One man who experienced hazing in college told his story to students to raise awareness during National Hazing Prevention Week.In his speech titled “Hazed and Confused,” Erle Morring recalled his fraternity experience and the subsequent deaths of two of his fraternity’s pledges.

As a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity at Auburn University, Morring said he was hazed on a regular basis. Morring said he holds these hazing rituals responsible for his friends’ deaths and tells his story to college campuses.

“My talk is not a talk where I speak on rules and regulations,” Morring said. “I’m simply saying, ‘Hey, this is what we did and this is what happened.'”

Morring is a part of TCU’s National Hazing Prevention Week program that takes place every year.

He said hazing is not just a Greek issue but a societal issue that can even follow people into the business world.

“It’s at the corporate level, it’s at the business level, it’s fraternities and sororities and athletic organizations,” Morrig said. “It’s even a part of ‘Survivor’ on TV.”

Sarah Williamson, assistant director of fraternity and sorority life, said the week is given to spread the awareness of hazing that can be a problem not only in Greek life, but with all organizations and groups.

Sigma Phi Epsilon president, Clayton Simons, said it was important for TCU students to become aware about hazing even though he had never heard of any hazing on the TCU campus.

“As far as Sig Ep goes, we run a balanced-man program which means there is absolutely no hazing,” said Simons, a junior entrepreneurial management major.

Emily Baxter, an interior design major and member of the Delta Gamma sorority, said she had never heard of hazing at TCU but still thought it was important for students to hear about its dangers.

Fifty percent of each fraternity and sorority chapter were required to attend the event, but most Greek organizations encouraged all to come.

Assistant dean of Campus Life, James Parker, said the reason for the 50 percent attendance requirement from fraternities and sororities was to inform as many as possible without interfering with too many students’ mid-week obligations.

BY THE NUMBERS
82%
of deaths from hazing involve alcohol.
44
states have anti-hazing laws.
80
hazing-related male deaths have been recorded since Jan. 1, 2005.
6
hazing-related female deaths have been recorded since Jan. 1, 2005.

“Our hope is that with the week we’re having, with the variety of activities we’re having, that it will impact 100 percent,” Parker said.

Polly Niccoli, a sophomore Pi Beta Phi, said the events were mandatory for her sorority.

Niccoli said she thought it was a good thing that the event was required because it helps everyone in her sorority stay on the same page.