The Ripple Effect

April 14, 1994

University of Texas, Austin

Elizabeth Allan

I am here tonight because I care. I am here because I have seen lives change. I am here because the story of Eileen Stevens influenced me. I am here because students have given me strength and courage to persist with the struggle to end the victimization--the abuse of power and control that underpins hazing. I am here because I have learned that the abuse of power and control that fuels hazing also contributes to the sexism and racism that leads to harassment, violence and oppression in our society. I am here tonight because I have witnessed students who truly care about each other and the future of the Greek System strive to "do the right thing" in the face of adversity. I stand before you this evening because I have seen positive change take place and I believe in you and your power to do the same.

I have seen students who believed that things could be better. They had a vision for their chapter and for the entire system. Some believed that they could make a difference--others weren’t sure...but knew they had the responsibility to at least give it a TRY. I have seen that the courage and conviction of one individual can serve as a catalyst for positive change in the Greek System--and beyond. Each and every one of you has the potential to contribute in meaningful ways...to be a positive influence on the lives of others. I have seen "ordinary" people do extraordinary things!

While organizing my thoughts and comments for this event, I was thinking about my experience with the issue of hazing and why I remain committed to this work. I was thinking about my own experience and what has motivated me to take risks and push for positive change. As I was searching for an image I was reminded of "The Ripple Effect,"-- a metaphor that was particularly powerful for me and the IFC President during our most turbulent year of change. This time of change for the Greek System was the beginning of a new era. Greek public image had declined as the Animal House stereotype flourished. Throughout the country Universities and Nationals responded; some implemented policies and procedures designed to reduce high-risk behavior and liability; some institutions in the Northeast even went so far as to ban Greeks from their campuses. When I accepted the role of Greek Advisor at UNH it was a tumultuous time of change. "Change"...its something we talk about a lot---but usually struggle against. When it comes right down to it, people resist change. People resist change most often because they fear it. The UNH Greek System was no exception. While Greek leaders saw the need for positive change within the system, they were overwhelmed by the enormous amount of resistance they encountered. They faced paranoia, hostility and anger by some who wanted desperately to cling to ‘business as usual.’

This is how the ‘ripple effect’ metaphor originated. It was during this time of exciting, but often exhausting change. The metaphor was important because it helped us to sustain the energy and momentum needed to advance positive change and I share it with you as a reminder to us all that our actions can empower others--and can have far reaching consequences. When I think about the ripple effect, it evokes an image in my mind’s eye. I first envision a lake, pond or pool of water in a place that is removed from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The air is cool, the water is clear, calm and mirror-like in reflecting the serenity of the surrounding environment. I pause for a moment to experience the peacefulness of this image and appreciate the beauty nature brings. This part of the metaphor helps me to take a step back from the pressure, stress and frustration that I might be feeling. The next part of the image is a stone being cast into the water and watching the energy from that one action flow into the consecutive rings of water that stretch farther and wider in a natural progression--a ripple effect. This metaphor is meaningful to me because it serves as a reminder of the potential impact of one’s actions. When I consider this metaphor in relation to my own experience, I think about how the courage, energy, and commitment of one person can serve as a catalyst and prompt a chain reaction that continues to grow outward into the lives of others. I have seen how the actions of one individual can inspire another to take a risk and make the impact that initiates another ripple effect, sustaining the necessary momentum needed to carry the energy to shore.

When I think about the ‘ripple effect,’ I think about how change takes place as the ripples build momentum they form waves that can erode the shore. While a single event or the actions of an individual or group might serve as a catalyst for change, the strength of the ripple effect is derived from its reverberating effect as the shared energy and power builds momentum toward transformation. In this way the ripple effect is successful because it demonstrates how "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." The courage and drive of one person is contagious...another person joins the cause because he/she is inspired by the first...and the first person maintains the commitment through the support and inspiration of the second--and ripple effect begins to emanate outward encompassing more people, more energy, more momentum. This is the power of the ripple effect!

Prior to my experience of Greek Advising, I’m not certain I would have believed in this ripple effect concept. I might have discounted it as some useless theory. But now that I have had the opportunity to see it put into practice on several occasions...Now, I know it can work and I am that much more inspired to continue. My point is that initially you don’t always have the reassurance of experience. In order to gain that experience at some point you just have to take the risk--and trust that your actions will not be in vain. We can’t all keep waiting for someone else to make the first move. I ask you tonight; "which of you are willing to take that risk?"

