New Member Education and Hazing Awareness: Member Wellness Susan Matlock-Hetzel, Ph.D. Staff Psychologist BUCC

Pledge Process Purpose of Pledge Process: Organization Perspective Build Unity Build Unity Develop Teamwork Develop Teamwork Cultivate Loyalty Cultivate Loyalty togetherness, communication, respect, courage, and a huge sense of accomplishment. togetherness, communication, respect, courage, and a huge sense of accomplishment.

Pledge Process Purpose of Pledge Process: Member Perspective Establish identity with a group Establish identity with a group Earn respect Earn respect To get to know others To get to know others For others to know you For others to know you I can't tell you the feeling I got when at the end of hell week I was able to take off my blind fold and all of the sisters were gathered around us and a banner saying congratulations was there. I had earned something. I had accomplished something. And for that I am a much stronger person and I can accomplish anything I want to no matter how big or small. I can't tell you the feeling I got when at the end of hell week I was able to take off my blind fold and all of the sisters were gathered around us and a banner saying congratulations was there. I had earned something. I had accomplished something. And for that I am a much stronger person and I can accomplish anything I want to no matter how big or small. It taught me so much about myself and my line brothers It taught me so much about myself and my line brothers

So What’s the Big Deal About Hazing? Definition: Any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.

Let’s Break It Down Any activity that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm regardless of the person’s willingness to participate

Pledging Activities: Group Context Group think I'm going to break away from my polite attitude and comment that if anyone decided to really follow your "alternatives to hazing" they'd be branded as Pansies on ANY team. I'm going to break away from my polite attitude and comment that if anyone decided to really follow your "alternatives to hazing" they'd be branded as Pansies on ANY team. In closing leave these people alone because I think you are all just a bunch of people that were the ones who were never picked to play with all of the other kids in school, and the one who always got cut from the team. This is probably your way of trying to get back at the ones who made you an outcast and a "loser" in high school. In closing leave these people alone because I think you are all just a bunch of people that were the ones who were never picked to play with all of the other kids in school, and the one who always got cut from the team. This is probably your way of trying to get back at the ones who made you an outcast and a "loser" in high school. Kitty Genovese Bystander Effect Bystander Effect Disperse of Responsibility Disperse of Responsibility

Pledging Activities: Individual Context Personal values conflict with Group values Personal values conflict with Personal behaviors – Personal Integrity Lifestyle value congruence Rationalization Humiliation of ALL members – not just new members

Noble Purpose of Pledge Traditions Build Unity Build Unity Develop Teamwork Develop Teamwork Cultivate Loyalty Cultivate Loyalty Establish identity with a group Establish identity with a group Earn respect Earn respect To get to know others To get to know others For others to know you For others to know you

Questions and Challenges: Is it possible to have a pledge process without Hazing? Is it possible to have a pledge process where the organization stays TRUE to their values?

We’d love to ……How? Hazing is EVERYONE’S business not just leaders of organization Clearly articulate and understand the values, goals, and objectives of the organization with all members and individually. Be Proactive: Anticipate times and actions that lend themselves to hazing…..activities at 2:00 a.m. Review organization history and look for patterns of behavior. Ask yourselves, where could we (I) do things differently, where is our (my) personal responsibility? While planning, seek guidance and counseling from objective, non- emotionally involved, wise people. Avoid confirmation bias.

Case Study Floor unity Best friends of two years THE PLAN: To have fun The Event: Truck, sack, rope, tape THE AFTERMATH: Not so much fun What if I told you……

Other Things Not Considered Date of Incident: Time: 2:00 a.m. Friends: Caucasian Victim: Iranian Father: United Nations Delegate Setting: Christian School Victims Religion: Muslim

Hindsight 20/20 Where did they go wrong? What could they have done differently? What should they have done differently?

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“No one should compromise their dignity to belong to any group. If you are allowing yourself to be hazed, or looking the other way when someone else is being hazed, you are enabling this ugly practice to continue and jeopardizing the emotional and physical well being of others. You are the future of fraternity. You have rights and an important voice. This is a time of growth and personal development. You are in a unique position to strengthen your chapter, implement change and set a tone for the future. Only you can eradicate the cancer of hazing. You will face many challenges and choices. I implore you to do so with leadership and courage.” Eileen Stevens lost her son Chuck Stenzel when he died as the result of a hazing incident at Alfred University in New York in Alfred UniversityAlfred University