The Hazing Education Workshop was held at Plymouth State University on Tuesday, October 2, to educate organizations, primarily the recognized Greek organizations, on the policies and consequences of hazing.
Rodney Ekstrom, Assistant Director of Student Activities, coordinated the event with the help of Pam Wells, Manager of University Apartments, and the new member educators of the four recognized sororities. “Hazing education is something that Plymouth State takes very seriously,” said Ekstrom. All members of the recognized sororities were required to attend and other organizations were invited to sit in on the workshop.
The workshop consisted of a PowerPoint and discussion led by three Plymouth State alumnus, Alana Hokins, Amanda Gomes, and Meagan Ford, all of whom were members of the unrecognized sorority Chi Alpha Zeta. All three were charged with hazing in December of 2006.
A showing of the film Unless a Death Occurs – Hazing Examined was followed along with a question and answer period. The film is about Walter Dean Jennings, 19, of Plattsburgh University who died from hyponeutremia, which was caused by hazing rituals while pledging an underground fraternity.
The PowerPoint began with a definition of hazing according to the University handbook. Hazing is not permitted and is defined as, “an individual associated with an organization, who is voluntarily or involuntarily involved in the participation of an activity that is done in connection to an individual’s initiation or admission into that same organization, and that activity, whether with intention or not, is likely to result in unreasonable physical, mental or emotional harm, discomfort or distress to an individual in the same organization.”
A list of some activities that may be considered hazing was handed out to everyone present. According to this list, hazing includes everything from blindfolding and paddle swats to any morally degrading or humiliating games or activities.
“Even verbally abusing someone is considered assault and you can get in trouble for that,” said Hokins.
Ford, Hokins, and Gomes went into detail about the consequences of getting caught, and worse, getting charged.
“It was embarrassing, upsetting, and crushing,” said Hokins. Any student who is charged with hazing receives repercussions including: campus privileges revoked, suspension or expulsion, financial loss of tuition, removal from other campus organizations, and loss of campus housing.
“I was the vice president of AMA and I wasn’t allowed to go to meetings. I couldn’t help out with fundraisers that I had helped plan,” said Ford. The girls talked about how they couldn’t use the gym, attend Spring Fling, or walk at graduation.
“You can be held accountable for hazing by the state and the university. There is no double jeopardy with hazing,” Ford said.
Ford, Hokins, and Gomes went on to talk about hazing tragedies that happen around the country and who to contact to discuss hazing. The workshop concluded with members of the different groups sharing positive activities that their organizations participate in.
“Hazing has been going on since the 70’s,” said Gomes. “No one back then had any clue that it would lead to this. It’s got to stop.”