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April 12, 2022
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The Update | April 12, 2022
Industry Update Provided by NPC
This week
Inside Higher Ed reports that according to recent trends and data from the Piazza Center, women are increasingly mixing alcohol and hazing, which often leads to more dangerous incidents. The article referenced two recent incidents as evidence of a brighter spotlight on hazing within women’s organizations. At Norwich University, a 22-year-old female student on the rugby team was found intoxicated and branded with pliers. Additionally, an incident at Bowling Green University’s Sigma Gamma Rho sorority included forced alcohol and cannabis consumption, pressure to steal and physical violence. The article noted that despite recent parental activism, the consequences for hazing vary according to state law, meaning there is no standard for punishing hazing.
A recent entry in the University of Utah’s official blog @TheU highlights a renewed commitment from the university’s fraternity and sorority organizations to pursue intentional education and training after reports of two sexual assaults in fraternity houses this past winter. The training efforts will include topics such as safer party culture, building community through bystander intervention, healthy relationships, and safe and consensual sex. In addition to this training program, organization leaders will be required to develop accountability measures and communication standards and guidelines.
Last week
In an opinion piece in The Hill, Evelyn Piazza and Rae Ann Gruver (two parents who lost sons to hazing) and National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) CEO Dani Weatherford urge lawmakers to make hazing a felony. They highlight the legislative framework adopted by Ohio, which follows the principles outlined by the Anti-Hazing Coalition formed by a group of parents who lost sons to hazing, NPC and the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) just a few years ago.
WTOL 11 reports that Bowling Green State University has permanently barred the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority from campus, following an investigation that revealed "severe hazing activity." According to BGSU spokesman and Deputy Chief of Staff Alex Solis, the hazing activity “jeopardized the health and safety of students and our community and caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to those involved.” This incident follows the March 2021 death of 20-year-old sophomore Stone Foltz. Sigma Gamma Rho is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
Workforce Update
Please join Mandy Womack and the college committee in welcoming Sara Barnard, Alpha Phi/Tulane, as college district director (CDD) in College District VIII.
Government Relations
The Washington DC area Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee (FSPAC) fundraiser is on Wednesday, April 27. If you live in and around DC, please consider attending to learn more about the Fraternal Government Relations Coalition’s efforts. Email Director of Government Relations Alicia Lee with any questions.
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