuation routes on the back door of each sleeping room.
3. All chapters should comply with engineering recommendations as reported by the insurance company or municipal authorities.
4. The possession and/or use of firearms or explosive or incendiary devices of any kind on chapter premises or during a Fraternity event or in any situation sponsored or endorsed by the chapter is prohibited.
5. Candles should not be used in chapter houses or individual rooms except under controlled circumstances such as initiation.

The use of self-constructed pools, bodies of water, slip-and-slides, or similar on chapter premises or at any event a reasonable observer would associate with the Fraternity is prohibited.

All active members and new members shall be instructed on the Risk Management Policy of Sigma Pi Fraternity annually. A copy of the Risk Management Policy is also available on the Fraternity’s website.

A member who immediately obtains appropriate professional medical care for a person experiencing a medical crisis or emergency, including emergencies related to the use or consumption of alcohol or drugs, will not, along with anyone else who assists, be subject to individual disciplinary action by the Fraternity with respect to the incident. This is the case even if the member who is assisting was a contributing factor to that emergency. This policy shall not apply if the Fraternity determines that the member provided false or misleading information in the course of an investigation, or otherwise acted in bad faith.
A chapter that immediately obtains appropriate professional medical care for a person experiencing a medical crisis or emergency, including emergencies related to the use or consumption of alcohol or drugs, may be eligible for mitigation of charges related to violations of organizational policies. To be eligible for this potential mitigation, members of the chapter will be required to meet in person or by phone with a national staff member or an alumni volunteer designated by the Fraternity. This policy shall not apply if the Fraternity determines that the chapter, through its leadership, provided false or misleading information in the course of an investigation, or otherwise acted in bad faith.

As you know, the Fraternity’s new member education program - the Bayard Membership Experience (BME) - was officially launched in September 2020. The BME is a six-week, comprehensive education program that was developed as a direct response to the feedback received during the strategic planning process. This feedback called for a program that builds a sense of belonging and develops a lifelong commitment to the core values of the Fraternity.

To further clarify the Fraternity’s educational efforts, I wanted to provide some timelines and updates on the recent changes. In June 2020, the Grand Council amended the Policy Governance Manual of Sigma Pi in regards to Executive Limitations on Membership Development Programming. With this, it was noted that the CEO shall not fail to ensure that the Executive Office provides a membership development program for undergraduate members. This programming will include but is not limited to new member education.

In July of 2020, as part of the proposals provided by the Financial Task Force, a recommendation was included for the Grand Council to establish a four-to-six week pledge program. Every pledge should initiate during this timeline, and if they fail to do so the following semester, if they are on a roster would be assessed at the same rate as an initiated member of the organization. The Grand Council voted unanimously to accept these recommendations.

As a requirement of the Fraternity’s new member programming, the BME provides a strong start to the fraternal experience and allows for our new members to learn, grow, and explore the meaning of Sigma Pi Fraternity in a structured online environment. New members will be expected to complete the online learning modules and the Tightrope Health & Safety modules within six weeks.

Sigma Pi takes this new initiative very seriously as it pertains to Health & Safety protocols and will be monitoring the start and end dates of new member programs. It is important to note that failure to meet this new policy could result in the chapter being placed on probation or suspension and a potential review of the chapter's operations and membership development programs. As officers of your chapter, it is imperative that you ensure compliance with all policies of Sigma Pi.

The required steps in order for a member to initiate within Sigma Pi in good standing include the following:

• Pay New Member Fee ($75)
• Complete all Seven (7) M2 New Member Information Form (Within 10 Days)
• Complete all Six (6) Bayard Membership Experience Courses
• Complete all Seven (7) Tightrope Courses (Five (5) Health and Safety Courses and Two (2) Assessments)
• Pay Initiate Fee ($325)
• Submit Name on Initiate Report Upon Completion of the Aforementioned Steps

To be completed within 6 weeks (42 days) from the beginning of the new member process.

Sigma Pi reserves the right to immediately remove officers of a chapter or colony for gross negligence or willful neglect of the execution and fulfillment of their duties. For ordinary neglect or inadequate performance of duties by an officer, Sigma Pi will collaborate with the chapter or colony’s other officers to create a correction plan. Should the officer in question fail to timely comply with the plan and continue to fail to perform his duties properly, he shall be subject to removal from office by the Chief Executive Officer or his designee.

The effectiveness of Sigma Pi’s Risk Management Plan requires the timely reporting of new members. Failure to timely report new members can jeopardize insurance coverage for a chapter or colony and their officers and members. Accordingly, all chapters and colonies are required to report new members to the Executive Office of Sigma Pi within twenty-four (24) hours of the completion of the new member ceremony.

By signing below, I hereby read and understand the policies of Sigma Pi Fraternity. I will to the best of my knowledge and ability, in accordance with moral law,and the Constitution and Bylaws of the Fraternity adhere to these policies.
I understand and acknowledge that adherence to and enforcement of these policies is vital to minimize risk to the Fraternity, my chapter, and myself.

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