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This statement of the rights and responsibilities
of those individuals who are applicants for membership
in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority ("Sorority") is
for the dual purpose of:
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setting forth in a summary form, the Sorority's fundamental
principles regarding the rights of an applicant to be
free from harassment, whether by physical or mental abuses
associated with hazing activities, by individual members
or chapters of the Sorority during the membership Intake
Program and
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correspondingly, the responsibilities and obligations
of the applicant not to allow herself to be subjected
to such abuses, nor to participate in any activity during
which these abuses occur; and to report such abuses or
occurrences forth-with to the Sorority's chapter officers,
chapter advisors, Regional Officers, National Officers
and National Headquarters, as appropriate.
The membership Intake Program of Delta Sigma Theta and
the Ritual outline required activities for ceremonial
dress. Our governing documents contain absolute prohibitions
against hazing related activities before, during and after
the membership Intake Program and provide for specific
sanctions against the members and the chapters for violations
of these prohibitions.
The Code of Conduct is embodied in this Applicant Rights
and Responsibilities Statement and sets forth the types
of improper conduct on the part of sorors, applicants,
and candidates which the Sorority considers unacceptable.
Such improper and unacceptable conduct is subject to the
sanctions or fines or both as listed in the Code of Conduct.
The following are the types of conduct that are deemed
as unacceptable and violative of the Sorority's policies
in connection with the membership Intake Program.
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Pre-initiation and/or underground activities are in
violation of the Sorority's most sacred trust. Underground
is anything that is contrary to approved activities.
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HAZING and abuse are expressly prohibited. These include,
but are not limited to:
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PHYSICAL HAZING
Several examples are: paddling, beating, slapping, kicking,
pushing, blindfolding, sleep deprivation, exercising of
any kind, duck-walking, tearing clothes, disruption of
hair styles and/or damage of hair, consumption of alcohol,
use of drugs, forcing the use of alcohol, drugs or the
eating of so-called "Delta Food".
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EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL HAZING
Several examples are: any morally degrading, illegal,
or indecent activity, or any type of activity that may
be in violation of legal statutes or policies of the colleges
or universities; cursing, yelling, humiliating, belittling.
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Unapproved work and/or other activities. Any road trip
that would make it necessary for an applicant or candidate
to travel extreme distances or under hazardous conditions
or any activity that would endanger an applicant or candidate.
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Requiring any association with other organizations
that would be demeaning and indecent.
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Running errands, buying food, gifts, or personal items,
etc. for chapter members or other sorors.
If an applicant for membership in the Sorority allows
herself to be the subject of such abuses, or participates
in any activity, including the observation of same, and/or
fails to report such abuses to appropriate Sorority officials
-- Chapter Officers, Regional Officers, National Officers
and National Headquarters -- she may be barred from admission
to membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
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