TU students in Greek life discuss hazing legislation

With the recent introduction of anti-hazing legislation at the state level and reintroduction at the federal level, it is important to look at what local universities are doing to keep students safe on campus. Eyes are on university Greek organizations after the recent death of a Bowling Green State University student, Stone Foltz, allegedly as a result of hazing. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown reintroduced legislation — the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing Act, or "REACH Act" — from 2019. State Sen. Theresa Gavarone also has recently introduced Senate Bill 126 which includes a "duty-to-report" provision that makes it a crime to know about hazing and to fail to report it. It also establishes a definition of hazing to clarify what must be reported and requires all colleges to establish an education program on the dangers of hazing. Like Gavarone's legislation, Brown's also would require hazing incidents to be reported as part of a college's annual crime report. According to Jacob Simon, associate dean of students at Tiffin University, Greek life is an essential part of the college experience. "Greek life provides students with a family away from home," Simon said. "We work diligently to make sure our students feel connected and supported at TU and participation in a fraternity or sorority is one way to do that." Currently, there are two active sororities and two active fraternities on campus. Simon said each active and prospective member of Greek life is required to attend hazing awareness training and sign a hazing police acknowledgment form. All new member programs are reviewed by the Student Engagement office and random check-ins take place during this process to make sure that all policies are followed and students are safe. Deviation from these procedures will result in disciplinary action against an organization, Simon said. In the TU 2020 Annual Crime and Fire Safety Report, hazing is defined as "an act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization." These reports are mandated according to the 1990 Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act, which amended the Higher Education Act of 1965. Brown's proposed legislation would be an amendment to the Higher Education Act of 1965 to "require institutions of higher education to disclose hazing incidents." In the report, hazing is not currently considered a "reportable crime," as determined by the Clery Act, a consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency regarding campus crime policy and statistics. Reportable crimes include violent crimes like murder/non-negligent manslaughter, dating and domestic violence, sexual assault-related crimes and others. Liquor, drug and weapons law violations are also among the crimes reported. This report includes crimes reported on-campus, those that occurred on property owned or controlled by TU and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report indicated four rape incidents in 2018 and one reported in 2019, on-campus property. Dating violence and stalking incidents were also reported. In 2018 and 2019 there were six incidents of dating violence reported on campus property. In 2018, the report indicated there was one liquor law arrest on campus property and 23 arrests were reported in 2019. For drug law arrests, there were none reported in 2018 with 12 arrests reported in 2019. Simon said there have been no hazing incidents on TU's campus, and there were none mentioned in the campus crime report. With the new legislation being introduced, Simon said the university would conduct a comprehensive review with legal counsel, and further training and awareness programming will take place. To be admitted to Greek societies at TU, students are required to meet necessary GPA expectations. Once a student has attended sanctioned recruitment events and open houses and pledged, organizations offer invitations to students to join. Once admitted, students are to undergo a new member training period where various team bonding and organization history activities take place. Rebecca Kielbasa is a senior at TU pursuing a communications degree in public relations with a minor in leadership studies. When joining a Greek organization (Zeta Pi Beta), Kielbasa said she was looking for friends on campus outside of her residence hall. "Both of my sisters were in sororities at their respective schools and made great friendships and memories," Kielbasa said. When pledging the sorority, Kielbasa said she "absolutely felt safe." "All of the activities to take place during pledging were explained to me in advance and at no point did I feel uncomfortable or bullied," Kielbasa said. "Hazing was not even a potential thought on my mind during the process. Not only that, but all the sisters, active and potential pledges, did that activity together so we were all equal and had shared experiences." All pledging activities are to be pre-approved by the Student Engagement Department in written form, Kielbasa said. If at any time students feel uncomfortable during their pledging process, they reserve the right to sit out or skip any activities, she said. Kielbasa said if any student reports a hazing concern, they are kept anonymous from the organization in question while an investigation is conducted, and any necessary action is taken. "Our Greek organizations all have executive boards which provide members with the opportunity to build upon their skills and add to their resume," Kielbasa said. "We also are philanthropic in nature so we get to give back and fund-raise for charities and nonprofits that are important to us." Zeta Pi Beta conducts yearly fundraising for St. Judes Children Research Hospital, Kielbasa said. Kielbasa said, "While I believe the Greek organizations on TU's campus are much more forward-thinking than Greek organizations elsewhere or on a national group level, there is of course always progress to be made." Kielbasa said changes can be made first on a national level and then internalized by individual groups. "I would like to see more support between members and more community outreach," Kielbasa said. All members of the TU community are required to follow all policies outlined in the student handbook, Simon said. Included are quiet hours, alcohol, drug and hazing policies. "Greek organizations, in particular, have their own expectations to uphold, such as not consuming alcohol, regardless of age, during new member training programs," Simon said. Like Kielbasa, Kylie Holm — a junior majoring in criminalistics and minoring in forensic psychology — said she wanted to join a Greek organization to find friendships. "I think the anti-hazing legislation that has been introduced is extremely important and sadly well-needed," Holm said. " Many people are too scared to talk about the dangers of hazing, but that is the problem." Holm said people are not educated on what the full definition of hazing is and are dying from it. "If more people are aware of what hazing is and talk about it more often, it can save lives." Holm is the vice president of her sorority Alpha Iota and hazing is something that is terrifying to her. "I would never allow it to happen in my sorority because all I want to do is keep my pledges and sisters safe," she said. Holm said TU does everything it can to keep students safe. When hazing is even a slight possibility, the university steps in to investigate. "I felt very safe when I pledged to a Greek organization and I know all of my other sorority sisters felt safe, too," Holm said. "Greek societies partying is not an issue at TU, but it is a well-known issue at other universities that needs to be changed," she said. A senior and member of Theta Eta Omicron, Destin Phifer said he joined after meeting other members and learning what the organization was about. "Here at TU, hazing is not tolerated in any form," Phifer said. "I felt very safe when I pledged Greek life. When I pledged Omicron, ultimately it was my decision whether or not to participate in pledging activities." Phifer said Omicrons have worked with Relay for Life, the Ronald McDonald House, and Hope for the Day, a mental health education organization. "I feel that Greek societies should communicate more with student engagement offices to keep its members safe," Phifer said. "Greek life operates as its own entity, but it should be willing to be in cooperation with student engagement offices to ensure the safety of everyone involved." A copy of the crime report for TU can be found online at www.tiffin.edu/offices/campus-safety-security. You may also request to have a physical copy mailed to you by calling (419) 448-5136, and a copy of the report can also be obtained from the Tiffin University Campus Safety and Security Office at the Gillmor Center, 155 Miami St., Tiffin.