Although many of those are focusing in on Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, Penn State University, or both, the ugly truth is that this incident is on all of us.
All in Beyond Hazing
When we actively disengage our leadership and leave the future of our groups to little more than a roll of the dice, those "if's" become "intentional failures" (IFs) because the house always wins. If you play long enough, the house takes you down.
What you would do if you really wanted to prevent hazing
Since the first National Hazing Prevention Week in 2005, individuals, campuses, and organizations have been amping up their awareness campaigns in an effort to bring the conversation about hazing out of the darkness and into the daylight.
For at least one week, "Mission: Accomplished."
But what, really, has changed?
The Debt of Hazing: The Making of Men & Women
I owe a lot to Hazing. No, this is not one of those "said no one ever" social media memes.
Unfortunately, I have heard many people say some variation of those words to me through the years.
But, the truth is, that Hazing owes a lot to me.
Fire & Brimstone: Why the Campus Preacher Approach to Hazing Prevention Doesn’t Work
If you’ve ever spent some time on the campus of a public college or university, you’ve probably seen the campus preacher. On the campus where I work, the campus preacher sets up a chair mid-morning, and spends the rest of the day standing on top of it and preaching to passers-by. If you listen for any amount of time, you’ll hear about death, punishment, and the things you’re doing wrong.
The campus preacher’s goal is conversion. That is, he wants you to change your behavior and to find a new path.
Does it work? I can’t say for sure, but I have yet to see somebody with a positive response to the message of death, punishment, and wrong-doing.
In the battle to end hazing, are we employing a similar approach?