Hazing dilemma...

[adpiucf]

I think you wouldn't just start shutting them down... I would look first at the chapter operations and education opportunities. Hold workshops on membership, review pledging processes, attempt to define hazing a little better and policies to deal with hazing on a national level. The key is getting buy-in on these practices on the local level.

Traveling Chapter Consultants are a great way for chapters to report back to their nationals and to work with nationals to correct practices that may not be in accord with national policy.

I also think it is very important to look at the campus culture and get the IFC and Panhellenic groups to work together on co-educational workshops and policies to make it a Greek-wide effort.

Lastly, communication is so important -- between members, officers, advisers and nationals. The chapter should be able to handle problem areas and members without nationals intervening. Strong leaders and strong values are important-- so cutting down on hazing really comes down to recruiting and retaining strong members with a positive self-image and a true interest in following the ideals of the organization-- ideals that have more to do with fraternity, leadership, scholarship and service... and nothing at all to do with reciting the pledgebook while half-naked and shivering in a cold, dark, and dank basement while being presided over by a manical pledgemaster drunk on power. We've all seen that Law & Order episode...

Chapters should be given the tools and opportunities to fight back and overcome a hazing culture, and to recognize the dangers of such a culture before being shown the door. Hazing is wrong, but just shutting a chapter down without giving the men and women a chance to redeem themselves is also wrong.