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Q: Will my son be hazed?
A: He absolutely should not be hazed. He should never participate in any activity that he feels uncomfortable with. If ever in doubt, make sure he knows that he can contact his fraternity headquarters for more information or clarification.
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Q: How do I know if my son is being hazed?
A: Keep the lines of communication open with him and make sure that you ask what activities he's participating in within the fraternity. If he hesitates or says he can't tell you, probe a little further (outside of the ritual, he should be able to describe anything). Some signs to look for: he is missing class, he is overly tired, his regular communication habits changes, his only focus is the fraternity, and/or his appearance changes radically.
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Q: What are the total costs to be a member of a fraternity?
A: A good, but difficult, question. Each fraternity's dues structure is going to be different. It will also depend on whether or not the fraternity has a house. Joining a fraternity will usually require some sort of one time fee. Insurance will also be a major expense. Don't forget regular dues. What you shouldn't be paying for - ever - Alcohol. Visit our Directory and call the national headquarters if you still have questions.
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Q: How will my son’s grades be effected?
A: Ideally, they should shoot way up! Academics must be his first priority. You can help him to remember that! The fraternity can offer support in time management, tutoring, study enhancement and incentives, and class assistance. It's up to your son to make sure that he does well.
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Q: What is my kid going to get out of this?
A: You'll be amazed at what your son will get from his fraternity experience. Joining a fraternity rounds out the collegiate experience. We often say that you get a complete education in a fraternity. Here's what a fraternity offers: lifelong friends, leadership opportunities, social and sports activities, academic support and excellence, and networking opportunities. Check out the other pages here at www.fraternityinfo.com for more information.
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Q: Does my son have to live in the fraternity house?
A: Another great question that depends on the chapter. Likely, your son will want to live in the house to take advantage of the opportunities it presents. Make sure that the house has passed its safety inspections and is clean. Talk to the men who currently live in the house for more information about what its like to live there. Make an unannounced stop during the week to get a sense for how the brothers live.
Also, do not be surprised if there aren't fraternity houses. Many colleges and universities have moved away from fraternity houses and students either spend all four years in the residence hall's, use off campus apartments, or find other residences. The fraternity experience is not one that is 100% tied to the residential atmosphere. A true fraternity experience can be achieved anywhere.
For more information visit Parent's Info or The Myth's.
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Q: Still have questions?
A: Contact the NIC staff at info@nicindy.org or 317.872.1112 we're happy to answer any/all of your questions!
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Q: OK, I’m Interested…What’s Next?
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Q: What is A “Bid”?
A: This is an important part of the fraternity vocabulary.
The short answer is a "bid" is an invitation to membership in a fraternity. The term bid is most often used to describe a piece of paper from the chapter that formally invites a man to join the organization.
You should know that every fraternity community and college or university is unique and there are various methods used to invite someone to join.
Lets review some of the most popular:
The NIC recommends, and all NIC member fraternities support open recruitment. This is a process through which admitted students of an undergraduate institution may join an organization when there is mutual agreement that the time is right. This is also known as values-based recruitment as men make decisions about their membership based on the level of congruence with their own personal values and the values of their fraternity. In these cases there is little need of a "bid", rather a mutual decision is reached between the man and the organization that he would like to join the fraternity and the new member education period begins. The NIC supports this method in all cases.
Another process you may experience is a formal recruitment process. In this process there are various stages of the recruitment experience. It should be noted however that the NIC supports the right of chapters to extend invitations to membership AT ANY TIME. Formal recruitment may begin with a potential member visiting several of the fraternities at a campus and then choosing which fraternity best fits as he goes through the recruitment process. This is one method for learning about all the fraternities on campus but should be used in conjunction with personal time spent with members of the chapter to ensure that your values "match-up" with the organization you are joining. In many cases "bids" are extended at the conclusion of formal recruitment. You should remember that the decision you make will be an important one. Do not rush or feel pressured into making a decision that will affect not only the remainder of your college career but also the rest of your life.
Recruitment can be a very exciting time for a new student on campus or an upperclassman who has decided to make fraternity part of his college experience. Fraternities normally make a large push at the beginning of each semester to market themselves and spread the word about what they do around campus and in the community. Take advantage of this time to learn about the chapters on your campus and make an informed decision about which fraternity is right for you.
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