SUNY Delhi Pledge Success Conference

1. SUNY Delhi Pledge Success Conference October 8, 2009 John Huber, Assistant Director of Student Activities Greek Council Executive Board: Charlie Sweeney, President Kamil Alexander, Vice President Terri Brauer, Secretary Kasey Carpentier, Treasurer Terry Yip, Sgt. At Arms Jillian Naveh, Community Service Coordinator Maurice “Mo” Jones, Senator Jerry Resilien, Alternate Senator

2. Hazing • Hazing is making a person do something humiliating, dangerous, illegal or degrading to join a group, club, team, or gang. • Hazing in Greek Organizations is often an initiation process involving harassment in order for a person to become a member of that organization. • Hazing is still hazing even when the person does it willingly. SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

3. Hazing For most adults and, for most students, the confounding feature of this hazing issue is why anyone would want to engage in it in the first place. Why would any student voluntarily be subjected to such humiliating and dangerous treatment, and why would anyone else want to administer it? SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

4. College Policy • Hazing is a serious Violation of College policy and New York State law. SUNY Delhi policy specifically prohibits students from engaging in collectively or individually in illegal practices in connection with initiation into or affiliation with any recognized or unrecognized organization. SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

5. SUNY Delhi Policy states thathazing includes, but isn’t limited to: • Forced or required participation in physical activities such as calisthenics, exercises or games • Any form of tattooing or branding • Forced, coerced or required consumption of alcohol or other drugs • Any form of physical Brutality, including paddling, striking with fists, open hands, or other objects • Participation in illegal activities • Intentional or reckless engagement in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to another person. SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

6. SUNY Delhi Policy states thathazing includes, but isn’t limited to: • Forced, coerced or required consumption of any food or other substance • Creation of excessive fatigue or sleep deprivation • Any act that causes physiological harm, embarrassment, ridicule or emotional distress to any individual; or • Forced or required inappropriate dress, or full or partial nudity in any situation for any reason • Any violation of approved Greek Council hazing regulations. SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

7. Is it Hazing? • Is drinking alcohol involved? • Will active/current members of the group refuse to participate with the new members? • Does the activity risk emotional or physical abuse? • Is there risk of injury or question of safety? • Do you have any reservation describing the activity to your parents, to a professor or School Official? • Would you object to the activity being photographed for the school newspaper or filmed by a local TV news crew? If the answer to any of the above is yes, then it is probably HAZING SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

8. Hazing Myths • Hazing builds unity! • FACT: Wrong! Hazing actually fragments the organization. It does no good to bring the new members together if it drives them further away from the active members. Organizational unity should be the goal. SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

9. Hazing Myths • If someone agrees to participate in an activity, it cannot be considered hazing • FACT: In the 44 states that have laws against hazing, consent of the victim cannot be used as a defense. Even if someone agrees to participate in a potentially hazardous action, it may not be true consent when considering the peer pressure and desire to belong to the group. SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

10. Hazing Myths • Hazing is an effective way to teach respect and develop discipline. • FACT: Victims of hazing rarely report having respect for those who have hazed them. Just like other forms of victimization, hazing breeds mistrust, apathy and alienation. SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

11. Hazing Myths • Hazing doesn’t hurt anyone • FACT: Since 1970, there has been at least one hazing-related death on a campus each year. As of November 1, 2007, the number of recorded hazing, pledging, and rushing-related deaths in the US stands at 83 males and 6 females. SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

12. Alternatives to Hazing • Develop chapter unity • Involve new members in organization’s committees, have retreats, play sports • Promote scholarship • Utilize tutoring services, designate study hours, invite college faculty/staff to discuss test-taking skills, study methods, etc. • Instill a sense of brotherhood/sisterhood • Plan special events for the entire fraternity/sorority (ie. attend a movie, play or sports game, go hiking, biking, etc.) • Build awareness of chapter history • Invite an older alumnus/a to talk about the organization’s early days and the values of the organization or group and what they hope new members will contribute and receive as part of their experience SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

13. Alternatives to Hazing • Develop leadership • Assign new members to a committee, encourage participation in other campus activities, utilize campus leadership workshops and retreats • Involve new members in the community • Get involved in community service activities through the OCCS or create your own philanthropy project • Athletic competitions • Have new members play basketball, volleyball, bowling, softball or other athletic games against current members or other groups • Sharing common activities • Have current members participate with new members in cleaning chapter property. Such activities can shift the tone from hazing (i.e., servitude) to non-hazing (i.e., collaboration) SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

14. IF YOU ARE HAZED • Talk to Someone you trust outside of the group. This could be a friend, partner, family member, professor, advisor, or counselor • Talk to a faculty advisor or Greek Advisor • Use an advocacy resource on campus, such as peer counseling or the counseling center • Report extreme and clearly criminal hazing to the police • Call the Hazing Hotline 746-4562 SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

15. Who should you contact? • Greek Council Sgt. At Arms • Terry Yip (Pi Nu) 917-733-2048 • Greek Council President • Charlie Sweeney (TKE) 508-566-3033 • Greek Advisor • John Huber (MA) 607-746-4567 • Counseling Services • 746-4690 • University Police • 746-4700 SUNY Delhi Greek Life 607-746-4567

16. Mini Hazing Conferences Mandatory for prospects/pledges who could NOT attend tonight Thursday October 15 11 am Friday October 16 2 pm