WSU Hazing Prevention Week | Photo by Marissa Couch | The Wright State Guardian
In compliance with a new Ohio law, Wright State University now requires all students to complete an anti-hazing course in order to get involved on campus. Staff and students reflect on the new requirement.
Hazing laws
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, hazing is an initiation process involving harassment.
Historically associated with Greek-Life organizations, hazing incidents can occur in many different organizations and can be common during the recruitment process according to the national hazing prevention organization.
Many states have laws against hazing. In Ohio, Senate Bill 126 or Collin’s Law, criminalizes hazing and requires all Ohio universities to instate training and education to prevent the practice.
WSU’s course
Wright State has partnered with AliveTek to provide a hazing prevention course to WSU students.
According to Gina Keucher, Program Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life, the free hour-long course is required for all WSU students including College Credit Plus, graduate and medical school students. If students do not complete the course, they will be unable to join any student organization, club, or interest group.
“If you want to do anything on campus, you have to complete it,” Keucher said.
The course will cover topics like what acts count as hazing, penalties for hazing and bystander prevention. Keucher further explained that the course merely needs to be completed and that the course is currently not an annual requirement.
Opinions on the course
Staff
Keucher not only directs Greek Life on campus but has also coordinates the University’s anti-hazing efforts. She attributes her drive to a personal brush with a hazing incident and hopes that education and courses will stop hazing occurrences.
“If we empower the students who might be hazed, it’s going to stop,” Keucher said.
Student opinions
This new course adds one more step to getting involved on campus but, instead of seeing the new course requirement as a barrier to involvement, student leaders like Alexia (Lexi) Ricker, who holds leadership positions in University Activities Board and Student Government, feel like the class will actually increase student engagement.
“I think if people truly want to get involved they’ll do it,” Ricker said.
The course can be found on the University’s anti-hazing site. Students will use their university credentials to log into the course. Staff and faculty will also have to complete an anti-hazing course. According to Keucher, this course will be available on Aug. 1.
Students, staff and faculty must complete the course by Aug. 21.