While working with the Greek System I had the opportunity to experience the ripple effect on a number of levels. I saw Presidents, Vice Presidents, New Member Educators and other officers initiate the ripple of change in their own chapters...I saw individuals who did not hold official titles of leadership serve as catalysts for change...and I witnessed groups of leaders unite to build momentum for change throughout the Greek System. And ...just last year I had the privilege of participating with Greek leaders in a ripple effect that resulted in change on an institutional and statewide level with the proposal and passage of anti-hazing legislation for the state of NH. Each individual involved in that ripple effect has a unique story to tell about how they entered into the process and what motivated them to sustain their commitment. This was an amazing journey because the students who came together to get involved in the legislative effort came from very different backgrounds and experiences. Some had been experienced physical hazing, some only psychological hazing, others had been through a non-hazing pledge program and others had friends who had been abused through hazing. These students came voluntarily from a number of different chapters to offer their support. They were biochemistry majors, history majors, nursing, pre-med; English, business and theatre. Some were leaders in the Greek System, others did not hold any formal office, but they all united together. They shared a mutually enhancing power--where each inspired another and momentum grew...the ripples turned to waves and began to erode the shore of a resistant legislature. Through their determination and tenacity, these students let their voices be heard before the house and senate and finally, the bill was enacted into law last May ‘93, making it the 38th state to have anti-hazing legislation. The success of the initiative in NH has been credited to the student involvement and notably, the involvement of Greek students who chose to take action toward positive change.

The student initiative in NH is a story of how the ripple effect on one campus grew outward to encompass other campuses and then eventually all educational institutions in the state. But, it’s also a story of an even larger ripple which began with the work of Eileen Stevens in 1978 when her perseverance resulted in the passage of an anti-hazing law in NY after her son was killed in a hazing incident at Alfred University. At that time, only 3 other states had laws and NY was not one of them. Due to her sustained commitment to this issue, she has inspired others to propose similar legislation as a hazing deterrent. Eileen provided inspiration and guidance through our effort in NH as she has done for others in different states. As a result, the ripples have echoed outward from NY to encompass 34 additional states over the past 10 years!

While I have experienced the process of positive change in a Greek System, I have also witnessed the devastation and damage that can occur as a result of neglect, fear, ignorance and the abuse of power that underpins the practice of hazing. I believe that everyone wants to feel powerful...and I’m not against power. I am against the abuse of power--power that’s derived at the expense of others. The ripple effect could not work without power. However, it's a power that I would describe as mutually enhancing. It is shared power directed toward positive outcomes. I have seen that this kind of power fosters dignity, respect and a release of human potential. But I have also seen how constructing an imbalance of power -- and abuse of power (like the kind of power involved in hazing), leads to an insidious cycle of victimization...damage, destruction and sometimes death.

I would like to tell you about two students who came into my life during my first semester of Greek Advising. I have changed their names to protect their identities, but the experiences are the same.

Her name is Sarah. She is a senior now, but she was in her first year at the University when I met her. She has long brown hair, blue eyes, and a bright white smile. But she didn’t smile when I first met her. I had trouble seeing the color of her eyes in the darkened room. I had planned to go out for breakfast that Saturday, but received the phone call while I was still drowsing in bed early that morning.

When I arrived, she was lying on her side, curled up under a sheet & shaking uncontrollably. I was frightened by what I saw. As I drew nearer, I felt my stomach tie up in a knot as I became conscious of the anguish permeating the room. At first, she avoided eye contact while her body trembled and she sobbed with her face in the pillow. I didn’t know what to do or say. She had agreed to see me, but what could I possibly do to help in this situation? I was afraid to hear her speak, I was afraid to feel her pain, I was afraid to come face to face with the harsh reality of the situation. It’s not as difficult to hear about these things when you don’t see the face, or know the real human being whose life has been forever altered.

I had been urgently called to the University Health Services to talk with Sarah who had been raped the evening before--in a fraternity chapter house following an afternoon "pledge swap" activity where the sorority pledges trade places with the fraternity pledges for a day.

While most of the students slept in on Saturday morning after a long night of socializing, Sarah lay in a hospital room, violated, humiliated, traumatized and in a state of shock.

The second student is named Kevin. He stands about 6 ft. tall with light blonde wavy hair. When I first met him he was struggling through quantitative analysis for chemical engineering. Although he was struggling, I knew he probably capable--as he had scored 1500 on his SATs. He stopped by my office one day just to say hello. Over the few months that I had known him he appeared to be enjoying his first year as an initiated member of the fraternity. Without a second thought, I asked him how things were going with the fraternity. He grew quiet and seemed uncertain of how to respond. He then began to tell me that he was thinking of going inactive. I was both surprised and concerned because I saw him having leadership potential for the Greek System. Rush had just concluded for the Fall and pledging was underway, and this was troubling him deeply. He had tried to put the experience behind him, forget about it and move on...but, he couldn’t especially when he realized that what happened to him was probably going to happen to someone else this year.

