It happens at many greek houses — or so the rumor goes. Pledges are required to participate in initiation rituals.

Some even call it hazing, though most traditions at Iowa State are nothing more than harmless ceremonies.

But is the house responsible for what goes on during initiation processes?

Jennifer Stingley, an ISU senior in hotel, restaurant and institution management, said yes.

She filed suit Oct. 3 in Story County District Court against her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, for injuries she received as the result of an accident during initiation on Oct. 13, 1995.

The suit alleges the 50 new members of Alpha Gamma Delta had to “run around the house through the back yard to the street. While participating in the required initiation, [Stingley] caught her foot on a defect in the [pavement] in the parking lot.”

Stingley’s attorney, Robert Sikma of Sioux City, said the paved area in question was covered with leaves, obscuring a section of concrete which had settled and become indented. He said the sorority is “negligent in not repairing this defect, which would trip someone as they went by.”

The parking lot has been fixed since the incident.

Sikma said his client suffered “substantial injury to her knee and leg,” had to have surgery on her knee and missed over a month of class.

“As a result of the plaintiff’s injuries, her education was interrupted and her educational expenses were increased,” according to the suit.

Sikma said Stingley was “much more athletic” before the accident. He described Stingley as “physically active” and said she had participated in sports and other extracurricular activities in high school.

The suit cites “a loss of earning capacity and the ability to select a career involving certain physical activity and exertion” as reasons why Stingley is suing.

It says she is seeking compensation for medical expenses, past and future pain and suffering, past and future loss of income, permanent disability, educational expenses and loss of earning.

Sikma emphasized his client is not suing to complain about initiation processes. The injury occurred “during organized activities of the sorority,” he said, adding that it was not the ritual itself which was dangerous.

Stingley, who is still a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, would not comment except through her lawyer. Sororities typically do not comment on controversial issues either; instead, they refer comment to administration personnel.

Initiation “is not something we can regulate,” said Ann McSorley, Panhellenic adviser. “It varies from chapter to chapter.”

She said every new member of a greek house is required to sign a non-hazing pledge, saying they will not be part of any kind of physically harmful ritual.

The pledge reads, in part: “Iowa State University’s Interfraternity, National Panhellenic and Panhellenic Councils are unconditionally opposed to any situations created to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule.

“Freedom from the humiliation and danger of hazing is guaranteed to every student in the ISU greek system. ANY violation of this guarantee may be reported anonymously to the Greek Affairs Coordinator.”