Reacts to Al Roker Investigates: The Horrors of Hazing

The Society of Recovering Sorority Girls

Society of Recovering Sorority Girls Reacts to Al Roker Investigates: The Horrors of Hazing

The Society of Recovering Sorority Girls (RSG), through its founders, Kristina “Morgan” Rose and Deandra “Brooksie” Brooks, denounced the recent special “Al Roker Investigates: The Horrors of Hazing” for its biased investigation. The program aired on Court TV on March 3.

“I’m really disappointed that the program limited its investigation to only the problems associated with a small segment of collegiate Greek life,” said Morgan. “Many of the national sororities began officially adopting policies which prohibit hazing in the 1960’s, and the National Panhellenic Conference urges its member groups to affirm their policies denouncing hazing.”

The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), umbrella organization for 26 women's fraternities and sororities,promotes values, education, leadership, friendships, cooperation and citizenship through its members. NPC groups are on 620 university campuses and represent a total of 3.6 million sorority women, collegiate and alumnae, worldwide.

According to RSG, the Court TV program focused on the story of two female Phi Phi Phi pledges at Loyola University and the death of Benjamin Klein a member of Zeta Beta Tau at Alfred University. Norm Pollard, the Director of Alfred University’s Counseling and Student Development Center, was interviewed throughout the hour-long special as an expert on hazing. There was no attempt to represent the policies or activities dedicated to preventing hazing that are common throughout all NPC groups.

“I was particularly offended by the segment’s use of the term ‘hazing rituals’. A ritual is a sanctioned part of the life of a Greek organization, hazing is not. Hazing, when it occurs, is an incident which should be addressed by both the university law enforcement and the affected organization’s national officers,” added Brooksie.

“The program’s conclusion that most hazing goes unpunished was flat out wrong,” stated Morgan. Hazing incidents most often result in the loss of an organization’s charter or university recognition and individuals who commit acts of hazing are typically forced to resign their membership."

“Based on the information presented during the program about Loyola’s Tri Phi Chapter, described as an “off campus” sorority and not recognized by the university, it appears the school had already exacted this punishment,” said Morgan.

“This show did nothing but perpetuate a negative stereotype about Greek life. It presented a one-sided view of the hazing issue and failed to discuss the numerous ways Greek organizations are educating their members and working to eradicate all hazing incidents. Instead of presenting both sides of the story, the program took a cheap shot at the Greek community. Many of us find it offensive,” concluded Brooksie.

1997, 1979, 1977, 1969 - Hazing

Hazing is defined as any action or situation with or without consent which recklessly, intentionally or unintentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or creates risk of injury, or causes discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule or which willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a chapter or colony of an NPC member fraternity. All member groups will affirm their policies denouncing hazing and inform their membership of this NPC position denouncing hazing through mailings and through their inter/national magazines.

2001 - Alcohol-Free Social Activities with Student Organizations

The National Panhellenic Conference and its member groups will continue to promote and encourage chapters to have non-alcoholic events with student organizations as well as men's fraternity chapters.

2001 - Position in support of Alcohol-Free Activities in Fraternity Facilities

The National Panhellenic Conference encourages all College Panhellenics to adopt a position in support of alcohol-free social activities in fraternity facilities.

2000 - National Alcohol Screening Day

The National Panhellenic Conference will sponsor, in kind, the National Alcohol Screening Day for the years 2001, 2002, and 2003, through mailings to those campuses where College Panhellenics are established, encouraging all members of NPC groups on those campuses to participate in the program.

1998 - Alcohol-Free Social Activities

That the NPC member fraternities will continue to support the efforts toward alcohol-free housing in men's facilities with the goal being that the individual NPC member fraternities will work toward co-sponsoring only alcohol-free functions in men's fraternity facilities by the fall term of 2000.

1997 - Alcohol-Free Facility

Member groups will encourage their collegiate chapters to co-host non-alcoholic events with men's fraternities that have implemented a substance-free housing policy. NPC member groups will publicize their support for the substance-free housing movement and encourage other national fraternities to join this important initiative.

National Panhellenic Confernce supports National Hazing Prevention Week, September 26-30, 2005.

National Panhellenic Conference’s Something of Value, a values-based risk management program teaches sorority women to identify risky behaviors and work together to develop strategies to change these behaviors. Something of Value was presented on 24 college campuses and at one regional conference during the 2003-2004 academic year.

National Panhellenic Conference is a co-sponsor for the National Hazing Research Initiative.