I will never forget the anguish on Kevin’s face and the rage in his voice as he described some of his hazing experiences. He proceeded to tell me about some of the more "typical" hazing activities--derogatory name calling; pledge clean-ups after parties; sleep deprivation; forced drinking and the consumption of filthy substances that would induce vomiting upon ingestion. While some of these required activities were just simply annoying to him, others had a more severe impact. Although a year had passed since these experiences, his trembling voice evidenced the torment that still plagued him. He was still struggling to sort out his thoughts and feelings about the experience. He thought that once he became a brother he could forget about most of it and shrug off the hazing as senseless and harmless pranks. He thought he could... until one evening toward the end of the pledge program when the actives had arranged for the pledges to drink--not unlike many other previous evenings. Certain brothers were in charge of supplying the pledges with alcohol and ensuring that each one consumed more than he ever had before. Drinking to the point of unconsciousness was the goal. However, having recovered from each previous hangover, Kevin didn’t expect anything different this time around. The next day, Kevin had a Chemistry exam, at 8:00 am. He managed to make it to the exam--a little late, but in time to finish it--except, he never did get to complete it. While attempting to take the exam, Kevin became violently ill. I could see his embarrassment, shame, and anger as he recounted his horror at the sight of his own blood-filled vomit. An 18-year-old freshman, he was frightened and bewildered by what was happening. For the first time in his life, he was keenly aware that he was in grave physical danger. However, this was not what most upset Kevin as he related his experience to me. While he was distraught about his physical well-being, he was transported to the hospital and received the appropriate medical attention needed to stabilize him physically. Some of the brothers came to visit Kevin while he lay in the hospital bed, dazed and confused by what was happening. Kevin recalled how good it was to see these guys who were going to be "his brothers" soon and who he had been taught to respect for their rank in the chapter. He was relieved to see them there... Until suddenly Kevin realized what was happening. His eyes began to water as he recalled; "They didn’t even bother to ask me how I was. All they wanted was to tell me to keep my mouth shut about how it happened." While Kevin was alarmed by the danger in which he had been placed through the coercive alcohol abuse of hazing, he was most distressed by the behavior of the brothers who paid him the visit. His physical wounds healed with relative ease. But the emotional scars were becoming more and more prominent to Kevin as the pain turned to rage, which could no longer be repressed.

It wasn’t long after meeting Sarah and Kevin that I began to fear for the very lives of the students with whom I worked on a daily basis. I knew that the odds of a death resulting from hazing were growing strong. Our campus had been lucky so far, but, I had a very uneasy feeling that our luck would surely run out if things didn’t begin to change and change quickly. And even though we hadn’t had any deaths from hazing, I was deeply distressed by the reports I had received. I was distressed by my growing recognition of the destructive influence of hazing on student lives.

For each Sarah and Kevin, there are twenty other victims who came forward to share the accounts of their hazing experiences with me. During my first three years of Greek Advising, over 40 hazing incidents were formally reported to me -- and this does not include MANY others that went unfiled because I respected the students’ desires to remain anonymous. Victims often live in fear of those who have abused them.

Maybe some of you have had similar experiences. I know that I had experienced hazing in high school and college--but like many, I did not sustain any physical injuries or emotional scars that of which I was aware. But, when I began to see that my experience was not the experience of everyone else, when I listened to the pain, suffering and fear in the voices of students, I began to confront some of my own erroneous assumptions. I realized that hazing is not something that just happens to "wimpy" people who don’t know how to say no or to people with low self-esteem who will do anything to acquire friends. I realized that like so many other people, I had also succumbed to the "blame the victim" mentality that is not much different from a common response to women who have been raped. (Expand--blame the victim etc.) Having been trained as a volunteer rape crisis counselor, I began to see the connections between the victimization of women through sexual violence and the victimization of students in hazing.

While the actual hazing experiences varied considerably from student to student, I came to recognize a number of common themes among them: Each student expressed a feeling of powerlessness over the hazing activities; self-blame, shame, and humiliation were common reactions--(i.e. "Why did I put up with it? Why didn’t I just walk away?); some actually perpetrated the very same acts toward others in the following pledge class; and all of them feared the negative reaction from their peers if they were to take a stand against hazing; This pattern helped me to begin to unravel the powerful, mysterious and dangerous dynamics that lead to the physical and emotional victimization of hazing.

