Sisters of Tri Sigma share national anti-hazing policies
Sororities and fraternities across the country have started fighting against the practice of “hazing,” which is performed in many Greek organizations. Photo Credit: HazingPrevention.org
By Katie Quirin, Contributing Writer
On Sept. 25 and 26, the sisters of Tri Sigma hosted a CUB table with a Stand Up to Hazing Pledge in support of National Hazing Prevention Week (NHPW). Participants both within and outside of the Greek community signed the pledge, promising not to haze.
The women collected over 150 signatures against hazing in an effort to bring awareness about NHPW — which lasted from Sept. 23-27 — to the Gettysburg College campus.
Organized by HazingPrevention.Org, National Hazing Prevention Week is described as a way to bring attention to the problem of hazing on “campuses, schools, communities, organizations” and to individuals, as the website explains.
It goes on to describe NHPW, stating, “This week allows us to educate students, coaches, administrators, parents, faculty and staff, coaches, athletic and recreational sports directors, band leaders, residence hall leadership, com- munity members, local and anti-hazing policies campus police, and others to not just recognize hazing, but to learn ways they can prevent it from occurring in the first place.”
The mission is to promote hazing prevention, not just to Greek organizations, but to all parts of college campuses.
“Hazing is certainly one of the most significant challenges that student groups face around the country. As members of the Gettysburg community, students should not be subjected to hazing as part of their experience on campus,” says Director of Greek Organizations at Gettysburg, Joseph Gurreri.
He went on to say, “I commend students’ efforts to educate one another on the consequences of hazing and challenge one another to avoid engaging in those practices. There are misconceptions that hazing builds connections within the organization, but in reality it breaks them down. It is completely out of line with the values and mission of fraternities and sororities and Gettysburg College.”
For Tri Sigma, participation in NHPW stems from their national leadership. President of the Gettysburg College chapter Christine Perreault, says, “Hazing Prevention is a cause near and dear to the heart of any Sigma sister. We were the first sorority to take a national stance of anti-hazing, with the first zero-tolerance no-hazing policy. [….] We believe in having power with our sisters, not power over.”
Elizabeth Pence, the Vice President of Tri Sigma and New Member Educator, further explained the importance of hazing prevention to the organization, as she stated, “As a sorority, it is our mission to provide all of our women with tools so that they can be agents of change in the world. We do not support demeaning or singling out any of members, new or old, because we are all equal: equal in the eyes of the sorority and equal in the eyes of each other.”
The women of Tri Sigma hope to do more events for National Hazing Prevention Week in the years to come in an effort to have full recognition on the Gettysburg campus about the harmful effects of hazing, with hopes of eventually eradicating it from the college culture.
