Monday, Sept. 23 marked the beginning of National Hazing Prevention Week, which annually falls during the last full week of September. Hazing awareness and prevention are crucial for building a safer Villanova community. As stated on the University website and in the student handbook, hazing is any means of intentional, knowing or reckless action or situation that, for purposes of initiation or admission into or affiliation with an organization or as a condition for continued or enhanced membership in an organization, endangers the mental or physical health, safety, well-being or dignity of an individual, or destroys or removes public or private property. Villanova students are encouraged to advocate and enforce hazing prevention and bring awareness of hazing’s detrimental impacts to both physical and mental health.
There are a multitude of practices that the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life (OFSL) partake in to support hazing prevention.
“We promote the model from the Hazing Prevention Network –Know the 4 Smart Steps to Staying Safe: 1. Assess the situation, 2. Speak out, 3. Remove yourself safety, 4. Report,” Anthony Ciliberto, Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and Sarah Hernandez, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said. “We take a multi-faceted approach to hazing prevention and response through passive and active programming, strategic communication and marketing and assessment.”
Each semester, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life enact training that all members of Greek life must complete. Some current resources that the office participates in include bystander intervention training, community connection conversations, collection of new member plans from chapters and various surveys that ensure the health and safety of all Greek life members.
A member of the Villanova chapter of Chi Omega’s executive board referenced the national mission statement surrounding Chi Omega’s strict anti-hazing policy.
“Chi Omega Fraternity prohibits any activity that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a person and is inconsistent with the ritual, policies, rules or procedures of Chi Omega Fraternity or the educational institution.”
While hazing is often associated with Greek life, it can occur within any group. Members of Villanova Athletics promote hazing prevention among sports teams. Hazing causes physical and mental damage, which inhibits an athlete’s performance.
“Nationally, the campaign for anti-hazing has been super prevalent at the start of every fall semester, with shared stories of severe injuries and even deaths that have occurred,” a member of Villanova’s women’s water polo team said. “Hotlines and anonymous reporting also encourage athletes to speak up when they see something they are unhappy with. To me, the most effective tactic is seeing how severe the punishments have been for [other college] teams that have been caught hazing, ranging from expulsion to suspension of the entire team from competition.”
In addition, Villanova Student Performing Arts groups also advocate for hazing prevention.
“Villanova acapella promotes anti-hazing by fostering a community of inclusivity and support,” a singer in one of Villanova’s a cappella groups said. “To promote inclusivity we have DEI workshops that members of each group attend, and we welcome people of all backgrounds to audition for our groups. Group leaders often check in regularly with our new members, but if an issue were to ever arise, we have a diverse team of support within our community for them to turn to.”
“If you hear [or] see any forms of hazing taking place, we highly encourage students, faculty, staff, etc. to use the University Hazing Reporting Form,” Ciliberto and Hernandez said. “Submissions alert the proper channels at the institution which prompts appropriate and timely action to occur. Students are also encouraged to utilize the 3 ‘Ds’ (direct, delegate and distract) of bystander intervention depending on personal style, comfortability and situation.”
September concludes National Suicide Prevention month with National Hazing Prevention Week. Hazing causes detriments upon not only physical aspects of health, but mental health, as well. Although September is ending, suicide and hazing prevention coincide and can be practiced throughout the year. To share ideas and become an ally of hazing prevention, students are encouraged to contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
“We rely on student feedback to design our communication method and educational content,” Ciliberto and Hernandez said. “If there is a better way to message the Villanova student population, we are excited to hear about it. We are always happy to connect with students.”
