National Hazing Prevention Week educates Greek community

The week's events included an essay contest and documentary screening.

By Travis Cornejo

Published Sept. 25, 2009

The Panhellenic Association sponsored various events in conjunction with National Hazing Prevention Week.

Beginning Monday, PHA chapters had the opportunity to display banners outside their houses, showing support for National Hazing Prevention week.

Thursday night, the documentary "Haze" was shown at Allen Auditorium.

The official "Haze" Web site states the film is "a feature documentary addressing the national crisis of alcohol abuse and hazing on college campuses."

PHA Risk Management Vice President Lauren Hatch said it is a graphic and eye-opening film that can serve as a wakeup call or reality check for people to see what is occurring on campuses across the country.

Audience members groaned when scenes played showing intoxicated college students doing various dangerous acts and gasped when pictures were shown of a passed out student, Gordie Bailey.

Bailey, the main subject of the documentary, was a Chi Psi freshman at the University of Colorado at Boulder who passed away from alcohol poisoning.

Kappa Delta senior Rebecca Staggemeier said she came to the documentary showing to support her roommate and friend, Hatch.

Hatch helped to lead a discussion with the audience following the film.

Topics brought up included the recent incident at Les Bourgeois Vineyards, where a student was run over by a bus.

Also discussed was non-Greek students' perception of Greek students.

Audience members brought up the notion of choices involving alcohol, some mentioning how they have never felt forced to drink, but non-Greek students have the perception Greek Life involves drinking.

One audience member said Greek students need to learn how to become responsible for themselves and each other.

A majority of the audience raised their hands in support of the lowering of the drinking age to 18.

On Friday, entries are due for PHA's National Hazing Prevention Week Essay Contest.

Winners will be chosen next week. First place will receive $100, second place $50 and third place $25.

"They're writing how they'll be pro-active in preventing hazing if they suspect it is occurring within an organization," Hatch said.

Staggemeier stressed the importance of education.

"Being aware of what hazing is, is a really good preventative measure," Staggemeier said. "A lot of people don't know what hazing is."

Sigma Sigma Sigma sophomore Sara Johnson said the more people who know about hazing and realize it does and can happen, the more likely it is to stop.

PHA sponsored Christine Hassler to speak to the Panhellenic community Sept. 30.

According to her Web site, Hassler is a life coach with an emphasis in counseling regarding relationships, careers and self-identity.

"My goal when booking a speaker was to bring in someone who addresses women's issues," Hatch said. "Christine will talk about everything from relationship problems to body image issues, everything female students may experience throughout their college career."

Staggemeier said hazing is something they do not want to happen at MU. Preventative measures are taken to make sure it does not happen.

"I think it can happen,” Johnson said about hazing. “I haven't experienced it personally. I know that Tri Sigma is firmly against it."

Hatch said she didn't know of any recent hazing events.

Alan Brandt, Interfraternity Council vice president of risk management, couldn't be reached for comment.

IFC President Danny Jonas asked that Brandt speak on the topic.