Hazing is not something to only happen to greek organizations. In fact, as many WCU students learned during the film and discussion on Sept. 27 hosted by Greek Student Engagement and Development as part of the National Hazing Prevention Week, these humiliating ceremonies happen more often in sports.
WCU Greek life director, Ron Schidemantle, and his assistant director and graduate student, Ashley Palmer, led a discussion about hazing prevention after showing a short, but strong emotional film, “We Don’t Haze.”
The movie was created by the Clery Center, a nonprofit organization which aims to improve nationwide campus safety, and describes what hazing can consist of and features students affected by hazing. It also previews three different families who lost their children due to hazing incidents.
Schidemantle discusses that most people think hazing is strictly apart of greek life, but it exists in sports teams, high schools and between genders. WCU student and member of the fraternity Pi Lamda Phi, James Sneiderman, chimes in to the discussion, noticing that hazing can occur even in friendships.
“Any act they ask of you in return for friendship is an act of hazing,” Sneiderman said sharing his experience from his prior friendships. He went on to say how he hadn’t noticed until now people guilt others into doing tasks and favors in order to earn friendship.
The 17 students present at the event carried the conversation from rumors and gossip, also how to recognize whether or not an accusation of hazing is a real threat or not. Schidemantle suggested that students be more honest with each other and have open discussions with the office and each other about things that may or may not be considered hazing.
Schidemantle’s intern and greek life student, Jordan Tilley, agreed with Schidemantle noting how important it is to keep tradition, but how much more important it is to be sure everyone feels safe and comfortable.
“I feel like it’s important to step past these boundaries and share what information we can to dispel rumors of hazing in our organizations,” said Tilley.
During the discussion statistics showed that hazing is actually more common in varsity sports teams (74%) than in fraternities and sororities (55%) according to September 2016 studies by NCAA Susie Bruce and Holly Deering.
“We hope that in the future we will have more participation from other organizations of the student body,” Schidemantle said.
It seems as though many students are supporting this movement to become aware and actively make healthy choices for themselves and the people they care for.
Perhaps more non-greeks are starting to become aware of the repercussions from hazing.
“It’s been really cool to have more non-greeks sign the banner,” said Palmer.
Schidemantle mentions his mission is to keep all students safe.
“We are one big community; we are Catamounts. We should have a high level of respect for each other,” said Schidemantle.
