Hazing has a major role in Greek Life organizations around the nation, and those at Carnegie Mellon are no exception. Four fraternities have been charged in the most recent Bi-Annual Hazing Report, one of which is no longer recognized.
Hazing describes when new members of an organization are made to complete humiliating tasks or are harassed in order to initiate them into the group.
The first fraternity listed in the report is Pi Kappa Alpha (also known as Pika or Pike). The hazing report explains that “new members were asked to gather, some staying overnight, for an event some called ‘Ingress,’ where members are initiated into the chapter … while participating in a capture-the-flag type game involving protecting a ‘mini fence,’ a student’s nose was injured.”
The severity of the injury was not noted nor any other details. As a result, Pike must work alongside Student Affairs and their national headquarters to improve the chapter, specifically their pledge program. Additionally, the entire chapter must attend a hazing prevention training and bystander intervention training.
Next is Kappa Sigma, known as Kap Sig. Older members “required sleepovers at the chapter facility, a pledge point system, and required tasks of individual new members, including ingestion of atypical foods.” The national chapter suspended Kap Sig from all activities.
Similarly to Pike, Kap Sig is working alongside their national headquarters and Student Affairs to improve the chapter and pledge period. Additionally, 80 percent of brothers are required to participate in My Brother’s Keeper, a program centered around social responsibility, with their national headquarters.
Kappa Phi Lambda was caught with a photograph that showed, “alcohol consumption and related references to a student becoming sick.” The chapter is suspended from recruitment, new members, and all social activities. The chapter is currently waiting for a University Disciplinary Committee hearing and thus the final result is still unknown.
Lastly is Sigma Alpha Epsilon, otherwise known as SAE. CMU Police, after receiving an anonymous report in mention of hazing and multiple pledges becoming sick, visited the SAE house. According to the report, “They took photos in the SAE basement of several open condiments, including hot sauce, partially eaten fruits and other foods.” It also mentions that alcohol was found in the common spaces, including the basement.
The University Disciplinary Committee decided that SAE is no longer recognized on campus and will not be recognized for a minimum of four years. SAE has since appealed this decision.
Dr. Joshua Centor, associate vice president of Student Affairs for community engagement, notes that the appeal is “currently in process.” However, he is unable to comment further on any of the above incidents nor their implications.
This week marks hazing prevention week, and Dr. Centor explained that all student organizations are expected and required to uphold the values and behavior that CMU values. “When an organization demonstrates it is not able to uphold those values with its behaviors and actions, the university must take action, as it did in the cases reported in the latest Bi-Annual Report of Hazing Activity,” he said.
The goal of this week, Dr. Centor explained, is to educate students and provide awareness to what hazing is and how to prevent it. On Sept. 25, a campus-wide email was sent out in order to raise awareness and to educate about the several programs offered over the course of this week. SLICE works with each individual Greek organization and varsity sports team in regards to hazing prevention. This education is extended to the newest members of each organization to develop an understanding of what constitutes hazing and how to report it.
Hazing prevention extends beyond Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Centor said. “In an effort to contribute to the nationwide data collection and sharing across institutions of higher education, Carnegie Mellon chooses to submit data on fraternities and sororities to the Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform at The Pennsylvania State University as part of the center’s National Fraternity and Sorority Scorecard Initiative.”
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