Who Helps and Hurts in Fighting Unruly Frats

As colleges try to rein in hazing and other fraternity misconduct, they will find some natural partners both on campus and off. Other groups may not always be so helpful.

Anti-hazing groups can be key allies in educating students about what constitutes hazing and how it may affect pledges both mentally and physically. The Clery Center, a nonprofit campus-safety group, produced a documentary that examines the causes and consequences of hazing. The group StopHazing.org draws on research into hazing practices to provide practical tips as well as climate assessments on the campus or online. HazingPrevention.org offers a four-day prevention institute for teams of students and campus officials.

Campus health centers are natural partners in trying to prevent the dangerous drinking, drug abuse, and sexual misconduct that may plague the rush and pledging periods. Mental-health experts can describe the harm that a sexually provocative ritual could have on a victim of previous abuse, or that a belittling rant could have on a student struggling with depression. The student-health center at Oregon State University, for instance, offers Greek members a variety of customized programs on alcohol, drugs, and dating violence.

Making Fraternities Safer

Bringing problems out into the open and promoting confidential reporting have helped lift the veil of secrecy that perpetuates abusive behavior.

• Fraternities Can Change on Their Own
• Colleges Confront the Perils of Frats
• How One University Is Challenging an Ugly ‘Tradition’ Among Students

National fraternities may be antagonists or allies. Some of the major reforms in initiation, including Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Balanced Man Program and Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s True Gentleman Experience, have come from fraternities themselves, sometimes after a spate of hazing-related tragedies. Both of those programs are meant to replace the traditional pledging period with four years of personal development and community service.

But when a university yanks a chapter’s recognition or punishes all members for the actions of a few, national fraternities sometimes fight back. The University of Virginia suspended the activities of all fraternities after one was associated (falsely, it turned out) in a Rolling Stone article with a gang rape. At least two fraternities refused to comply with the university’s restrictions, which they said penalized innocent parties.

Alumni can also be a blessing or a curse. If wealthy donors with fond memories of their fraternity days feel that their chapter has been unfairly targeted, they often threaten to withhold gifts. An investment executive was so enraged by his chapter’s suspension for hazing at Salisbury University that he withdrew a $2-million donation to the institution, Bloomberg reported. But sometimes alumni make positive contributions — for example, when those tired of seeing their houses or reputations trashed raise money to reward chapters that eliminate pledging or limit alcohol.

Katherine Mangan writes about community colleges, completion efforts, and job training, as well as other topics in daily news. Follow her on Twitter @KatherineMangan, or email her at katherine.mangan@chronicle.com.