Greetings!
It is hard to believe another school year is upon us already! The summer just flew by. As the academic year begins, remember that National Hazing Prevention Week isn't far behind - September 21-25 this year. The NHPW Resource Guides were shared with sponsoring organizations last week for distribution to their members. If you are interested in signing on as a sponsor or campus member, or renewing your sponsorship for the 2009-2010 academic year, go here for more information and sponsorship forms. To better help campuses and organizations with their hazing prevention efforts, HazingPrevention.Org now has a wide variety of resources available for NHPW or other programs throughout the year. Our online store will be available this week for you to browse our new resources and place orders. Shipping takes at least a week, so plan early for NHPW needs. |
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The Latest in Hazing Legislation
By Hank NuwerIn what has now become too common a story in the news, Utah's hazing law once again failed to hold up in court after challenges to the statute's lack of a comprehensive hazing definition and other legal weaknesses in the statute's wording. The challenge Utah faces with regard to hazing law reform is that defense attorneys routinely mount challenges to the law alleging that hazing laws are too broadly defined and thus are unconstitutional. Rather than possibly lose a conviction altogether, prosecuting attorneys tend to drop the initial hazing charges and go for easier-to-obtain convictions (serving alcohol to a minor, simple assault). Defense attorneys often agree to let their clients plead guilty to charges that have less of a lifetime stigma attached to them. Similar challenges to state hazing laws have occurred in California, Illinois and Texas, among others. Florida is generally reputed to have the toughest law in the nation, and two fraternity members from Florida A & M received two-year sentences in the beating of a pledge. However, even that law was challenged by an attorney for the two, claiming that an ear injury sustained in the assault was not evidence of "permanent injury." The Florida law was named after Chad Meredith, a Miami University fraternity pledge who drowned in a hazing incident. Utah Senator Howard Stephenson and Utah Representative Greg Hughes, the committee chairs of the state's Legislative Interim Education Committee have announced that the committee will be investigating the problem of hazing within the State of Utah and would like to hear from the public. Senator Howard Stephenson represents District 11, which encompasses parts of southern Salt Lake County and northern Utah County. Representative Greg Hughes represents parts of Draper and Sandy Counties. To contribute your own voice or suggestions on hazing reform, Senator Stephenson has requested public comment be addressed to him through email or phone through his website.
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Professionals Learn about Hazing
Prevention at Annual Institute
 By Kimberly Novak
In June 2009, more than 70 professionals from a variety of higher education disciplines gathered on the Butler University campus in Indianapolis for the Interdisciplinary Institute for Hazing Intervention.
The Institute was designed to address hazing as an environmental and cultural problem in campus communities. Using the principles of prevention-focused strategies, the faculty of hazing prevention experts from as far away as Arizona and Boston facilitated a four-day intensive curriculum.These experts included Norm Pollard, dean of students at Alfred University; Elizabeth Allan, associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Maine; and Linda Langford, associate center director at the U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention.
Participants included athletic, sport club, and university police officials; fraternity/sorority life, student organization advising and senior administrative staff from international Greek organization offices; and senior student affairs administrators. Some had experienced a tragedy related to hazing on campus. Others were taking a proactive step to educate others within their own organizations or campuses upon returning home. Institute participants quickly began to demonstrate a shared understanding of the issue. Working individually and with faculty, they found themselves communicating and working together to lead real change toward the eradication of hazing practices within campus communities.
Participants enjoyed the opportunity to delve into the subject matter through the research and teaching of experts in the field who presented during the institute. By using a prevention frame work that has informed alcohol and other drug prevention work, Adam Goldstein, Tracy Maxwell, Kimberly Novak and Larry Stanton Wiese facilitated sessions using research and problem-solving principles to inform the work of prevention, intervention and response to hazing cultures.
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September 21-25, 2009
Do Something! National Hazing Prevention Week (NHPW) serves as an avenue to bring attention to hazing issues in communities around the world. University campuses, organizations, and high school communities all observe the week to bring attention to the issue of demeaning, and sometimes deadly, wrongs of passage.
"NHPW highlights the importance of caring for the safety and health of all fellow humans. We say that we value human dignity, but it takes real strength of character to ensure the dignity and safety of every student is valued-that means speaking out when any activity appears questionable, not being a bystander," said Marilyn Fordham of HazingPrevention.Org Board of Directors.
Though NHPW is emphasized as a "week," that observance is just the beginning of a year-round discussion and effort to make campuses aware of the damaging and often dangerous effects of hazing.
"Physical scars of hazing victims may disappear in days or weeks; the mental and emotional scars often last a lifetime and significantly reduce the self-confidence of those persons and even, in some cases, their quality of life," said Fordham.
Looking for ideas for your group or school? In 2008 many communities creatively addressed the issue through a variety of programs and efforts. Some of these efforts included:
- Guest speakers that address hazing prevention, integrity, legal implications, or real life experiences with hazing
- Programs that utilized the Hidden Harm campaign.
- Created banner or poster design competitions.
- Viewing of hazing films, such as HAZE followed by facilitated discussions.
- Brown bag book discussion of books on hazing and hazing prevention.
- Workshops for community members, athletes, faculty members, parents, and students.
- Distribution of anti-hazing slogan bracelets, buttons or door hangers (the latter two available on our online store).
For lists of activities and contact information from schools that have shared information with us over the past five years of NHPW's existence, go here.
