National fraternities, sororities create hotline, combat hazing

The national organizations for eight of DePauw's greek chapters are sponsoring a new anti-hazing hotline. Twenty-two international fraternities and sororities joined together to establish the hotline. As of Tuesday, anyone who thinks they or someone they know is a current or potential victim of hazing can call the hotline anonymously and leave a message with a voice mailbox monitored by the Manley Burke law firm in Cincinnati.

Manley Burke has dealt with legal issues for fraternities and sororities for over 25 years, so helping to facilitate the hotline was "a natural fit," said Dan McCarthy, an attorney at the firm.

"Hazing seemed to have died down towards the end of the '90s and beginning of the millennium, but there is a sense that it is making a resurgence," McCarthy said. "The goal is not to reduce, but to eliminate hazing."

Student organizations not part of the coalition can still call the hotline for help, said Coalition Spokesman Norval Stephens '51. Manley Burke law firm will forward the message to that person's organization whether it is a club, sports team or greek organization.

Stephens is chairman of the Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation and former international president of the fraternity. He said the hotline's number will be printed in each organizations pledge manuals and fall magazines. The coalition will send local chapters stickers and posters with the hotline number and will mail information to parents of all new members, he said.

Junior Michael Gentry, co-chair of the Hazing Task Force and vice president for risk management of the Intrafraternity Council, said he felt the hotline could be useful for DePauw's campus.

"Hazing goes on at DePauw, as it does at every university that has a greek system," Gentry said.

Gentry said he is optimistic about DePauw's efforts to combat hazing, however.

"DePauw is taking very proactive steps in eliminating the problem. We are participating in National Hazing Awareness week later this month and we have the Hazing Task Force," he said.

Panhellenic Council President Courtney Schmidt, a senior, said there has been a move toward educating people about what is and is not hazing. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Services will sponsor its third annual New Member Education Series this year as an effort to help current members decide how they want to interact with new members on a healthy level.

The past few years have seen an increase in probation cases with DePauw's chapters, although Schmidt said she is unsure whether that increase means more hazing is occurring at DePauw or if more incidents are being reported.

There are some downsides to the hotline, though.

Schmidt said, as with any anonymous program, there is always a chance that someone will start a rumor, or one chapter may try and get another chapter in trouble

"But information goes to the dean of students and it is well researched before any actions are taken," she said.

Tom Hansen, director of Fraternity and Sorority Services and chair of the Hazing Task Force, addressed Schmidt's worry.

"Prank calls might be a problem," he said, "but it is a small problem and the law firm should be good at sifting those calls."

There have only been two known cases of hazing in the past two years at DePauw, Hansen said. The student consensus on the task force, Hansen said, is that hazing at DePauw takes place more frequently on the psychological and emotional level rather than the physical. There are also problems with alcohol-related hazing.

Hansen said he believes that the hotline will give students an additional avenue to report hazing incidents. Currently, students can go to Panhel, IFC, internal hotlines or the administration for help.

The anti-hazing hotline can be reached at (888) 668-4293.