Alexandria Galtney & Kyle Kidd-Buckner
Staff Writers
The Jackson State University National Pan Hellenic Council (NPHC) hosted their annual NPHC Week in conjunction with Anti-Hazing Prevention Week, focusing on the issue of hazing in the African-American Greek community.
The fraternities and sororities parted ways for the “Brother 2 Brother” forum for male students and “Sister 2 Sister” forum for female students, on Sept. 20 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom A and Senate Chamber.
The “Brother 2 Brother” forum was a panel-styled discussion that was comprised of a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma, Inc., and Iota Phi Theta, Inc. A question presented was, “What are good excuses to why people haze or get hazed?
Eric Hobson of Phi Beta Sigma replied, “Tradition. Most believe that when you have a rich history of fraternity in your family you have no choice but to follow that tradition of hazing and being hazed.”
Jackson State has an Anti-Hazing Policy in place for all students which reads in part: Jackson State University is dedicated to maintaining an environment that promotes academic excellence and the collective responsibility of its community members … Therefore, the university has a zero-tolerance policy for hazing to protect the safety and well-being of all students.
The policy, which can be found in its entirety at http://10.14.12.245/studentlife/files/2014/08/2014-2015-Anti-Hazing-Policy.pdf, also explains that Jackson State University complies with all local, state, and federal laws and upheld its commitment through the University Student Code of Conduct. Participation in hazing subjects the individual or organization to university disciplinary actions and may be punishable by law. .. Organizations or individuals that are found guilty of hazing will result in a sanction of expulsion from the university. Any violation of university policy or state law should be immediately reported to Public Safety (601) 979-2580 and/or the Division of Student Affairs (601) 979-2241.
The “Sister 2 Sister” forum gave women the opportunity to come out and discuss information regarding Greek organization hazing, stereotypes and how to properly show interest in a Greek organization. The panel included Demetrias Williams-Wells of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rosella Houston of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Lynda Hasberry, of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
The night was filled with a little laughter, some girl talk, and a moments of awkward silence as each question was answered.
Hasberry believes the forum was a success.
“I definitely think it did help them learn because a lot of young ladies whether they have Greeks in their family or not, they still have a lot of misconceptions about Greek-dom, and I do think this panel, by bringing each sorority together, definitely shed some light on some of those stereotypes that they may have held for a while and they are getting a chance to be dispelled,” said Hasberry.
The event of the week, “It’s Everyone’s Responsibility,” was held on Sept. 22. Mea Ashley, assistant director of student involvement and Miss JSU 2011-2012, shared her story on hazing and how it affected her life.
“I think it affected my future by allowing me to be able to come back and be an advocate against hazing because I was caught up, I went about it the wrong way, and because I experienced a negative affect of it. Now I can come back with my career and use my experience as a platform to show students that it is not the right thing to do and the way they (Greeks) should go about initiating members without doing it illegally, which is hazing,” said Ashley.
2014 JSU Alumnae, Ashley Norwood, presented her documentary as well that spoke on the black Greek culture at a PWI and how significantly different it was from an HBCU. Norwood’s documentary, “The Fly in the Buttermilk” is available for viewing on Vimeo.
To end the week, on Sept. 23, NPHC President Jacqualyn Stokes, a senior criminal justice major from Canton, Miss. and member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. announced the results of the toiletry drive held from Sept. 20-23. Approximately 1,300 items were collected and will be donated to the Jackson Hinds Mental Illness Home.
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