Grad students break through the haze

With 45 hazing-related deaths in the past five years nationwide, UB's Greek organizations are painfully aware of a problem. Despite an abundance of publicized hazing rules and strict guidelines to prevent similar occurrences, dangerous hazing continues.

Now, universities across the country, including UB, are doing their part to educate students about the dangers of these initiation activities and warn them of the penalties. This week marks National Hazing Awareness Week, as universities will be striving to increase their student body population's awareness of hazing and its consequences.

Jamel Catoe and Katherine Quattrini are two graduate students who took on the responsibilities to plan and organize events for this upcoming week's events. With their combined knowledge and experience within the Greek system, they have decided to spread awareness of hazing using ideas and methods different from other universities.

"Our main goal is to increase the awareness of hazing and its implications," said Catoe, a graduate intern in the office of Student Life. "The Office of Greek Affairs at UB will have materials and literature available for students who are interested in learning more about hazing, and we will be offering an Anti-Hazing Day rather than a full week of activities."

Together, Catoe and Quattrini have organized a public signing of an anti-hazing contract in the Student Union lobby on North Campus that will take place Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. They hope that student athletes and members of UB fraternities and sororities will participate in the public signing of the contract and be involved in the anti-hazing day at UB.

According to the Office of Greek Affairs' statement on hazing, the definition of the term is "any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, ridicule or impairment of academic efforts."

Hazing has become such an important subject matter on campus because it potentially applies to a large amount of UB's student population. The Greek life and college sports teams are just a few of the types of groups in which hazing activities are thought to occur on campuses. Hazing acts can also take place within campus organizations, student organizations and university clubs, or in other social or academic groups.

Catoe and Quattrini have also assembled packets of information that were distributed to organizations on campus. These packets include the definition of hazing, explanations of the many forms it has and alternatives to hazing. The goal of this information, according to Catoe and Quattrini, is to give new members a positive and beneficial experience, to develop leaders and to strengthen bonds within the organization.

Hazing has come to play an influential role in student life, and it is important to understand the full description of what is involved in hazing. Hazing can range from subtle, less serious acts all the way to life-threatening activities. For example, requiring new members to carry certain items or call them by demeaning names may not seem as serious as sexual harassment, or requiring forced eating or drinking of any food or beverage.

Pamela Stephens-Jackson, a university liaison for student life and Greek affairs, said that the purpose of the National Hazing Awareness Week was to educate not only members of organizations on campus, but also the community.

"Our goals are awareness, education and prevention," she said, "to prevent occurrences and make students aware of both their responsibility as well as the pitfalls of hazing."

With goals of opening UB student's eyes to the importance of avoiding the practice of acts of hazing, UB students are working to ensure that they provide a safe and welcoming environment for new members.

Jennifer Snow, a senior social science interdisciplinary major, is happy to see UB take steps in spreading the awareness of hazing.

"Hopefully National Hazing Awareness Week will educate students about the true dangers that can result from hazing. Too many young college students' lives have been cut short only because they fell subject to hazing," she said.