Kiersten Fuhr - Staff Writer
This past week, September 25th to 29th, was National Hazing Prevention Week. On behalf of the Department of Athletics and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Cullen Marshall sent out an email with information to help prevent hazing.
Monmouth College is firmly against the practice of hazing in any capacity. The official statement on the Monmouth College website states, “Hazing is a practice of some organizations that is inevitably damaging to individuals and the campus community. National agencies condemn hazing, as do all responsible persons. Monmouth College will act against any individual or campus organization guilty of hazing.”
“Hazing is defined by the Hazing Prevention Network as ‘any action taken or any situation created intentionally that causes embarrassment, harassment or ridicule and risks emotional and/or physical harm to members of a group or team, whether new or not, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate,’" Cullen said. Monmouth College’s official statement says the same, adding on that “such activities and situations include paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; branding; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips, or any other such activities carried on outside the confines of the house; wearing of apparel in public that is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; late work sessions which interfere with scholastic activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with fraternal law, ritual, or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution.”
During the week, a poster with the anti-hazing pledge was available for students to sign in Stockdale. Students were encouraged to join Athletics and Fraternity/Sorority Life community members by wearing purple in support of the Hazing Prevention Network and National Hazing Prevention Week. Additional resources about hazing can be found at prevent.zone/resources, stophazing.org/resources/, and hazingpreventionnetwork/additional-resources/