One of the schools that has taken hazing prevention very seriously is Auburn University, engaging in a comprehensive approach to hazing with several initiatives to address the problem in a variety of audiences on campus. Auburn launched its hazing awareness campaign with an open forum in a town hall format with the university president, dean of students, athletic and band directors. Additionally, the school has published a University brochure that details how to recognize hazing, how to report it, and how to end it. Brochures were distributed to students, faculty, and staff. Along with these initiatives, Auburn provides a hazing hotline and University committee charged with addressing the culture of hazing using the environmental management approach.
Just do something! And let us know about your great activity, please. You may be highlighted in a future edition of the newsletter.
The goal of NHPW and HazingPrevention.Org is to stop hazing from happening in the first place, so that no man or woman experiences the damaging physical, mental or emotional scars often left by hazing.
Do you know someone who has stepped up to the plate to fight hazing and has an inspiring story to tell? Nominate anyone who, in some way, courageously combated hazing for The Hank Nuwer Anti-Hazing Hero Award. Affiliated with NHPW, the deadline for this award is September 28, 2009. Winners for all contests and awards will be announced by December 2009.
We are interested in your photos of NHPW activities too. They can be submitted to info@hazingprevention.org along with a 200 word (or less) description of what and who is depicted in the photo.
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None of this work would be possible without YOU, our loyal followers, volunteers and supporters. Thank you for educating others on your campus or in your organization, attending our training programs and webinars, donating your time and resources to support our work, and for taking action to stop injustice when you see it in your community. A grass-roots effort is where this problem will really be effectively addressed.
Sincerely,
Tracy Maxwell
HazingPrevention.Org
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Editor - Hank Nuwer, Franklin College Editorial Board: Ruth Goodman, Alpha Xi Delta Lisa Gregory, Delta Gamma Jill Lewman, Alpha Gamma Delta Lisa Thibault, Kappa Alpha Theta
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October 1 & 2, 2009
University of Maine
1. What do we already know about hazing and hazing prevention?
2. What do we need to know to identify promising practices?
3. How can we better collaborate to achieve our hazing prevention goals?
Held in conjunction with the National Collaborative for Hazing Research and Prevention, the symposium
will explore reciprocity between research and practitioner
experience as we consider how to identify best practices for hazing
prevention. "We will discuss issues related to campus cultures and
hazing, prevention theories, research on hazing, effective program
evaluation, coalition development and more," according to Elizabeth Allan, noted hazing researcher.
This year's
think-tank format differs from previous symposiums in that educational
components, program ideas, written materials and other resources will
not be offered. Instead, the goal of this facilitated discussion is to
develop a national agenda for hazing prevention.
The deadline
for early-bird registration is September 1 - all registrations
must be received on or before September 15.
The $175 registration fee
includes one night's lodging (double occupancy), three meals and airport transportation. Go here for more info.
and registration.
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Thank You to Lisa Hurwitz, student board member who will be graduating soon, and going off of our board in December.
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Special Program
 September 21-24, 2009
Each begins 2 p.m. Eastern
and is 90 minutes long.
$175 for everything below
Includes:Four Webinar Programs &
Two Hazing Prevention Resources
- Participation in 1 AFA-coordinated live webinar - Men, Masculinity, and Hazing: Best Practices for Evidence-Based Prevention, Wednesday September 23 ($50 value)
- Receipt of 1 HPO webinar recording - A Hazing Death: Five Years Later and 10 Lessons Learned Tuesday, September 22
- Receipt of 1 AFA webinar recording - Mental Health Issues and Their Impact on Today's College Student Thursday, September 24
- Receipt of 1 HPO resource- Crucial Conversations Guide
- Receipt of 1 AFA resource - Hazing on Campus
More Info. & Register
What is Hazing Anyway?
Research shows an alarming gap in the understanding of
hazing and society has contributed to this confusion. This webinar will
clarify the definition, debunk outdated myths and identify gaps in
knowledge as it pertains to hazing. Techniques will be provided to help
participants understand just exactly, What is Hazing Anyway?
As a result of this webinar presented by Becky Druetzler, Director of Greek Life
and Orientation Programs at Butler University; and Lorin Phillips,
Director of Chapter Services for Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, participants will:
- Understand what hazing is and how to recognize it.
- Identify gaps in other people's understanding of hazing behavior.
- Recognize ways to help others understand hazing.
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TAKE ACTION
Coopersville School District Has a Duty to Release Settlement Sum
An Editorial By Hank Nuwer
A hazing settlement in the Michigan news is a case of deja vu all over again.
Back in 1997, Rancho Bernardo High School (California, Poway School District) endured the physical hazing and sexual assault of a junior varsity baseball player.
After a rookie player was sodomized with an object in the locker room, he settled for $675,000 with the district, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The paper had gone to uncommon lengths to get the school district to reveal any details at all.
Court records showed that the attack was part of a six-year pattern of assault in several sports and was deeply entrenched in school athletics, according to the newspaper, which cited facts from court records.
The key to why the Union-Tribune fought so hard for disclosure of the sum is that the Poway district was forking over money from taxpayer dollars.
Now flash forward 12 years and The Grand Rapids Press in Michigan has reported this news item on July 15: the "Coopersville school district settles [2007] hazing case for undisclosed sum."
Undisclosed sum of taxpayer monies? Shades of Poway. red flag up and waving for the Coopersville school district's taxpayers to see and shout "foul." A Michigan school official is doing exactly what Poway did 12 years ago to hide the settlement amount. "We don't want everything stirred up and have any animosity toward these kids," Superintendent Kevin O'Neill of the Coopersville Area Public Schools said, according to the Press.
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