Hazing Prevention
What Are We Doing To Prevent Hazing?
National Hazing Prevention Week
What Is Hazing?
Hazing means any act taken on University property or in connection with any University-related group or activity that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of an individual (including, without limitation, an act intended to cause personal degradation or humiliation), or that destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation in, admission to, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization. (Student Conduct Code Section V, Subd. 14)
Additional information, including
the state statute against hazing, can be found at: www.stophazing.org. Students who may have been subjected to hazing activities
are encouraged to immediately notify Student Unions & Activities at 612-626-6919 or the University Police at
612-624-COPS (2677).
Twenty-one international fraternity and sorority organizations have teamed up to create an anti-hazing hotline that anyone can use to report incidents of hazing anonymously. The toll-free number — (888) NOT-HAZE, or (888) 668-4293 — will connect callers with a voice-mail service at the office of Manley Burke, a law firm in Cincinnati that publishes Fraternal Law, a newsletter that chronicles legal issues involving fraternities, sororities, and higher education. According to a news release, the law firm will forward reports of alleged hazing to the appropriate fraternity or sorority, whether or not it is a sponsor of the hotline, and will notify the authorities, if required by law.
What Are We Doing To Prevent Hazing?
The Greek community at the University of Minnesota has partnered each year with departments and offices within the University to bring awareness and education about hazing to fraternity and sorority members, as well as the whole campus community. Partners have included: Office for Student Affairs, the department of Intercollegiate Athletics, the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, the U of M Marching Band, the department of Recreational Sports, the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, Student Judicial Affairs and Student Legal Services.
In past years, we have brought Rick Barnes and T.J. Sullivan to speak to the campus about the dangers of hazing and ways to confront issues within organizations, held movie showings and discussions of “Unless a Death Occurs,” hosted open forums where campus experts discussed hazing from different perspectives, posted fliers around campus, and sponsored a positive team-building activity for all student groups through the department of Intercollegiate Athletics (the “Gopher Sports Challenge,” which benefited Cystic Fibrosis research).
National Hazing Prevention Week
National Hazing Prevention Week grew out of a meeting that took place at the Association of Fraternity Advisors 2003 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX. The hour long meeting was convened to discuss the problem of hazing, and it was followed by a brainstorm during the business meeting of the Association of Fraternity Advisors about future initiatives. One of the ideas that came out of the brainstorm was a national symposium to bring together people in higher education, parents, military personnel, and others interested in helping in the fight against hazing. Once planning for the first National Hazing Symposium was underway, the idea for a national awareness week was conceived by the CAMPUSPEAK staff. The first National Hazing Prevention Week occurred in September 2005.
National Hazing Prevention Week is bringing attention to the problem of hazing across the country, and providing the perfect opportunity for campuses and national organizations to plan educational activities for students and others.