Members of the Greek community who have been confronted with
hazing allegations this week may face criminal charges that did not
exist until this past summer, if hazing did indeed occur at the
seven houses under investigation at the University. On August 18,
2004, the state of Michigan put into effect a law that deems hazing
a crime, punishing members of educational institutions who take
part in the hazing of other individuals.

Under the law, “educational institutions” consist of
both public and private schools ranging from middle schools to
universities located in the state.

In the law’s provisions, hazing is defined as an
intentional or reckless act that knowingly endangers the life of an
individual and is done for the purpose of gaining or maintaining
membership in a group. The person committing the crime can be
acting alone or with a group.

While the latest allegations of hazing involve the Greek
community, the law applies to all groups on campus.

Among the specific activities prosecuted as hazing under the law
are physical brutality — such as whipping, beating and
branding — and forced activity that can harm the individual,
such as sleep deprivation or exposure to the elements.

The consumption of harmful amounts of food, liquids and
alcoholic beverages is also covered by the law, as well as any
activity that causes an individual to commit a crime.

“Most of the time in the past, there was no crime for
hazing,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Brian Mackie.

The University’s Greek community has taken a strong stance
on the new law.

“We are very much in support of the law because hazing is
a very serious issue” said Lauren Herskovic, spokeswoman for
the Panhellenic Association.

She also expressed that the law can only help the Greek
community by making it safer and increasing the amount of people
who become members. Herskovic said in the past many potential
members have been dissuaded from joining because of the perceived
threat of hazing.

Herskovic emphasized the fact that hazing is not accepted in any
form in the Greek community at the University.

Along with defining what hazing is and who and what groups are
subject to punishment, the law also details possible sentences that
those convicted face. If a person is injured, the perpetrator faces
up to 93 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. If the victim is more
seriously injured, the perpetrator will face imprisonment of up to
five years and a $2,500 fine.

If the hazing results in the death of the victim, the
perpetrator faces imprisonment of up to 15 years and a $10,000
fine.

While hazing victims cannot be charged under this new law, they
can still be held accountable to state laws involving other crimes
— for example, activities such as stealing that may have
occurred as a result of hazing. All students are also subject to
University policies. In fact, the Department of Public Safety has
arrested students for criminal activity in the case of hazing
events, said Donica Varner, assistant general counsel to the
University.

“Before August, students would be subjected to the
University’s Statement of Student Rights and Responsibility
only,” Varner said, referring to the code of conduct for
student behavior at the University.

Varner said she hopes this new legislation will help students
realize that there are real criminal consequences involved in
forcing other students to endure hazing. She said she also hopes
they will think twice and decide not to engage in these behaviors
at all.

In response to the law, the University has created a massive
educational campaign this year called “See Through the Haze:
Don’t Haze the Blue.” On Sept. 14, the University began
the campaign by placing advertisements around campus warning
students of the dangers of hazing, said Dana Fair, assistant to
Vice President for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper. The goal of
the campaign is to “educate and inform” the student
community and to dispel the myths about hazing. “Hazing and
the potential for hazing is much broader than one might
think,” Fair said.

Many organizations on campus, including the Department of
Athletics, Office of Greek Life, Michigan Student Assembly,
Residence Hall Association and the Greek Life Councils provided
input and support to the campaign. The campaign will continue
through the 2005-2006 school year.

Although the law is still too new to produce any evidence
regarding its effectiveness, the general consensus is that it will
only be an asset in preventing incidences that threaten the lives
and well-being of students.

The law is “one more tool that will hopefully put an end
to violent crimes due to hazing,” Mackie said.

In a Haze