USG candidates share hazing positions

Editor's Note: This is the seventh story in an eight-part series on how the Undergraduate Student Government presidential and vice presidential candidates would deal with specific issues. This story focuses on hazing at the University.

An Interfraternity Council Board of Control investigation into possible hazing policy violations has sparked an interest in fraternity safety at the University. Candidates for USG president and vice president offered a range of opinions and suggestions regarding the sensitive topic of new member initiation.

SAUR and ROBBINS

Organizations have the right to build camaraderie among members, Hank Saur said, although he added that this process does not need to involve hazing.

"Obviously, hazing that causes physical or mental harm is wrong," he said.

If elected, he said he would encourage fraternities to build and highlight positive aspects of camaraderie-building activities.

RUMMEL and CIESLA

USG and IFC should develop a partnership to work to eliminate hazing activities, Blaine Rummel said.

"I look forward to working with the Interfraternity Council in putting a stop to hazing practices," Rummel said.

Activities that should be banned are those which put students in either "physical or emotional danger," he said.

LUBKEMANN and KRAMER

Fraternities and sororities are aware that hazing is illegal in Pennsylvania, said Eryn Kramer, but she said such activities still may occur.

"No one knows what goes on behind closed doors," she said.

Greek organizations know the consequences of these practices, she said. Leaders should keep those policies in mind while initiating new members.

LOCCARINI and PIRROTTA

Hazing regulations should begin within IFC, Darin Loccarini said, adding that the regulations are difficult to enforce because hazing incidents happen behind the scenes.

"It's always been around and it's always going to be around," he said.

Loccarini added that there are already hazing policies in place that need to be enforced.

LANDSBERG and BARBE

Certain types of hazing activities should be allowed at the University, Michael Landsberg said.

"We think hazing should be legalized," Landsberg said, but restricted it to activities that would not harm members.

Landsberg said hazing should be restricted to people putting Jell-O down their pants, as well as dancing to the "Too-Fat Polka" outside of Willard Building.

FAKE and BARRON

Fraternities should look for innovative ways to initiate new members, Thane Fake said.

Encouraging pledges to learn more about the history of the Greek system is one "more intellectually challenging" way Fake said fraternities can educate new members.

Whatever activities fraternities and sororities use to initiate new members, they should not demean the students involved, he said.

DESMOND and POLK

Fraternity members should look for what is in the best interests of other fraternities when dealing with the subject of hazing, John Polk said. People should be willing to take responsibility for their actions, Polk added.

"Responsibility would have to be the key word, and that goes as far as any fraternity-conducted business," Polk said.

COVENER and NIGHTINGALE

The key to dealing with hazing at the University, Jason Covener said, is to ease up on the definition of hazing and have respect for the fraternity community.

"These fraternities are not out, obviously, to hurt their pledges," he said. "Pretty much anything you do to someone can be counted as hazing."

If the definition is reasonable, Covener said more people will be willing to comply, instead of ignore, the rules.

BOWSER and WILDERS

Wesley Bowser said he does not believe monitoring the initiation practices of Greek organizations is the responsibility of USG.

"That's a policing issue that needs to go on within their houses," he said.

Both IFC and individual fraternities should continue to cooperate in order to eliminate hazing practices which still exist in organizations across campus, Bowser said.