I don’t believe that most students recognize that they are toying with injury and death through their participation in hazing activities, but the statistics indicate otherwise. Hazing begins in very subtle yet powerful forms when pledges are expected to participate in organized subservience, are called degrading names, and are required to abide by silly and often demeaning rules that clearly place them in a subordinate role. This is where the power imbalance begins...with the very subtle forms of hazing that appear to be harmless at first, but set the stage for continued abuse of power that is dangerous and life-threatening.

It is not my intent to preach to you this evening, or point any fingers and cast blame. Rather, I am here tonight because I see so much potential in all of your lives and for your positive influence on the lives of others. For each of you, and for each of your chapter members, I want the Greek experience to be one that enhances your life -- an experience that fosters a release of human potential and encourages you and others to strive for excellence in all that you do. I truly believe you can do great things -- there are so very many needs out there, and as a Greek System, a collective of individuals working toward a similar goal, you have the capacity to make significant contributions to your University, the local community, and beyond. However, I also recognize that these are your decisions to make...you can’t be empowered if someone else is directing your actions. You must make the decisions yourselves. And...along with the power to make decisions comes the burden of responsibility for the outcomes of those decisions or indecision in some cases. I believe this responsibility for decision-making is the foundation of integrity and strength in leadership.

• What are the important choices & decisions for leadership in Greek Life
• What are the probable consequences for those choices & decisions?

I am proposing that you take some time to think about these issues this evening. I don’t think that this is as easy as it sounds. Thinking about some of the things I will talk about may make you uneasy or uncomfortable. I’m not expecting or proposing that you "buy into" what I have to say. Rather, I am asking that you think about these issues critically--examine your assumptions; consider the complexity; go beyond easy answers; and be true to yourself. Thinking about these issues is critical to making informed decisions about your life and the lives of others here at UTA.

So, let’s take a closer look at the issue of leadership. Sororities and Fraternities are known for contributing to the training of many famous leaders. Leadership is a quality that many of us aspire to. But, what does it really mean to be a leader? Is a leader more than just a spokesperson for a group? If so, what are the characteristics of a leader? Is there a difference between having leader behaviors and being an effective leader? For example, does simply having followers qualify one as a leader? Or does leadership require some sense of striving for a common good--employing morals and values that foster tolerance, dignity and justice? I believe that these questions are of vital importance when considering your role as a leader in any setting...and in particular right now for you in the Greek community.

I believe that you must grapple with these questions if you want to move the Greek System forward and ensure its long-term survival. Thinking about these questions is critical to your undertaking a positive membership development program and addressing the issue of hazing in a meaningful way. Now, I know from experience that this issue of hazing is a difficult one to address. It’s the kind of topic that makes people shift around in their chairs, fidget, and try to think about something else--and if all else fails...leave the room so you don’t have to think about it. Well, I would like to challenge you to consider; Why is that? Why are we so uncomfortable talking or thinking about this issue? Why do we silence discussion of this issue by avoiding it or denying its existence? If hazing isn’t a problem; then why can’t we talk about it openly? Why the secrecy and silence? If hazing is an important and valuable part of fraternity and sorority life, why do we attempt to hide it? Philanthropy activities and outstanding scholarship are not kept hidden, so why do we hide the outstanding hazing activities? If hazing is truly an effective means of establishing bonds of brother and sisterhood, building trust and fostering respect, then why aren’t we promoting these techniques to other groups or systems? All right, you may think I’m being a bit sarcastic...but, I’m really quite serious. I was thinking about leadership, challenging my own assumptions, and trying to look at things from different angles in order to see them in new ways. As I thought about this for a minute I came back to a question that often arises when I talk with others about the issue of hazing. "What is it about hazing that causes so many to be so committed to sustaining its so called tradition?" I tried to challenge my usual way of thinking by envisioning myself in a debate in which I was pro-hazing--trying to persuade others that they should adopt hazing strategies for developing group cohesiveness, unity and trust. I re-visited some of the arguments I’ve heard from over the years like:

• hazing builds unity because people bond through difficult experiences.

• hazing teaches respect for the actives.

• enduring hazing proves you’re strong...it’s an achievement to make it.

• hazing is a challenge--it makes pledging fun & exciting.

• hazing motivates lazy people.

• it’s a tradition

• it works in the military

• hazing is one way for members to show their dedication to the group and earn their membership.

While I call these the "myths" of hazing, every myth probably starts with a kernel of truth---this is what gives it the power to shape attitudes and beliefs. (Re-list and provide "come-backs" for each of the above myths).

• hazing builds unity because people bond through difficult experiences. Yes, I will concede that people can bond through difficult experiences or times of hardship...but, this is not the only way to bond and build unity-- and certainly it’s not the best way.

