2008 Woodie Awards
Week dedicated to denounce national hazing activities
Mike O'Keefe
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: News
Originally published: 9/27/07 at 6:59 PM EST
Last update: 9/27/07 at 6:58 PM EST
- Page 1 of 1
Nearly five years ago, Plattsburgh State student Walter Dean Jennings died while pledging an unrecognized fraternity at PSUC.
This week, PSUC students and faculty tried to figure out why.
From Sept. 24-27, PSUC took part in National Hazing Week, a nationwide event denouncing a practice one AXP fraternity brother bluntly referred to as "demoralizing and stupid."
The entire week was filled with events teaching students what hazing is and the effect hazing has on people that are a part of academic social groups.
On Monday, a showcase of how frats and sororities on campus have given effort to decreasing hazing on campus was presented in the Angell Center.
The seminar primarily targeted new members of Greek society who were looking to see how they will be treated in such an organization.
On Tuesday, a candlelight vigil, run by the Violence Prevention Project, was held for the many victims of hazing and other violent crimes near the Walter Dean Jennings memorial in front of Hood Hall.
On Wednesday, a speech entitled "My Experiences with Hazing" was given by Pan-Hellenic Council President Kelsey Angell, a former member of Sigma Delta Tau, which depicted how badly hazing has affected the Greek scene. Later that day, PSUC Director of Diversity, Pluralism and Inclusion J.W. Wiley examined Richie Jones' work about hazing in African- American fraternities in an open forum discussion.
On Thursday, a movie based on Walter Dean Jennings' hazing-induced death was shown in the Warren Ballrooms of the ACC.
The PBS-created documentary depicts the effects and events that surrounded the death of the PSUC student.
A discussion followed the movie.
Finally, an anti-hazing booth was set up in the ACC lobby from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. by the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life all week.
Since Jennings' death in 2003, PSUC has taken an active role in a focused anti-hazing campaign designed to prevent campus groups from engaging in hazing activities.
Many people believe hazing is limited to people trying for admission to fraternities and sororities, but PSUC President of Student Affairs William Laundry said the practice extends far beyond Greek organizations.
"Hazing is a broader problem than in the world of just frats and sororities," Laundry said. "Athletic, intellectual and Greek societies all may have incidents in which people are forced into a situation where they have to make a crucial decision: to keep their self-respect or keep their 'friends.'"
This week, PSUC students and faculty tried to figure out why.
From Sept. 24-27, PSUC took part in National Hazing Week, a nationwide event denouncing a practice one AXP fraternity brother bluntly referred to as "demoralizing and stupid."
The entire week was filled with events teaching students what hazing is and the effect hazing has on people that are a part of academic social groups.
On Monday, a showcase of how frats and sororities on campus have given effort to decreasing hazing on campus was presented in the Angell Center.
The seminar primarily targeted new members of Greek society who were looking to see how they will be treated in such an organization.
On Tuesday, a candlelight vigil, run by the Violence Prevention Project, was held for the many victims of hazing and other violent crimes near the Walter Dean Jennings memorial in front of Hood Hall.
On Wednesday, a speech entitled "My Experiences with Hazing" was given by Pan-Hellenic Council President Kelsey Angell, a former member of Sigma Delta Tau, which depicted how badly hazing has affected the Greek scene. Later that day, PSUC Director of Diversity, Pluralism and Inclusion J.W. Wiley examined Richie Jones' work about hazing in African- American fraternities in an open forum discussion.
On Thursday, a movie based on Walter Dean Jennings' hazing-induced death was shown in the Warren Ballrooms of the ACC.
The PBS-created documentary depicts the effects and events that surrounded the death of the PSUC student.
A discussion followed the movie.
Finally, an anti-hazing booth was set up in the ACC lobby from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. by the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life all week.
Since Jennings' death in 2003, PSUC has taken an active role in a focused anti-hazing campaign designed to prevent campus groups from engaging in hazing activities.
Many people believe hazing is limited to people trying for admission to fraternities and sororities, but PSUC President of Student Affairs William Laundry said the practice extends far beyond Greek organizations.
"Hazing is a broader problem than in the world of just frats and sororities," Laundry said. "Athletic, intellectual and Greek societies all may have incidents in which people are forced into a situation where they have to make a crucial decision: to keep their self-respect or keep their 'friends.'"
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