IU’s Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct defines hazing as “any conduct which subjects another person to anything that may endanger the person as a condition of association with a group, regardless of the person’s consent.”
Used as a form of initiation into Greek life, it has become an increasingly controversial topic on college campuses.
This week is nationally recognized as Hazing Prevention Week and Indiana University is taking on an active role, said Assistant Dean for Sorority and Fraternity life Leslie Fasone.
“There’s a nationwide focus among universities across the board of collaborating to identify ‘How do we address this issue?’” Fasone said. “And that’s certainly, I think, what we’re working on to do is to identify what’s the best way we can engage our students and work collectively to help prevent hazing.”
Efforts to raise awareness and ultimately put a stop to hazing include a prevention program launched by the IU Interfraternity Council last spring.
“Hoosiers Not Hazers” aims to teach IU fraternity chapters about hazing and how it can be avoided. It has primarily been used to educate sorority and fraternity members, but the council plans to broaden its target audience.
“We’re expanding it and adapting it for different organizations to make sure that it’s relatable and adaptable for the different groups,” Fasone said. “And making sure that scenarios and the topics that they discussed are going to be relevant.”
In addition to this expansion, the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life held a collaboration with the Student Involvement and Leadership Center for organizations to sign a commitment to prevent hazing. Tables with the opportunity to sign the written commitment were held across campus all week.
But Fasone said the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life wants Hoosiers to be vigilant of the issue year round.
While progress remains to be made in preventing hazing nationwide, Fasone said she has noticed positive changes at IU.
“In the last couple of years, we have seen an increase in the student involvement in general,” she said. “So not speaking specifically for hazing, but of students being engaged as leaders, connected spending time in our office on campus. And that’s just been a positive trend that I would say, I’m really proud of in terms of the relationships in this for the support that we’re getting to students, and their student experience here at IU.”
Since five out of the eight Greek life organizations currently suspended have cited hazing as a cause, ongoing discussions will take place throughout the year to mitigate the growing issue.