• hazing teaches respect for the brothers/sisters. It may be true that you can teach someone about respect. But I suggest that people can’t be taught to respect others...respect must be earned. Hazers and abusers do not earn the respect of their victims.

• enduring hazing proves you’re strong...it’s an achievement to make it.

• hazing is a challenge--it makes pledging fun & exciting.

• hazing motivates lazy people. Well, hazing may motivate and challenge people. It may seem like an achievement when it’s over. But, hazing motivates people through fear and for this reason, this kind of motivation is only temporary. That’s why we so frequently hear complaints about the apathy of the members once they are initiated. Hazing doesn’t develop motivation and commitment to the ideals of the fraternity/sorority. There are other more productive and enduring methods of inspiring and challenging new members. There are methods of motivating that aren’t based on fear and are more likely to maintain one’s commitment to the chapter throughout their undergraduate experience.

• it’s a tradition--first of all, it’s probably not. None of your fraternities and sororities were founded upon ideals that support hazing. You may have heard that a certain activity is a tradition...but, sometimes that only means it’s been around for more than a semester. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY; So what if something is a so-called tradition. If it is humiliating, degrading and dangerous...if it breaks people down rather than building people up...why continue it???

• it works in the military--this may be true....but people join the military to defend the country and prepare for war....what does this have to do with why people join your organization?

• hazing is one way for members to show their dedication to the group and earn their membership--Again, all of these myths work together to construct an illusion...the guise of hazing that makes hazing a tempting tool for those who do not understand it.

You see, some people perpetuate hazing because they want to abuse others so that they can feel powerful. But those people form only a small percentage of the chapter. However, hazing continues because most people are ignorant. They truly believe that hazing can be positive. They believe the myths of hazing. But if you really think about it, hazing can never do these things, because hazing does not empower people, it does not support, encourage and infuse people with the motivation and inspiration. The aftermath of hazing is always negative...because hazing is abusive, it strips power away from others, it diminishes and belittles. Don’t be fooled by the illusion of hazing.

Is hazing really just some foolish pranks that sometimes get carried away--on occasion? When I talk with students about hazing--or when we implement rules, policies and laws against hazing; inevitably people want a laundry list of things that constitute hazing. "A list of what we can do and what we can’t do--the quick fix solution. But you see, this is futile really. Because hazing is not a matter of scavenger hunts, or drinking, or name calling, or calisthenics...or eating onions, or tattoos...None of these things is hazing in itself. These things are often listed in rules and policies around hazing because they often become hazing because of the manner in which they are implemented. So it’s not the activity per se, but the manner in which it is used. How do we judge whether or not something constitutes hazing? I believe that you must look beyond the mere activity and examine the POWER that operates for those involved or potentially involved in the situation. There could never be an exhaustive list of hazing activities...because it’s not the activity in itself that is problematic.

I have found the following analogy helpful in understanding this distinction. (Do frying pan analogy and compare specifically to calisthenics). In the same way that rape is not an act of SEX, hazing is not an act of calisthenics, drinking, or an act of eating vile substances, or an act of road trips and pledge dumps. Rather, hazing, like sexual violence, is an act of TAKING power & control away from others. Hazing is abusive. Like child abuse, hazing is most likely perpetrated by people who have been abused themselves. It creates a cycle of abuse. Hazing is about people feeling powerful--not from a sense of inner strength, but power at the expense of others. Hazing is a cheap form of man/womanhood because it entails taking someone else’s power away so that you can feel strong. Hazing is about inequality and injustice--it’s about diminishing the dignity of others. In this way, the power dynamics of hazing can be compared to abuse of power operating in sexual harassment and sexual assault. When you begin to see the reality of hazing--and the power differential operating--when you see the abuse of power and control that underpins hazing behavior these connections begin to make sense. This is why even the more subtle activities that seem harmless are problematic--because they establish this negative power dynamic that easily escalates into more dangerous forms of hazing abuse.

And for all the women out there tonight, I would like you to stop for a moment and think about the power you have and how your actions may be perpetuating hazing practices, not only in your own chapters, but in the fraternities as well. Have you "bought into" the myth that hazing builds "stronger men?" When it comes right down to it, what kind of men are you more inclined to associate with? Are you more interested in the brothers who are affiliated with the hazing chapters on campus? If this is true for you, I would like you to consider for a moment... "Why is that?" Do you really believe that hazing builds character? Do you honestly believe that hazing makes someone stronger? If you do, then I would like to hear more about why that makes sense...maybe you have a reason that I haven’t heard yet. You see, I believe that when you choose to associate with the hazing fraternities then you are sending a strong message of support for hazing. Your influence is powerful and you must take this seriously. Even if your chapter doesn’t haze, your failure to take a moral stand on hazing by continuing to affiliate with the men who haze sends a message of support for hazing. All of you, men and women alike must recognize that when you passively support hazing by ignoring it in other chapters, then you perpetuate the abuse of power and control that is not only linked to hazing, but to harassment and sexual violence as well.

