My Greek Life

Hazing Coverage

Recently I was approached about an interview with a popular magazine to talk about my experience with hazing.  They wanted to talk to a young woman who had done work to prevent hazing.  I qualify for this…

However, we found out later that they wanted to talk to a young woman who had been hazed.  This, I do not qualify for…

I was disappointed, as I think most would be, that I wasn’t going to be feautured in the magazine.  But I thought “I can’t be mad that the reason is that I wasn’t hazed.  I would rather not be in a magazine because I wasn’t hazed than be in a magazine because I was.”

More than that though, I was disappointed that the only stories that people want to cover are about victims.  These stories are incredibely powerful.  Of course they are!  Any story that involves a trauma, a deep struggle, and someone coming out on top… thats a great, emotional story.  And all of those people deserve to be heard.

I do wish though, that there could be coverage on the opposite end.  Those of us who fight hazing because we see it, not necessarily because it happened to us. 

I want to empower everyone: those who have been hazed, those who have hazed others, those who have seen hazing happen, and those who have never seen hazing happen.
I want to empower people to fight the fight, even if its not “your fight.” 

We all have to fight because we are all affected. 
Until there is no more hazing, we all have to fight against it.

I hope that the things I post here help some of you see that perspective.
And I hope even more, that we can all work to prevent hazing.

Anonymous asked: what would you define as hazing?

There is a nice definition here. :)

A recent conversation

I recently engaged a fellow greek in a conversation about hazing.
We come from very different systems.

I am a sister.  He was a brother.
My chapter was around 50 members.  His was around 100.
I was not hazed.  He was.
In a lot of ways, My sisters do not fit the stereotypes.  In a lot of ways, he says, his brothers do.

Just to name a few of our differences…

He admits that he was hazed.  And he admits that he hazed in his first semester as a brother.  He said that he felt that as a new brother, he got to do to others what was done to him.  Isn’t that how a lot of people feel?

But then, after participating in hazing once, he didn’t want to do it anymore.  He didn’t show up to those “events” anymore.  He no longer hazed.
Thats a big step, and people who refuse to continue hazing should feel good that they are no longer participating in the humiliation of fellow members.

The next step is to talk to those who do haze.
The step after that is to get them to see the flaw in their actions and think of how to be better .
There are many steps.
The final step is to end hazing.

Remember that we are values based organizations.

Is there is every a question in your mind about if something is hazing…

Remember that we are organizations built on values.  We should be living our values in everything we do, inside the walls of our sisterhood or brotherhood as well out outside.

Is that activity teaching your members the importance of your values? 
Is it showing them how to live the values in their everyday lives?
Is there a better way?
Perhaps one that is safer and more loving?

HPO Starts 365 Hazing Chat

HPO wants to get all of our followers/fans involved in hazing prevention conversations year round. 
So March 5th the 365 Hazing Chat begins!  Here is what you can expect:
 
Mondays: Hazing News!
Brought to you by HPO. We will share the latest hazing news, ranging from the most updated to historical hazing and  prevention news.

Tuesday: Ask HPO
What do you struggle with? What is unclear? What do you want to know. ASK and we will spotlight the best questions and provide answers. 

Wednesday: Twitter #HazingChat
At 2pm EST, HPO will post a question on Twitter @PreventHazing. This question will bring up hot topics about hazing or trivia about hazing prevention.

Thursday: Program/Resource Spotlight
Each week we will spotlight or remind you about great programs and resources to use in your hazing prevention efforts.

Friday: Fan of the Week!
HPO will spotlight our fan every week.   This person is selected by how involved they are with our 365 Hazing Chat and their contributions to the conversation. 

We wish you the best of luck with your hazing prevention efforts, and want to support you however we can. Be sure to take part in this next step towards empowering people to prevent hazing.  Actions speak louder than words and getting involved with 365 Hazing Chat is just one way to join the conversation!

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This is taken from the HazingPrevention.Org Monthly Newsletter.

I LOVE THIS IDEA.  Everyone should participate!