Hazing Prevention
Week
This year’s National Hazing Prevention Week was 18-22
September. At Susquehanna University, we extended our programming through 25
September, which is a sign of how seriously we take this issue.
This past year, there have been numerous national stories of
horrific acts of hazing by campus social organizations, Greek societies, and
athletic teams. Some have resulted in serious injury and death; all have been
hurtful and contrary to the missions of our institutions.
“At Susquehanna University, we believe that students should
not be demeaned or exposed to harm when pursuing involvement in campus life.”
To this end my colleagues and students have been presenting an inspiring series
of educational events:
·
Inter-fraternity Council and Panhellenic Life
organized an Anti-Hazing Pledge Signing entitled, “These Hands Don’t Haze,” and
they sponsored a field day of fun activities.
·
Barbara Johnson, our Title IX coördinator presented
a bystander intervention workshop.
·
SAC, SGA, and BSU presented Ken Nwadike: The Free Hugs Project.
·
Counseling and Health Services provided a “Healthy
You” resource fair.
·
Our students produced a fundraiser for the
Timothy Piazza Memorial Foundation. Timothy’s parents also presented a program
for our students.
·
The closing event will be tomorrow evening when Inter-fraternity
Council and Panhellenic Life show the film, The Hunting Ground followed by a
discussion.
As many of you know, our home, Pine Lawn, is at one end of
the row of beautiful houses Susquehanna owns along University Avenue. The
others are occupied by the Chaplain, the Director of Counseling Services, Hillel,
the Sustainability House, and about a dozen fraternities and sororities. These
Greek organizations have been proactive and conspicuous in their support of
this work. I am proud of these student for their work as advocates and peer
educators as we all strive to erase hazing.