When you understand hazing as an act of power and control over others, then you also understand how hazing is a form of abuse...and as such, a form of victimization. If you understand hazing in this way, you can see why it can be so dangerous and so difficult to eradicate. Those who have been hazed have been victimized. The consequences of this vary depending on a person’s history and the intensity of the emotional and physical abuse of the hazing activities. What might seem like relatively harmless pranks or jokes for one can be emotionally devastating and cause long-term damage to another. I have heard so many young men and women say that they want to "stick it out" because then they will be able to change it once they’re on the "inside." But sadly, this rarely happens. Once on "the inside" people go on to perpetuate the hazing themselves. Sometimes actively -- but more often passively. Hazing is perpetuated through the silence....those who choose to "avoid it" or ignore it are complicit. How many times I have heard students acknowledge their discomfort with the hazing....some say; "I know it’s wrong" or "I know it’s negative and dangerous, but it’s never going to change." If you are one who thinks this way, you are not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the situation, but you must understand how inaction makes you a very real part of the problem. Your unwillingness and fear to confront this behavior allows it to continue. Those brothers and sisters who actually organize and implement the hazing activities are not the only ones to blame for the hazing tragedies and deaths that occur each year on college campuses. If you are not part of the solution, then you remain part of the problem--’silence is the voice of complicity.’ We’ve probably heard these sayings before, but do we recognize when they might apply to ourselves?

I have met students who did recognize when they were part of the problem, I have had the honor of working with undergraduates and alumns who recognized their own personal responsibility to become part of the solution. It’s often easier to avoid "making waves" and initiating a ripple effect because we risk rejection. We all want to be popular and liked by our peers--but sometimes we must ask; "at what expense?" I have met a number of courageous students who have asked themselves that very question. Last year I worked with a fraternity member whose courage, strength and conviction had a profound impact on his chapter, the Greek System and the entire campus.

His name is Phil. He was a sophomore when I first met him. He pledged as a freshman; he was a wrestler, surfer and held a 3.8 average as a biochemistry/microbiology major. Not surprisingly, he had been elected scholarship chair of his fraternity. It was at this time that his chapter was undergoing a review process conducted by the National as a result of risk-management concerns including hazing, drug use/distribution and violence. He had attended the fraternity’s national convention that previous summer and had heard speakers talk about eliminating hazing and he later told me that he was surprised when he had met students from other chapters who didn’t haze their members like he had experienced during pledging.

Phil enrolled in a leadership course I was teaching that year. From time to time I would inquire about his efforts with chapter scholarship. At first he was all "fired up" about things--he had arranged for the Biochem Dept to donate a couple of used computers so that he could create a study area in the chapter house. But over time, his enthusiasm waned. When I asked how things were going he would say he hadn’t had much time lately to work on things with the fraternity....While I accepted his responses, I grew concerned about what might really be at the root of his apathetic attitude.

The year drew to a close, the leadership course ended, summer passed and a new academic year began. I bumped into Phil one day and we caught up on each other’s summer adventures etc. When I asked if he was living in the chapter house etc., he was more definitive this time. He told me that he was planning to go "inactive." I remember that I was very upset about this. Here was a student with so much potential to give to the fraternity and the Greek System and he was just going to "drop out." Something about this just didn’t make sense to me...I had seen this happen a number of times before, but this time it was even more troublesome. He made excuses about his reasons for making this decision, but I knew he wasn’t giving me the whole story.

Another member of his chapter had come to see me a few months before. He had come to tell me about some of the hazing practices that were continuing despite the intervention from the National. This student told me the gory details of the hazing that included an event called ‘KC Night’--(short for Kangaroo Court I guess). This night was a special occasion when all the actives would gather to celebrate pledging by having a keg packed with ice in the basement of the chapter house. The pledges were kept locked in an upstairs bathroom in their underwear. One at a time, a pledge would be led down to the basement to face his punishment by the court of actives. Each pledge was forced to sit, unclothed on the ice cold keg--while the actives took turns screaming in his face, shouting derogatory comments, calling him humiliating names repeatedly (I was told that this lasted up to 20 minutes sometimes). Next the actives would ask the pledge to perform some act of subservience. For some it involved crawling on the basement floor stained with urine and beer, others were egged, paddled and sometimes punched. Two pledges have permanent scars from where they were sprayed with oven cleaner.

