Author: Sant Kumar
This fall, for the first time, the Office of Student Life mandated three club training sessions – Event Planning, Treasurer Training and Hazing Training – for all student clubs. If campus clubs did not attend these training sessions, they would be subject to potential administrative suspension for the entire semester and the freezing of their accounts.
In order to raise awareness about hazing among students who may not be participants in Greek Life and Athletics, which have experienced hazing in the past, the OSL decided to mandate Hazing Training for all clubs.
In 2002, ATO pledge Greg Davis ’05 died in a hazing-related incident. “Hazing has long been associated with Greek organizations and athletic teams, but members of any club can be subject to hazing,” Assistant Dean of Students Tamara Rice said. “We just wanted to get the word out and make sure people know what it is and how to prevent it.”
The Hazing Training was designed to help clubs learn about the dangers of hazing students through a four-hour meeting. Rice said, “Overall, I would say the goal of the hazing portion was to inform students about what constitutes hazing and how to report it.” Students were informed as to how to respond to someone who has been hazed and where to report the incident. Hazing was also defined and students were informed of the different types of hazing and the dangers involved.
According to the OSL, eight clubs were suspended and had their funds frozen for the remainder of the semester because they didn’t attend the training. However, Assistant Director of Student Life Justin Gerboc said that suspended clubs can write a letter to Rice to appeal the suspension, which Oxy’s literary publication, Steez, has successfully done.
Although the training informed students about the dangers of hazing and raised awareness about it, some clubs do not feel that OSL communicated the consequences of not attending the sessions clearly. President of Steez, Anahid Yahjian (junior) said, “I recognize the merit of the meetings they set up but I’m concerned about the results of their efforts.”
She believes that the new mandatory trainings are an example of the need to improve communication between the OSL and the student clubs it administers. “[Steez] wasn’t even informed of the suspension until weeks later,” she said. “I agree with the new policies, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to shut down the club for [the] semester.” But, she added, “I’m not sure whose fault [it] is.”
Margaret Gabuchian (sophomore), who represented Pulse at the training, disagreed and said, “Club training this year was very efficiently organized.”
The OSL will review the overall training process. “We do look at club training, and see what needs to be changed,” Rice said. “In spring there will be another training session, but I don’t anticipate any changes.”
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