A WMU fraternity is running a campaign to fight against sexual assault and hazing. Delta Sigma Phi wants to bring these topics to light in the university culture and minimize them.
“I, and my fraternity, will do anything we humanly can to prevent things like hazing and sexual assault,” said Matt Schuster, President of Delta Sigma Phi. “We will do anything we can to minimize those two actions, in and out of our fraternity.”
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (Rainn), the majority of sexual assault victims are under the age of 30. Also, 54% of sexual assault victims are between the ages of 18 and 34.
Schuster said that the campaign will be done in three parts: Spreading awareness, fundraising and dedicating the funds to action. Currently, Delta Sigma Phi is in the first step of their campaign.
Part of their campaign is to also to provide the community with ways to be an active bystander to help minimize sexual assault.
They will be using an acronym in part of their campaign. This acronym is C.A.R.E, which stands for: Create a distraction, Ask directly, Refer to an authority, and Enlist others.
“I think that if we’re doing our part to not only raise awareness of the campaign, we’re raising awareness of steps bystanders can take to prevent things like sexual assault,” Schuster said. “That’s going to be more students who are a little bit more educated and a little bit more prepared on what to do if they witness it.”
Schuster also mentioned that since the fraternity made its way to WMU last year, they wanted to form a fraternity to break the negative stereotypes from Greek Life.
“We are passionate about being very vocal of what Greek Life is really like and what a fraternity can be,” Schuster said. “Fraternities don’t have to be what you see in the movies…We’re here to show people that most fraternities don’t haze.
Those who want to show their support can sign their petition at change.org. Their campaign can also be followed on their Instagram at @deltasigmaphiwmu.
