Posted Friday, October 25, 2019 @ 8:11 AM UCF participated in National Hazing Prevention Week in late September. Students and faculty from campus organizations, athletic associations, and fraternities and sororities came out to support and learn more about the cause. This year’s theme was “Knights Don’t Haze.” “Hosting National Hazing Prevention Week at UCF is designed to bring awareness to hazing, how to recognize sign and symptoms, and how to solve the issue,” said Director of President’s Leadership Council and Associate Director of Lead Scholars Academy, Dr. Germayne Graham. Graham also leads UCF’s hazing prevention and awareness efforts. On September 23, the Hazing Prevention Education Committee presented a banner sponsored by campus organizations that students and faculty were encouraged to sign. Tuesday, September 24 consisted of tabling to share information, pamphlets, and flyers from campus resources such as Green Dot, Care Services, and the Recreation and Wellness Center. Additionally, students and faculty were welcomed to sign a pledge in-person or online. “Signing the pledge indicated that ‘I will not participate in anything that demeans my fellow UCF students and I will speak up if I become aware of anyone doing so or experiences so,” Graham said. On Wednesday, the Hazing Prevention Education Committee hosted two guest speakers, David Bianchi and Michael Levine of Stewart, Tilghman, Fox, Bianchi & Cain, P.A., who were influential in legislative petitioning following the death of a prospective fraternity Florida State University student Andrew Coffey in 2017. Florida Senate Bill 1080, more commonly known as “Andrew’s Law,” went into effect on October 1 and increased the severity of involvement in hazing in the state of Florida. Anyone who is actively associated in orchestrating or perpetrating hazing or anyone who compels another individual to commit can be found guilty of a third-degree felony. On the reverse side, prosecution amnesty may be granted to the first individual to call 911 or bestow assistance during an event of hazing. The Hazing Prevention Education Committee facilitated a silent march that formed in the Student Union and traversed to the Reflection Pond on September 26. Participators paraded signs to end hazing and Miss UCF, Keyara Lyn, presented a personal anecdote through the embodiment of a poem. The week concluded on September 27 with the Hazing Prevention Education Committee providing information at check in to families who participated in Family Weekend. The Hazing Prevention Education Committee recognized that most students and families were aware of hazing, but through each day and associated events, the committee sought to relay the influence of hazing. “It goes deeper than just learning—it’s most importantly about the impact—hazing doesn’t stop after the National Hazing Prevention Week, it happens throughout the entire year,” Graham said. “It’s about getting students to understand that it doesn’t just affect them, it’s not about pranks or having a good time; it impacts their UCF community and their families.” The Hazing Prevention Education Committee was able to make this event happen through donations and support from the Parent & Family Fund. For auxiliary information about hazing and applicable information, visit: https://hazingprevention.org/. Additionally, for information about anti-hazing at UCF, visit: https://antihazing.sdes.ucf.edu/. Back