Coalition Sees Results from Anti-Hazing Hotline

Managing Editor

   In an effort to address hazing problems in Greek organizations, 21 fraternities and sororities joined a coalition that sponsors a toll-free anti-hazing hotline, at 1-888-NOT-HAZE.

   The line can be utilized by anyone who feels victimized by hazing, or knows someone who they think is a victim of hazing.

  Norval Stephens, coalition spokesperson, said the callers can remain anonymous or they may leave personal information if they would like to be contacted directly. Incidents will be reported to any organization, regardless if they sponsor the hotline or not.

   The hotline connects to a voice mailbox at the Manley Burke Law Firm in Cincinnati. Manley Burke Law Firm also publishes “Fraternal Law,” which discusses Greek and university legal issues.

   Stephens said the Manley Burke Law Firm monitors the hotline on a daily basis.

   “The hotline gets between one and two calls a week,” Stephens said. “(Manley Burke Law Firm) has found that almost all the calls are valid.”

   Stephens said most of the incidents occurred before the coalition established the hotline.

   “(The coalition) feels this is a great learning experience for the (Greek organization) chapters,” Stephens said.

   Stephens said the hotline is a new tool to help Greek organizations fight hazing. The founding fraternities and sororities represent 35 percent of all Greek members. The sponsoring groups continue to invite other Greek organizations to sponsor the hotline in an effort to eliminate hazing.

   The founding sponsors comprise:

    “(The coalition’s) experience in the Greek world on hazing and alcohol abuse is that behavior is not changed by research,” Stephens said. “We believe that educational programming and action change that behavior.”

   Stephens added that he felt the hotline has been very valuable so far and is impressed that when hazing incidents are reported, the respective organization’s national headquarters move in quickly to fix the problem.

   Alpha Sigma Tau sorority and Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, both of which have chapters at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, sponsor the hazing hotline. None of UAM’s fraternities currently sponsor the hotline.

   Louise Morales, communications and marketing coordinator for Alpha Sigma Alpha, said while they are not part of the coalition sponsoring the hazing hotline, the sorority forbids hazing and takes hazing allegations very seriously.

   “Any member, parent, college administrator or others may easily access our national headquarters office and report an allegation of hazing at any time,” Morales said. “Alpha Sigma Alpha has competent staff and responds immediately to any (hazing) allegation.”

   Other universities and Greek organizations choose to maintain their own hazing hotlines.

   The University of Alabama’s Greek Life Web site said its confidential hazing hotline is available to anyone who is aware of a hazing incident or feels uncomfortable in a situation that could be hazing.

   In Pi Beta Phi sorority’s magazine “The Arrow,” the sorority urges concerned collegians, alumnae, parents and administrators to report any suspected hazing activities to its hazing hotline.

   Tulane University in New Orleans, La., promotes a hazing hotline anyone can call to report a hazing incident on its Greek life Web site.

   Stephens said the coalition created by the Greek organizations that sponsored the hotline and Manley Burke Law Firm stand with the other organizations that already have hazing hotlines in their common goal to eliminate hazing.

   “Without exception, all national fraternities and sororities are serious about addressing hazing on the college campus,” Stephens said.

   Manley Burke Law Firm will release a report in the near future detailing how the hazing hotline helps Greek organizations. Stephens said the coalition hopes these hazing hotlines will help eliminate hazing.

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