XI DELTA THETA SORORITY STANDARDS POLICY

Purpose

 

The purpose of this document is to provide public and internal clarity regarding Xi Delta Theta Sorority’s official policy on the ethical laws in which we hold our sisters and new members accountable to. The policy has been established for the protection and fair treatment of all current and future members of the organization. This document will also outline the appropriate channels through which to report any actions or behaviours that do not align with Xi Delta Theta’s policy and culture.

 

Frequently Used Terms

 

Standards: The set of ethical practices that members and new members of Xi Delta Theta represent and uphold to continue to have a welcoming and safe community for everyone.

 

Member: Any individual initiated by the sorority and has an active role number, no matter their current status (active, inactive, various alumna types). An example of an individual without an active role number would be any sister who has withdrawn their membership or who has had their membership withdrawn.

 

New Member: An individual who has accepted a bid but who is not yet a member of the chapter.

 

Potential New Member: An individual who has attended one or more sorority rush events, but has not yet been offered a bid.

 

Race: For the purpose of this policy “race” includes race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, and citizenship.

 

Cultural Appropriation: The inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of a people or society by members of another more dominant people.

 

Article I- Ethical Code

 

This policy serves as a notice to all existing and new members that Xi Delta Theta Sorority does not consent to, condone, acquiesce in, or tolerate mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical discrimination, predjudice or hate or any other hurtful action as outlined in Xi Delta Theta’s Anti-Hazing Policy. This includes, but is not limited to, rush, pre-initiation and/or unofficial activities (activities not approved by the Executive Council). The following list is not exhaustive; any other activity that could be categorized as prejudice or hate against any group, will not be condoned and will be met with consequences deemed appropriate by the necessary authorities, be it on a Chapter, Advisory or Executive Board, or judicial level.

 

Xi Delta Theta does not condone racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, religious prosecution, sexual harrassment or violence, xenophobia or any manifestations of intolerance, harrasment or discrimination based off of the aforementioned. Members and New Members are expected to refrain from and under no circumstances use any derogatory words, phrases, slurs or slang that can be perceived as hateful towards any group. This extends to acts of cultural appropriation such as costumes meant to be representative of cultures that a member does not identify with.

 

Xi Delta Theta is open to rushing and offering bids to all potential new members with no limitations based on race, religion, physical or mental ability, sexuality, or country of origin. Upholding with the values of Trust Eternal, no member can expose any other member’s disability or gender or sexual identity without their consent.

 

No chapter or individual member is authorized to supplement, modify or override this policy without the proposed amendments being raised to the National Board and presented to all chapters for a vote (this includes chapter by-laws). Any amendments proposed must not violate any International, National, Provincial, Municipal laws or regulations of the associated Universities or Colleges at which the sorority has a chapter or potential new chapter. A two-thirds (⅔) vote of all representatives must pass to modify this policy, which must then be updated across external social media and in any documentation.

 

Article II- Accessibility

 

All chapters of Xi Delta Theta strive to be accessible to the greatest amount of members without discrimination against varying physical abilities and monetary means. No member, new member or potential new member will be denied a bid or fined for their inability to access rush events, mandatory events or chapters. The local executive committee and chairs are responsible for upholding the accessibility standards.

 

Events should always strive to be planned in wheelchair accessible locations or alternatives. If a chapter holds more than 2 rush, mandatory events or chapters a month that are not accessible they may be subject to fines as determined by the National Advisory Board.

 

Events that require a fee and are mandatory require communication from any member unable to attend for monetary reasons, at which point under the local executive’s discretion they may waive the fee.

 

Article III - Mandatory Training

As decided by the chapter, the members will complete 1 mandatory training session each semester. This training will be chosen by the current executive committee, but brought to the chapter. The training must be approved by the advisory board, within the first month of each semester. These can include but are not limited to; sensitivity training, anti-racism, anti-bias, sexual assault, 2SLGBTQQIA+. The training can be a trained professional leading the training, it can be a company’s online module each member must complete, it can also be run through the local university or college, or the local governing body. The training is mandatory to attend whether they be virtual or in-person. If the member is unable to attend or complete the training, they must get approval from the executive committee. If a member misses a training:

• They first will not be allowed to attend the next social event for the sorority.

• If the training still is uncompleted the member will have to pay a fine of $40

• Should the training remain uncompleted the member will be uninvited from the next formal event held by the sorority.

All New Members will complete inclusion training during their New Member process, sisters must also complete this training.

 

Article IV - Reporting

 

Should any member or new member witness any acts, behaviours or attitudes contrary to this policy, they are required to notify a member of their Executive Committee or National Board for further investigation. Should the allegations prove accurate or provide a reason for concern that there is potential for a breach in policy, any member whose actions and/or attitudes that are not in compliance with this Policy will be subject to disciplinary action by the Executive Committee or National Board, which may result in probation or termination of membership.

 

Reports shall be made in the following order: to a Judiciary Member, the Chapter Vice President, the Chapter President, the Chapter Advisor(s), the National Vice President and the National President. Any member and new member who witnesses any breach in ethical standards has a duty and a right to report. All reports must contain sufficient detail regarding the individuals accused and as many details about the incident that can be provided such as date, time, and location, direct quotes and the nature of the incident. If the reporting member, new member, or potential new member does not receive a positive response from the individual they have reported to, they should immediately escalate the report to the next level or may contact the National Vice President and the National President directly.

 

Article V- Disciplinary Action

 

Xi Delta Theta shall impose sanctions upon any members, new members, chapters and potential new chapters who are involved in any breach of ethical standards and they will be subject to disciplinary action. The severity of the disciplinary action imposed upon potential new chapters, chapters, members, and new members will be dependent on the nature of the violation and any prior history of violations. Any discipline decided upon by the Executive Committee or National Board must also comply with this standards policy as well as the anti-hazing and derolling policies.

 

The range of sanctions for chapters includes any one (1) of the following:

 

• Denial of the right to recruit new members

• Suspension of the chapter for a set period of time

• Revocation of the chapter charter

• Monetary fine

 

The range of sanctions for individual members includes any one (1) of the following:

 

• Suspension, which includes the denial of the right to participate in any official Xi Delta Theta events  or activities on a local or national level, the right to vote, and the right to wear sorority paraphernalia during the suspension period.

• Retraction, the denial of the right to hold positions, vote, and have potential littles during the retraction period.

• Expulsion, which means that the sorority has revoked the membership and associated privileges such as the right to participate in any official Xi Delta Theta events or activities on a local or national level, the right to vote, and the right to wear or own sorority paraphernalia.

• Monetary fine.

 

The sanction for new members or potential new members includes the following:

 

• Denial of membership to Xi Delta Theta.

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Article VI - Log of Amendments

 

VI-I Addition of Mandatory Training

On September 26th 2021, The Xi Delta Theta Standards Policy was updated to include Mandatory Trainings as a standard for all members of Xi Delta Theta Sorority. This was drafted by Constitutional Liaison Sydney Whyte, under President Katie Morrice and became law on September 26th, 2021.