A preview to national hazing prevention week

Izzy Gimm - Website and Social Media Manager

Members of Kappa Kappa Gamma pose with Nahrstadt following his talk in Dahl Chapel. Photo courtesy of Izzy Gimm.

Alumnus Brad Nahrstadt ’89 visited campus to present on hazing preventing to members of the Greek life community. The educational program foreshadows National Hazing Prevention Week from September 23rd to 27th.

Nahrstadt began his presentation by stating a fact: “Nothing you ever do in the remainder of your life will be as risky as being involved in a Greek life organization,” declared Nahrstadt. “Fraternities are ranked right behind nuclear waste disposals as being risky by insurance companies.”

Nahrstadt currently serves as the Grand President of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. As a student, Nahrstadt was chapter president for the college’s chapter in 1988 and 1989. After his time at Monmouth, he attended law school at the University of Illinois and graduated in 1992.

He then moved to Chicago and practiced at a trial firm for 20 years. Following that, Nahrstadt opened his own law firm with four partners from their previous firm called: Lype, Lyons, Murphy, Nahrstadt, and Pontikis. He served as the managing partner and president of the firm until 2019 when he retired from the active practice of law. Nahrstadt finished his career as COO of a 45-lawyer firm in Chicago, focusing on medical malpractice cases until he retired altogether.

Throughout Nahrstadt’s professional career, he remained involved in Sigma Phi Epsilon. He served on their board of directors for nearly ten years before he was elected Grand President in 2023. Sophomore representatives from Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Phi Epsilon, Lily Fleming and Kent Huth, asked Nahrstadt to come back to his alma mater and speak on the effects of hazing and the associated dangers associated.

In an interview after the presentation, Nahrstadt stated the main importance of this program was to keep members safe through education of potential risks associated with joining a Greek life organization and how to avoid it.

“I speak to a lot of Greek life organizations, but this one has a special place in my heart because it's mine,” said Nahrstadt. “Speaking on these topics is to everyone’s benefit. Not only to the Greek life organizations, but it in turn, makes the entire student body safer and makes sure that we are holding each other accountable.”

With a turnout of over 70 students from different Greek life organizations, Nahrstadt said he has full confidence the Greek life organizations on campus are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing: asking the hard questions and educating their members on difficult topics.

“I hope they ask me to come back next year,” said Nahrstadt.