In an attempt to combat incidents of campus hazing, 21 national fraternities and sororities, including four of Washington University’s sorority chapters and one of its fraternities, have joined forces with a Cincinnati law firm to create a hotline that students can use to anonymously report incidents of hazing.
Although sponsored by the Greek community, the hotline is meant to be a resource to all students who have been victims of hazing by any organization.
The five Washington University chapters whose national organizations were involved in the founding of this hotline include Alpha Epsilon Pi, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Chi Omega and Alpha Phi.
“While I’m not sure how widely it’ll be used, I think it’s a positive step toward holding active fraternity and sorority members accountable for their actions,” said Nicole Keller, president of the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority at the University. “While members of most Greek organizations are responsible during the new member period, everyone’s image suffers when a few fall short of any chapter’s ideals.”
The hotline, 1-888-NOT-HAZE, was conceived in January of 2007 at DePauw University. Norval Stephens, the chairman of the Delta Tau Delta educational foundation and former international president of the fraternity, was instrumental in founding the hotline.
“The lightning communication today [will strengthen] both the positive programming and the deterrent effect of this to help us with our final goal: stopping hazing,” said Stephens.
The law firm involved in the hotline’s creation, Manley Burke of Cincinnati, specializes in legal issues concerning sororities and fraternities.
Each day, any messages received by the hotline will be referred to the national organization identified by the caller and any necessary campus authorities.
The 21 organizations serving as its initial sponsors represent more than 35 percent of all fraternities and sororities nationwide.
Because state laws vary widely in regard to hazing, Manley Burke will also inform the organization of the regulations in place in the state from which the complaint originated. If individual state laws require that formal notification be given to law enforcement, the firm will handle that as well.
A national organization’s status as a sponsor of the hotline will not affect the manner in which a reported incident will be handled.
Fraternities and sororities not participating in sponsorship of the hotline should not be perceived as unwilling to attempt to curb or eradicate hazing.
According to Director of Greek Life Ryan-Jasen Henne, many national organizations already have their own hotlines specifically dedicated to dealing with incidents of hazing related to their own fraternity and sorority chapters. Sigma Nu, for example, whose Gamma Omicron chapter is on the University campus, deals with reports of hazing through its own hotline.
Other national Greek organizations represented at the University, including Sigma Phi Epsilon and Zeta Beta Tau, have eliminated a formal pledging period for new members in an effort to eliminate incidents of hazing.
All national fraternities and sororities specifically prohibit it in their charters and bylaws.
-with additional reporting by Sam Guzik.