This was just one event in a semester filled with hazing activities that spanned the continuum and grew more reprehensible as they approached hell week. While the student who came to see me was disgusted and ashamed by what was happening, he was too frightened to file a formal complaint. He wanted me to be able to put an end to it--but, my hands were tied. Without an anti-hazing law I had little support for an investigation and without a witness, I couldn’t even take formal action based on the University’s code of conduct. We talked about other less threatening options, like placing an anonymous call to National or working within the chapter for change. But, he said he had tried, and that National had tried and that nothing was working. The problem was too big and too overwhelming and he was discouraged, tired and resigned to it.

I was frightened for other students, and I was committed to trying my hardest to intervene and end the abuse of hazing in that chapter. I began a series of educational programs on hazing and I worked with the chapter leadership. They said they were committed to changing things and for a time, I thought that they might. They came and listened to Eileen speak and one of the chapter leaders drove her to and from the airport. But, even this awareness and education was not enough to break through the cycle of abuse that had become the norm in that chapter. Throughout it all I questioned myself and the student who had come to me. I couldn’t understand why he would have any reason to make up this story---what could he possibly have to gain....yet, I had developed relationships with other members in the fraternity and I had trouble accepting that they would actually participate in things like this. I tried to picture them at KC night...I thought of Phil and couldn’t understand how he could have possibly been a part of that. Like many others, from time to time, I fell prey to the denial that surrounds abuses like hazing. It’s so difficult to make sense out of senseless things--sometimes it’s just easier to deny it, ignore it, or make excuses for it.

It was during this time of doubt that Phil made an appointment to see me in the office. I could tell that this wasn’t his usual "friendly" visit to chat. He said that he had been having trouble sleeping...that he had finally decided to come and tell me because he couldn’t deal with his conscience anymore. After the National’s Review Process and the on-going educational programs from the University, after Eileen’s speech, the chapter had invited him over for KC night. He told me that the same activities were taking place. His account matched the account of the other student from a year before. Nothing had changed. It was all a big lie and he was not willing to participate in it anymore...but going inactive wasn’t enough. Even though he wasn’t participating in the hazing...he knew it was continuing and his silence and everyone else’s silence allowed the behavior to continue.

Again, he wanted me to do something. He thought that providing me with this information would allow me to make some kind of intervention. But, what could we do? I asked him why he had come to tell me about the hazing, and he said; "I want it to stop. I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I did." Again we reviewed the options. He too was frightened of coming forward, but he also understood my limitations. We could continue educating and warning...but, without a witness, any attempt at intervention would be weak. Phil knew he had some hard decisions to make. I struggled too because I didn’t want him to endure the alienation and hostility that would inevitably arise if he were to serve as a witness. However, the situation was urgent. Hell week was drawing near in a matter of days, and once again, student lives would be placed in jeopardy.

Phil began by confronting the chapter officers. He went to them and urged them to call off hell week activities. He even offered to serve as a new Pledge Educator and develop a non-hazing program. But they laughed at him, they told him; "no one will go for it." They were not even willing to try or lend their support. Hearing this made things that much worse, but Phil was also growing stronger in knowing that he had to do something....he held the key and the power to make a change--the others did too, but they weren’t willing to try. Phil felt overwhelmed by the situation, but he refused to be paralyzed by it. He decided to take the next step. He decided to call National and identify himself and ask for their help. He went directly to the officers to tell them of his plans and he informed them that they couldn’t lie anymore....

Yes, Phil chose to break the code of silence that surrounded hazing in his chapter. He knew that he would likely be ostracized and mistreated by his very own brothers even though he had tried to work from within the chapter to make change. But, he also knew that this was what HAD to be done in order to break through the cycle of abuse. This was not about "snitching" or "squealing" as they say, this was about living up to the ideals of fraternity---this was about "Being your brother’s keeper."

As anticipated, Phil was harassed by his very own brothers. They did the usual cowardly things. Yell derogatory names at him out their car windows as they passed him on the street; some threw a rock through his car windshield; spread rumors about him; and others hung a banner outside the fraternity house expressing their anger at him. None of them asked to speak with him directly to share their thoughts or feelings. None of them had the courage to talk with him face to face. While Phil never questioned his own actions, the constant harassment began to wear on him, he felt alone, confused sometimes and angry. As word began to spread about Phil’s actions, the rumors and misinformation began to take on a life of its own. Feeling the need to "set the record straight," Phil wrote a letter to the campus newspaper. (Read excerpt from his newspaper article--where he describes abuses etc.)

