Fraternity Life

FRATERNITY LIFE

Greek Letter Fraternities and Social Fellowships are extracurricular organizations chartered by Morehouse. We encourage fraternities and social fellowship organizations to fulfill our mission by promoting academic excellence, exercising collegial spirit, celebrating pluralism, recognizing the interdependence of campus organizations, and respecting our community’s dignity. We do not recognize fraternities and social fellowship organizations as secret societies because secrecy is incompatible with our mission to maintain an open exchange of ideas and information. To be classified as a fraternity or social fellowship and operate on campus, organizations must be nationally affiliated and adhere to various rules and regulations we establish. Compliance with our policies, procedures, and regulations supersede any oaths fraternity members may take. We recognize the following Greek Letter organizations:

• Alpha Phi Alpha
• Kappa Alpha Psi
• Omega Psi Phi
• Phi Beta Sigma
• Iota Phi Theta
• Phi Mu Alpha
• Groove Phi Groove
• Pershing Rifles

Fraternity Life is an integral part of student life. Since establishing the first chapter on campus in 1921, our relationship with fraternity chapters developed based upon mutual interests and reciprocal support. Membership in a fraternity can be a positive and educational experience. We support the notion that membership offers an enriched collegiate experience where students become academically, civically, and socially engaged. Morehouse and campus fraternities share a mission to develop rounded individuals. To build a stronger community at Morehouse, fraternity members use the following code of ethics:

• Members treat others as they wish to be treated. They do not physically, emotionally, mentally, psychologically, or sexually abuse anyone.
• Members strive for academic success and practice academic integrity.
• Members act as role models for the entire Morehouse community.
• Each fraternity chapter provides support for other Morehouse College fraternity chapters and their members at all times.
• Members make ethical decisions and are responsible and accountable, even when faced with difficult choices.
• Members celebrate diversity and accept the differences and beliefs of others.
• Members recognize and support the Morehouse hazing policy.

Code of Conduct

Physical abuse of any kind is prohibited both on and off campus. Examples of physical abuse, commonly known as “hazing,” are paddling, slapping, kicking, choking, scratching, exposure to extreme conditions, sleep-deprivation, and exhaustive physical activities such as jogging, weight-lifting, or aerobic exercise. Verbal and mental abuse of any kind is prohibited. Abuse includes, but is not limited to, the following

• Screaming, belittling, or humiliating participants
• Using derogatory, profane, or obscene language at participants
• Requiring participants to engage in morally degrading or humiliating games or activities that are likely to embarrass and damage their moral code.

Ingesting foreign objects or substances, including alcohol and drugs, is prohibited. Using participants’ vehicles, money, clothes, or other personal property is also strictly prohibited. You may not require participants to engage in any activity that causes the participant to sleep in class, fail to attend class, fail to submit assignments or fail to prepare for examinations, presentations, or other course requirements. We forbid all fraternities and their members from arranging and participating in any hazing activities, including those not listed above. We use the Official Code of Georgia Annotated; Section 16-5-61 Hazing as our guide:

(a) As used in this Code section, the term:

1. “Haze” means to subject a student to an activity, which endangers or is likely to endanger the physical health of a student, regardless of a student’s willingness to participate in such activity.
2. “School” means any school, college or university in this state.
3. “School organization,” means any club, society, fraternity, sorority or group living together which has students as its principal members.
4. “Student” means any person enrolled in school in this state.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to haze any student in connection with or as a condition or pre-condition of gaining acceptance, membership, office, or other status in school organization.

(c) Any person who violates this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravate nature. (Code 1981, 16-5-61, enacted by Ga. L. 1988, p. 694. 1: Ga. L. 1990,1).

In addition to criminal penalties, chapters and individual fraternity members who participate in hazing will be subject to disciplinary action by Morehouse.