Spring Break
Drexel partakes in Hazing Prevention Week
Josh Kurtz
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: News
As part of National Hazing Prevention Week, which runs from Sept. 22 to 26, Drexel has held a series of events and discussions dealing with hazing awareness and prevention.
The Drexel staff and students who helped organize the events hope "to increase the dialogue related to hazing, hazing alternatives, and bystander responsibility," Natalie Shaak, Assistant Director, Fraternity & Sorority Life at Drexel University, said in an e-mail.
"Our hope was to focus on hazing as a campus-wide issue, not just within certain types of organizations, and empower all students to make sure hazing isn't happening on our campus," Shaak said.
According to Shaak Drexel is taking steps to make sure students are aware of hazing and its risks. All members of fraternities and sororities are required to know and sign the University's anti-hazing policy. Other steps the University takes include discussing state hazing laws with students.
Despite steps being taken by Drexel and other schools to make students more aware of hazing and its consequences, hazing is still a serious issue.
According to a study by hazingstudy.org, almost half of college students were hazed prior to attending college. Also, over half of college students involved in student organizations and sports teams were hazed, according to the study.
Forms of hazing mentioned in the study include alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation and isolation, among other types.
The National Center for Hazing Research and Prevention describes the hazing study as the most comprehensive done to date. According to the website, over 11,000 undergraduate students from 53 colleges were surveyed. In addition, more than 300 students and staff members at 18 of these colleges were interviewed as a part of the study.
Shaak said that one way to help prevent hazing is to educate people more on the topic. An individual taking a stand against hazing also helps to prevent hazing from occurring, according to Shaak. Bystander responsibility was the theme of this year's hazing prevention week.
The Drexel staff and students who helped organize the events hope "to increase the dialogue related to hazing, hazing alternatives, and bystander responsibility," Natalie Shaak, Assistant Director, Fraternity & Sorority Life at Drexel University, said in an e-mail.
"Our hope was to focus on hazing as a campus-wide issue, not just within certain types of organizations, and empower all students to make sure hazing isn't happening on our campus," Shaak said.
According to Shaak Drexel is taking steps to make sure students are aware of hazing and its risks. All members of fraternities and sororities are required to know and sign the University's anti-hazing policy. Other steps the University takes include discussing state hazing laws with students.
Despite steps being taken by Drexel and other schools to make students more aware of hazing and its consequences, hazing is still a serious issue.
According to a study by hazingstudy.org, almost half of college students were hazed prior to attending college. Also, over half of college students involved in student organizations and sports teams were hazed, according to the study.
Forms of hazing mentioned in the study include alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation and isolation, among other types.
The National Center for Hazing Research and Prevention describes the hazing study as the most comprehensive done to date. According to the website, over 11,000 undergraduate students from 53 colleges were surveyed. In addition, more than 300 students and staff members at 18 of these colleges were interviewed as a part of the study.
Shaak said that one way to help prevent hazing is to educate people more on the topic. An individual taking a stand against hazing also helps to prevent hazing from occurring, according to Shaak. Bystander responsibility was the theme of this year's hazing prevention week.
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