Tarleton organizations get lesson in hazing dangers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 1, 2009

STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS—In the last academic year, seven college student deaths have been linked to hazing-related activities.

While that number doesn’t seem large, even one death due to hazing is too much. In the last two weeks, students across the country have been given a lesson is what hazing is and how to prevent it.

On Wednesday, Tarleton State University students involved in organizations such as Greek fraternities and sororities, student organizations and spirit groups learned how to recognize and remove hazing from their campus.

Delta Zeta sorority and Student Leadership Programs, along with Alpha Gamma Delta and Lambda Chi Alpha sponsored a program that brought speaker Mindy Sopher, a public speaking instructor in the Department of Communication at North Carolina State University.

Sopher has been involved in the Greek life for many years and was named Greek Advisor of the Year by Sigma Nu International Fraternity.

Sopher went through several audience-involved activities to get students to realize the affects of hazing. Hazing is any action that causes embarrassment, harassment or ridicule or risks emotional and/or physical harm.

The most common form of hazing in the headlines in recent years is alcohol-related incidents. This month marks the fifth anniversary of the death of University of Colorado freshman Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr., also known as Gordie. He overdosed on alcohol as part of a hazing ritual with a fraternity. His family has established a Web site, www.gordie.org, and a foundation to help make students aware of the dangers involving alcohol poisoning.

Defenders of hazing claim it allows members to bond and create loyalty to the organization.

“I challenge you to see if there are more positive ways to accomplish goals such as unity and pride,” she said. “Imagine if you are the one responsible for the death of another student. Imagine if you have to answer the call from that student’s mother.”

Texas is one of 44 states that have laws against hazing. Penalties in Texas include fines up to $10,000 and up to two years in jail, if convicted.

Tarleton Director of Student Leadership Programs Johnny Robinson said he felt the workshop helped open a dialog on a difficult subject.

“I really feel that Mindy’s workshop has allowed us to take a step back and evaluate what we are doing in our membership education programs and see if there are better ways to promote brotherhood/sisterhood in our organizations,” he said. “We feel that we must continue to educate our student groups about hazing on college campuses so they have the resources to make decisions that will allow all their members to have a great fraternal experience.”

For more information about hazing, visit www.hazingprevention.org

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