To remind students in the Greek community about the dangers of hazing, the Greek Programming Board held “These Hands Don’t Haze” on The Green Friday, Sept. 23.
This past week was National Hazing Prevention Week, and the Greek organizations at Kennesaw State University took to both campuses to spread the word.
“All week we have been drawing around campus with chalk, just spreading awareness about hazing and about how it doesn’t have a place in student organizations,” said Austin Trivett, a senior marketing major and Delta Tau Delta fraternity member.
“These Hands Don’t Haze” was open to all students, not just members of fraternities and sororities. Participants painted their hands, placed them on a piece of paper and took an oath not to participate in hazing.
Members of Greek organizations painted their hands with the corresponding colors of their organizations and signed their names next to their handprints.
“I came out to the ‘These Hands Don’t Haze’ event to support non-hazing organizations,” said Daniel Salvatore, a sophomore business major. “I wanted to put my handprint on the banner and sign my name.”
The paper with all the handprints and names is for more than just this event.
“When the banner is ready, it will hopefully be hung up in the student center,” said Courtney Allen, a junior early childhood education major and a member of Kappa Delta.
Greek members also passed out fliers with the definition of hazing with examples. In some cases, individuals are not aware they are being hazed because they are unaware of what all falls under the umbrella of hazing.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, hazing is “an initiation process involving harassment,” but it doesn’t necessarily have to involve an initiation. It can also be “playing unpleasant tricks on someone or forcing someone to do unpleasant things.”
At KSU, accusations of hazing are not taken lightly by the administration.
“Our department, as well as the rest of the division here, has a zero-tolerance policy for hazing,” said Ryan Camon, coordinator for Fraternity and Sorority Life. “All hazing accusations are taken very seriously, and they are investigated upon notice being given to our office, and then sanctions will be passed out as they are necessary from the Student Conduct and Academic Integrity office.”
Students who witness or are victims of hazing are urged to speak up. Reports can be made at the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life in the Carmichael Student Center room 253. Alternatively, students can visit the Department of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in University Village suite 5100.
“There are anonymous ways of reporting hazing,” Camon said. “If you see it and you want to identify it, students can come forward and report.”
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life can be contacted at 470-578-2838 or by email at greeklife@kennesaw.edu.
