All in Fraternities & Sororities

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?