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.
WASHINGTON, DC (PRWEB) March 10, 2005 -- 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.
The
Society of Recovering Sorority Girls is an elite organization devoted to a life
less ordinary. Its founders, Kristina "Morgan" Rose and Deandra "Brooksie"
Brooks firmly believe in applying many of the principles of collegiate Greek
life to improve the leisure activities of young professionals everywhere.
www.recoveringsororitygirls.com
National Panhellenic
Conference Resolutions
http://www.npcwomen.org/policies/p_resolutions.php
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.
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.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/3/prweb215349.htm