Not surprisingly, the publication of this letter caused an uproar on campus and in the Greek System. Phil had broken the code of silence and this is how things finally began to change. Remarkably, many Greeks came forward to support Phil. People called to tell him they were inspired by his strength and courage. Others gained the courage to join Phil in making a difference and taking a stand against hazing in their own chapters. Further, the leaders of other chapters decided that they needed to take the issue seriously, or perhaps one of their members might just go ahead and do what Phil had done. Consequently, a ripple effect began throughout the Greek System.

It was a long ordeal for Phil--it changed his life and the lives of many others. But he didn’t end his efforts there. He became an influential participant in the effort to enact hazing legislation. This past year he coordinated a student peer education program on hazing. Through his efforts the IFC passed a bill making these educational programs mandatory for all chapters. And, I just learned that last Friday night Phil was chosen as the recipient of the Greek System Service Award. An honor reserved for that man and woman who have most contributed to the enhancement of Greek Life at the University.

In choosing to become a member of a fraternity or sorority you have become a member of a brotherhood or sisterhood that stands for much more than a group of individuals living together and socializing through your college experience. Becoming a brother or sister means you have become part of a community that offers many opportunities, a community that goes beyond "friend" and calls its members brother and sister. But what do we really mean by that? Do our actions match our rhetoric? I would like to understand how we can justify or rationalize tolerance of hazing and other abusive practices in any organization, but especially in an organization where we say we care about each other, where we actually choose to affiliate with each other. Failing to confront abusive behavior--hazing, sexual assault & harassment, or abuse of oneself through alcohol and/or other drugs, or eating disorders is really another way of saying "I don’t care about you." And I don’t think that’s what most of you want to stand for.

Leadership, sisterhood, brotherhood, character, scholarship, and community service; these are the ideals that come to mind when I think of the true meaning of fraternities and sororities. These are the ideals that have contributed to the strength and promise of Greek life on our college campuses. These are the ideals espoused by the creeds and rituals that form the foundation upon which each of your organizations was built. But some are questioning the strength of that foundation...some believe that the entire framework of Greek life may be in jeopardy due to decay. Decay of that foundation. The decay caused by neglect and failure to take seriously the very ideals upon which Greek life was founded. Hazing contributes to the decay by destroying the spirit and diminishing the dignity of your membership. The ideals that are espoused to the public; the words memorized and recited. Have they become hollow and meaningless?

The answers to these questions will determine the survival or demise of the Greek System over the next decade. You hold that future in your hands today. As leaders and members of the Greek System, you have an opportunity to make a difference and to show you care. You have the opportunity to reconstruct a new framework for Greek life at UTA and beyond. You have the opportunity and influence to empower others and transform a system. Or...you can just accept things the way they are...settle for the status quo, and strive for nothing more than what you see today. It is a decision you need to make and it is urgent! You hold the future of the Greek System in your hands. You can choose to be part of a transformation, a move toward positive change...OR NOT. But remember, indecision is a decision and holds consequences for you, your chapter and the entire system. As leaders in your chapters you carry a burden of responsibility that can not be ignored or taken lightly. Your actions (or inaction) have an impact on people’s lives. In what ways do you want your leadership to impact others? How would you like to be remembered for your leadership in five, ten, 20 years?

Yes, it’s difficult to take that risk, to take a stand for something you believe in. Confronting your peers takes great courage. What does it mean to care about your brother or sister? These words; leadership, integrity, compassion...these are words that describe the true meaning of Greek Life. Do these words describe your behavior? We all must ask ourselves these questions. As leaders and/or members of your chapters, can you go to sleep each night knowing that you have done everything you could...that you have taken each opportunity that day to ensure that your brothers and sisters are safe, to let them know you care? How hard are you willing to try? It’s the little things each day that can make a difference over time. Voicing your concern for someone’s behavior and speaking out against traditions of hazing could possibly save a life and isn’t that worth the effort?

Each of you can affect positive change in another person’s life and in many lives through the ripple effect I have described tonight. Sometimes all it takes is the courage of one person to begin this process of change. I know this, because I have seen it happen. I have had the honor of standing alongside young women and men who have taken the risk to confront their peers, endure criticism, harassment and ridicule for disrupting the status quo and initiating a ‘ripple effect’ of positive change. I have witnessed sorority women and fraternity men evidence persistence, courage, compassion and drive. Each individual in this room has the power to make transformative change in this Greek community and beyond. I urge you tonight; make that commitment to be part of the solution. Hazing, alcohol abuse, sexual violence....they are all connected and they all threaten the framework of Greek life. I urge you tonight to make that commitment; to recognize the urgency and your responsibility to end the abuse; to become part of the ripple effect; and to create a new tradition of caring (this was the theme of Greek Week).