This article was published in The Daily on January 17, 2024. The article was written by Anna Hull, and all credit and rights belong to her and The Daily.聽
At the beginning of winter quarter, 91探花instituted its new anti-hazing education program,. This mandatory online training expands on existing virtual instruction, with the goal of better fulfilling the regulations set by.
91探花defines hazing as 鈥渁ny act committed as part of a person鈥檚 recruitment 鈥� that is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student.鈥�
This definition is in accordance with Sam鈥檚 Law, the 2022 Washington House bill that requires anti-hazing education at institutions of higher education, provides amnesty to reporters of hazing, and further regulates university Greek communities. The law is named in memory of Sam Martinez, a Washington State University freshman who died of alcohol poisoning while rushing a fraternity.
Prior to fall quarter, students, faculty, and administration were required to watch an educational anti-hazing video. The Greek community also has its own set of anti-hazing instruction. UW鈥檚 original training emerged as an immediate response to Sam鈥檚 Law, but the office of Community Standards & Student Conduct (CSSC) aimed to better fulfill the goals of the law through an interactive, educational, and robust program.
鈥淲e really wanted to get this program up and get it going for students to have this information to where they can really engage with the content,鈥� hazing prevention and response specialist for CSSC, Alex Salemme, said. 鈥淭hey can engage with the curriculum, learn from the curriculum, and then they can do a self reflection of, 鈥業s this going on in my organization or not?鈥欌��
UW鈥檚 administration hopes to make the school environment safe and fulfilling for students. Ed Mirecki, the director of CSSC, explains that the three tenets of the new anti-hazing training are awareness, empowerment, and taking action.
Both Salemme and Mirecki encourage individuals who have witnessed or experienced hazing to report it to CSSC, and remind students that they can file a report anonymously, that they are protected due to Sam鈥檚 Law, and that CSSC is available simply for comfort and consultation.
鈥淲e’re always there as a resource, to talk through what’s going on, and help support whoever is involved in that situation,鈥� Mirecki said. 鈥淲e want people to contact us, to help us understand what’s going on. And we can figure out the best pathway for them.鈥�
Students who don鈥檛 complete their training by March 1 face the possibility of a registration hold on spring quarter classes. Mirecki notes that this hold system will likely operate similar to theTitle IX – Husky Prevention & Responsecourse.
鈥淵ou’ve worked so hard to get here, this should be a great experience,鈥� Mirecki said. 鈥淭his should be everything that people expect from being a 91探花 student. Why would we do something that demoralizes people?鈥�
Reach reporter Anna Hull at聽news@dailyuw.com. X: @annadailyuw