Let’s
get serious – and let’s stay serious about hazing. For years hazing has been a topic
that was linked mostly to fraternal groups. No longer. From severe bullying
incidents that have led to military brutality and the death of a college band
member, we have finally started to recognize as a culture that all types of
societal hazing will no longer be tolerated.
In a world where our youth is so
easily connected through social media, we have seen our words and actions acted
out – and acted upon – in global ways. Never before has the adage – think
before you speak (or now think before you tweet) – been so important. Words can
cause physical hurt and damage. Once put into play in social media, they can
easily send a shock wave through a large population or dramatically wound a
single heart.
The women of the National
Panhellenic Conference, by mentoring and networking through small and large
groups of women, know that hazing is often errantly linked to ritual and tradition. Groups are often blamed when only individuals are to
blame. Each member group of the NPC family has policies against hazing. Each
has disciplinary procedures to follow.
The last week of September is
set aside each year to remind us that hazing is “everyone’s problem, everyone’s
responsibility.” There are vast online resources for both students, parents and
families to set the record straight on behavior that is not acceptable – and
you can also report college hazing incidents anonymously to the Anti-Hazing
Hotline at 1-888-668-4293,
which translated to 1-888-NOT-HAZE.
If you don’t know, ask.
If you believe someone is at
risk, report.
If you wish to engage in the
conversation this fall as students return to their campuses, tell us. If you
have a program you’d like to share, talk about it – and let us know what
progress you’ve made in your college community.
There are plenty of people doing
something about hazing and offering free and affordable programming to alter
risky behaviors, including NPC’s own “Something of Value” program, courses offered by the Novak Institute for Hazing Prevention, and webinars from HazingPrevention.org supported by sororities and fraternities.
Join the conversation and do
what’s right.
Hazing Prevention Week is
September 24 to September 28.
