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U Mich looks at "extreme hazing"
'U' looks into reports of hazing
Allegations of illegal pledging activity involve seven houses in U. Michigan Greek system
By Emily Kraack, Daily News Editor
October 20, 2004
Certain houses in the Greek system are facing allegations of extreme hazing practices on their pledges, and the University has begun looking into those claims.
Interim Dean of Students Susan Eklund, who took over for former dean Ed Willis in early August, said the University is investigating hazing claims from this month’s pledging activities that involve at least five fraternities and two sororities. She said resident advisors familiar with the Greek system had brought forward some of the reports from pledges living in residence halls.
Eklund said the Office of Student Conflict Resolution is investigating the incidents and police have been notified.
Although she declined to name the Greek houses included, she said incidents brought to her attention were confined to the Greek governing bodies Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association, with none in the councils that oversee minority fraternities and sororities.
Eklund described a variety of hazing abuses, all involving heavy drinking. Included among the incidents was one which Eklund described as “very disturbing,” in which members of a sorority were summoned to a fraternity chapter house and were “strongly recommended” to drink heavily. Clothes were allegedly torn off the women, who were then led into a cramped room with intoxicated members of the fraternity’s pledge class. Eklund said that what followed reportedly included widespread sexual activity.
Another incident involved 15 members of a fraternity pledge class forced to drink excessively and then wrestle with older members of the fraternity. Reports say the pledges were then forced to strip to their underwear and stand in a room with open windows on a cold evening. Eklund said that one pledge required medical treatment after the incident.
Other allegations Eklund mentioned included obscenities written on drunken pledges in permanent marker and drunken fraternity members paddling their pledges.
Ann Arbor Police Department Lt. Mark Hoornstra said he is investigating one hazing allegation which occurred Oct. 6, but that “it’s real sketchy as to whether or not any actual hazing occurred” during that incident. He said he has heard that the Office of Greek Life has seen a “substantial increase” in the number of hazing reports received this year.
University spokeswoman Julie Peterson stressed that the University has no definite evidence yet. “All are allegations at this point, absolutely,” Eklund said.
Eklund said that IFC and Panhel members had been notified of the allegations at a meeting. “My understanding is that students took it very seriously,” she said. She added that the violations occurred at a very small number of chapters on campus and that responses to a similar situation last year had been productive.
IFC President Casey Bourke said he had seen some of the reports. “I think it’s a big problem right now that we’re going to fix,” he said, adding that the IFC hazing task force is investigating.
“We’re not going to tolerate it — we had a long discussion on it, the most serious I can remember among the IFC presidents, and they expressed outrage,” he said. “Once the presidents are on line, it’s just a matter of getting the general Greek population.”
Other members of fraternities and sororities would not comment on the allegations, including Panhel spokeswoman Lauren Herskovic. “I have no idea what’s going on,” she said. “That is a very touchy subject that shouldn’t be discussed in a newspaper, it should be dealt with internally.”
Nobody has reported being seriously injured as a result of hazing to the University this year. During an incident that resulted in the permanent expulsion of fraternity Sigma Chi last fall, a pledge suffered kidney failure after having water withheld and being forced to perform physical endurance exercises. “Fortunately nobody has been seriously physically hurt at this point,” Eklund said. “But it feels only lucky that there hasn’t been physical harm.”
She said multiple organizations are investigating the incidents, including the University’s Department of Public Safety, AAPD and OSCR, which investigates and determines appropriate responses for violations of the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities. The Greek system has its own disciplinary mechanisms and national fraternity and sorority organizations may also take action against local chapters.
Other parts of the Division of Student Affairs such as Counseling and Psychological Services and the Sexual Abuse Prevention and Awareness Center are extending outreach and support for those involved in these incidents.
A Michigan anti-hazing law that went into effect in August will also affect any person committing hazing activities. The law defines hazing as an intentional, knowing or reckless act that puts the individual’s physical health and safety at risk and applies to any activity “done for the purpose of pledging, initiation, or to gain or maintain membership in an organization.” Violations can result in misdemeanor charges when hazing results in physical injury or felony charges if the outcome is serious bodily impairment or death.
The University has mounted an extensive poster and advertising campaign called “Don’t HAZE the Blue” to educate students about the new law.
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