HAZING: THE FALLOUT

TRAVIS APGAR

As a first-generation college student, Travis Apgar went to school without knowing what to expect. The chance to attend college came from his abilities as a high school football player, and when summer camp opened for the football team, he was among the first to get the “rookie treatment.” The only thing worse was his fraternity pledging experience.

Travis left college after his first semester before the school could kick him out. In his keynote, “Hazing: The Fallout”, Travis tells his story of the pain and hidden harm caused by his hazing experiences. This personal look at hazing from a victim’s perspective also explores the severity of hazing. Travis’ emotional and powerful story is the perfect way to give your students a wake-up call about the hidden harms of hazing.

HAZING PREVENTION: SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF

LORIN PHILLIPS

Fraternity and sorority members are the best of the best. They share beautiful traditions and rituals, and they are there for one another when life gets hard. So how is it that these caring, compassionate individuals can create a culture where a myriad of hazing and aggressive behaviors are considered acceptable and go unaddressed? Why are intelligent, confident individuals bystanders or continue harmful traditions? Something doesn’t add up.

Her approachable, witty tone puts forth an otherwise difficult topic with grace and honesty. Exposing herself as both the hazer and the hazed in the past allows Lorin to go no-holds-barred on the stories and experiences she shares. Students walk away from Lorin’s program with a broader view of the problem, the actions, and the behaviors that must be confronted to prevent it.

The Rites and Wrongs of passage

DR. JAMISON KELLER

A rite of passage, such as the transition to college, allows for society to recognize new statuses and accomplishments at various points in our lives. A pivotal component of achieving these statuses relies heavily on feeling like we belong. The sense of belonging we all strive for is so fine and delicate in nature that it can convince us to participate in things we otherwise would not. Hazing is an often misunderstood and overlooked issue that takes root on our campuses and in our organizations, sometimes without us realizing it. We say we are teammates, brothers and sisters, friends, and even family, but do families intimidate, humiliate or even endanger one another?

This program is designed to open up dialogue about how a hazing culture begins and festers over time from “light hazing” to dangerous cancer. We will discuss the short and long-term impact a hazing culture has on us morally, physically, psychologically, and legally. Finally, we will develop a plan of action that will include creating prestigious rites of passage that will uphold a strong anti-hazing culture within our organizations.

IT’s complicated: the rhetoric and reality of greek life

DR. Walter Kimbrough

Using his background as a higher education professional, Dr. Walter Kimbrough takes the audience on a journey to look at the history of fraternalism in American higher education. From the ideas espoused by founders, to the training group for Civil Rights leaders, these organizations have played an important role in higher education. At the same time, they continue to battle self-inflicted wounds that damage their value, especially with cases of hazing, sexism and racism. The audience will be challenged with ways to make sure the rhetoric and the reality are congruent.

NOT US, NOT THIS TIME: A NEW APPROACH TO HAZING PREVENTION

SARA LOWERY

Sara Lowery believes just because “they” said that every line/class/family had to GO through it, does not mean your class/line/ family can’t GROW past it!

This is not your typical hazing presentation. We can review the definition of hazing with new members. We can educate chapter leaders on the dangers and potential punishments for engaging in the behaviors from suspension, expulsion, or arrest. But yet, this doesn’t seem enough to stop hazing in our communities.

Sara Lowery’s program Not Us, Not This Time approaches hazing prevention by challenging students to create a sense of brotherhood/sisterhood without the hazing drama. Let’s talk about shifting from endangering the lives of individuals to building a sense of belonging and acceptance. Let’s create an experience where members are strengthened, empowered, and live up to the original intentions of our founders.

New Member Bill oF rights

Archie Messersmith-Bunting

Every year when Fraternity/Sororities begin bringing new members into their organizations the topic of hazing prevention comes up – understandably so. But often times these conversations center will singularly center around the things you can’t do. “Don’t do this or it’s hazing…”, “You can’t do this or it could be hazing…”, the list goes on and on.

Why don’t we flip that script and talk about what we can do, what should be expected from every new member program, and what all fraternities & sororities should be providing their new members. Join Archie Messersmith-Bunting as we strip back the mystique of your new member or pledge program and work through your New Member Bill of Rights.

HAZING WORKS & OTHER LIEs

DAVID STOLLMAN

There are lots of reasons why people haze. Sometimes there is genuinely good intent. A desire to create a strong bond or a feeling of responsibility to maintain perceived traditions. Sometimes there is a belief that membership must be earned through the great effort for it to be truly valued or a perception that only those “worthy of membership” are accepted.

The truth is, that intentions aren’t really relevant. Hazing is something that can and must end. It doesn’t build long-lasting bonds, it destroys them. It doesn’t weed out unworthy members, it ensures a subservience. It doesn’t create a feeling of accomplishment, it creates a feeling of completion of expectations. It empowers a concept of “tradition” that is both wrong, and bad.

There are more effective, means to accomplish each of the potentially valid reasons someone might employ Hazing. This program will break down the lies, expose the truth, and challenge the reality of Hazing so a new reality can be born.

“THE UNDERGROUND: HAZING CULTURE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

ALONZO JONES

What goes down in the underground? A century-plus of service, activism, leadership, cultural development, and philanthropy become vulnerable to what goes underground. The personal development of its members and their impact on the college, local, state, national, and global growth is too significant and too rich not to continuously examine what goes on in the underground. The underground is where fraternity, and unfortunately, sometimes its members, go to die.

“WE DON’T HAZE” THEY SAID

KAYLON BRADFORD

Kaylon remembers being a college freshman and being EXTRA excited to go to his first Greek informational meeting. His perceptions of fraternities or sororities were limited to what he saw on television. So, like many freshmen, he believed everything they said.

One thing every organization said was, “We don’t haze”. From the moment he joined the Greek community, he realized that the statement was true, we are all non-hazing organization. However, we have members that haze, which is the problem!

CROSSING THE LINE

CAMPUSPEAK INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP

Hazing is an often misunderstood and overlooked issue that takes root on our campuses and in our organizations. Hazing sometimes even starts to develop without us even realizing it. We say we are teammates, brothers/sisters, friends, and even family; but do families intimidate, humiliate or even endanger one another? Crossing the Line is designed to open up dialogue about how a hazing culture begins and develops over time.

This interactive workshop examines the short and long-term impact a hazing culture has on individuals and organizations. Participants develop a plan of action that includes creating prestigious rites of passage that will uphold a strong anti-hazing culture within our organizations.