Fall Risk Management Message to Triangle Undergraduates

Dear Triangle Brother,

Welcome back for another great school year!

Triangle considers the health, safety, and welfare of all undergraduate members and guests to be our number one priority. Unfortunately, upon the return to campus each term, some students place an over-emphasis on drinking and parties. This contributes to more than 1,500 college student deaths each year from alcohol related accidents. Now that you are back on campus, please know that binge drinking and the consumption of hard alcohol are the major contributing factors to student injuries, deaths, sexual assaults, vehicle accidents, and hazing incidents.

We continually strive to educate our members on ways to conduct chapter activities in a safe and responsible manner, so here is a link to Triangle’s Risk Management Policies.  Please review the document and ask questions as needed.  Triangle policies prohibit underage drinking at all chapter events, and hard alcohol is prohibited unless served by a licensed and insured third-party vendor. All forms of hazing are strictly prohibited. Our goal is to help promote a safe environment on college campuses this fall.  Every member has a duty to follow all policies and rules of the fraternity as well as those of your college/university and local municipality/state.

As a member of Triangle, you also have a responsibility to uphold the Code of Ethics. One of the most noble responsibilities of membership is to look out for your fellow brothers. If you see certain members, of your chapter, engage in activities that are illegal or violate fraternity policies, it is your responsibility to intervene.  You could be saving someone from arrest, injury or worse.

Fraternities have been in the news due to hazing incidents that not only resulted in the tragic deaths of students, but also brought universal condemnation and disgrace to their organizations. Many students involved in these illegal acts have been arrested to face prosecution and possible prison sentences. Hazing has not only been prohibited for 30+ years by every national fraternity and college campus, but is also a crime in most states, and prosecutors regularly charge students that engage in such activities.

Studies have shown that students that stand up against hazing, binge drinking, sexual misconduct and other illegal acts within their chapters have a positive influence on their fellow members and overall community.  It takes courage to step-in to prevent a brother or friend from drinking too much alcohol, or to intervene to avoid their chapter making bad decisions that violate campus and fraternity risk-management policies.

I am asking you to take a responsible and balanced approach in your social activities and in your social interactions with others. Make it your chapter’s focus to live up to our fraternity’s ideals and never engage in any activity that can endanger yourself or other students.

Triangle will continue to educate members about the most pressing issues facing fraternities today regarding binge drinking, sexual misconduct, and hazing. Please refer to the following resources about these topics:

Please do your part to promote a safe chapter environment this term.  Your positive influence will make a huge difference!  Should you ever have concerns about any chapter activity or event please feel free to contact National Headquarters at (317) 837-9640 or hq@triangle.org at any time.  Thank you for your assistance, and best wishes for a safe and enjoyable school year.

Most Sincerely,

Tom C. Pennington, Executive Director