The last week of every September starts national Hazing Prevention Week. A quote from the national hazing website sums up its intentions:

“NHPW is an opportunity to educate students, parents, teachers, coaches, administrators, faculty, staff, athletic directors, band and performing arts directors, residence hall leadership, student government leaders, community members, local and campus police and others to not just recognize hazing but to learn ways they can prevent it from occurring in the first place.”

The whole purpose of the week is to understand how hazing effects college life. Hazing comes in a variety of forms, and being aware of these practices can help in the prevention process. It’s a complex phenomenon which has no simple solutions to prevention, but there is a lot people can do to thwart it.

Many groups hope to change perspective of hazing from being seen as something of minimal impact, to something of interpersonal abuse. Findings from the National Study on Student Hazing found that “Approximately half of students in high school (47%) and college (55%) involved in clubs, teams, and organizations report experiencing hazing or activities that meet the definition of hazing.” Hazing effects all walks of life, man and woman, and even race.

Francisco Lugo is in charge of coordinating these events. He hopes to make it inclusive for all student life, not just Greeks.

“Real Eagles don’t haze,” Lugo said. “Hazing effects all kinds of organizations, and not just Greek life. Whether it be the band, sports clubs, etc. It’s an us problem, not just a Greek life issue.”

Each day of the week will have various events to raise awareness. Today’s big event is the SOLD series workshop event at Hanner Fieldhouse. Guest speaker Kim Novak will be in attendance. Kim Novak is a hazing prevention expert and NovakTalks CEO whom was recently awarded the Riegelman-Jacobs Award for interfraternal service in July. There will be a Photo booth as well in the rotunda along with E-cards that talk about hazing.

There will be informational tables set up every day at the Rotunda from 11-1.

On Thursday, the next big event, will be “let’s talk about hazing” in the ballroom. This event is put on by the Wings Incentive Program, which is a program designed to help assess student organization’s level of involvement on campus. It’s open to anyone, not just Greek life.

Find out more information about preventing hazing today and all week conversation here:

Pledge online:

Take the pledge found on hazingprevention.org: I PLEDGE: to prevent hazing before it occurs, stop hazing when I see it happening, report it when I know it has transpired, and help empower others to do the same in their organizations, schools and communities.

Tuesday, September 22

Informational Table

Union Rotunda

11:00am – 1:00pm

A Conversation About Hazing – Kim Novak

SOLD Series

Hanner Fieldhouse

7:00pm

Wednesday, September 23

Informational Table

Union Rotunda

11:00am – 1:00pm

Thursday, September 24

Informational Table

Union Rotunda

11:00am – 1:00pm

Let’s Talk About Hazing

Wings Incentive Program

Russel Union Ballroom

7:00pm – 8:00pm

Sponsored by the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life, Office of Student Activities, Campus Recreation & Intramural, and the Dean of Students

100 words from Director