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Local colleges gearing up for hazing reports

4 min read
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Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter

David Zlockie, director of community standards and support services at Washington & Jefferson College, stands in front of campus housing for fraternities and sororities along Chestnut Street in Washington.

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Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter

A fraternity house near the campus of California University of Pennsylvania on Wood Street

Area college and university representatives say they are taking steps to prepare for new state requirements about reporting hazing on campus.

The requirements are part of a new state hazing law that was passed in October and became effective in mid-November. The law expands the definition of hazing; increases the liability for colleges, universities and organizations; and, for the first time, requires colleges and universities to issue and publicly post a report of all reported hazing violations in the past five years. The initial report must be posted by Jan. 15 and updated every six months thereafter.

David Zlockie, Washington & Jefferson College director of community and support services, said the college staff has been working to identify the proper way to release the information. He said he knows of no hazing reports in the past five years.

Other than the reporting requirement, which is new, Zlockie said the college has already been doing what the law is calling for.

“We are doing a lot of things the law stipulates,” he said. “Anytime you can address a concern such as what happened at Penn State, it’s always positive.”

The law was passed in response to the death of Timothy J. Piazza. The 19-year-old died following a pledge party at Penn State after a night of binge drinking as he sought to join the Beta Theta Pi fraternity in 2017.

If a person is charged with hazing, it is generally a summary offense. However, the new law creates grades of criminal penalties, depending on the severity of the hazing. Those who haze can be charged with a third-degree misdemeanor or a third-degree felony.

The law also imposes liability on colleges, universities and organizations for hazing. They can be fined as much as $5,000 for each violation and $15,000 for each aggravated hazing violation. The law also states that consent is not a defense against hazing.

Christine Kindl, spokeswoman for California University of Pennsylvania, said that because the new law covers all organizations, a new universitywide policy is being developed through the Office of Social Equity. Once the policy is completed, it will be available on the university website.

“When that policy is completed and approved, the Social Equity Office will take the lead in providing annual training for our campus,” she said. “This office will also fulfill the reporting requirements of the new law.”

Overall, the focus is on education – teaching students and employees about what constitutes hazing, the penalties in place for such behavior, and how to respond should someone become aware of a hazing incident, Kindl said.

“We are very clear in stating that this behavior will not be tolerated,” she said.

Lyndsey Longstreth, who graduated from Cal U. in December and is the outgoing president of the university’s Panhellenic Council, said she believes the Greek community has made advances ahead of time to remove themselves from hazing culture.

“Our sororities and fraternities protect our members and potential members by educating ourselves through anti-hazing workshops provided by the university,” she said. “We have several organizations, including my own, that co-host anti-hazing events to take an active stand against hazing.”

Nick Setto of Washington is president and alumni relations chairman of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity at Cal U. He said his fraternity’s has a “five-day pledge process,” in which new members are educated about the fraternity and its values.

“Both our national organization and Cal U. have zero tolerance for hazing,” Setto said. “It really comes down to the leaders of the fraternities/sororities to step up and make sure hazing doesn’t happen.”

Because of changes in the law, Setto expects that fewer students may consider fraternity membership, “which is sad because Greek life as portrayed in the media is truly not what we are. Not only do members read and sign the university statement on hazing when they sign a bid (to become AKA members), but they also pledge to follow their organization’s beliefs.”

Setto said he also pledged to treat others as he would have them treat him.

“It’s truly sad that some bad apples out there can ruin the reputation of so many.”

For more information and statistics on hazing, visit https://www.insidehazing.com/statistics/.

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