Last week, the College Panhellenic Council, which is the governing body for The University of Southern Mississippi’s eight National Panhellenic Council sororities, participated in National Hazing Prevention Week by promoting the campaign on social media each day.

Elise Seale, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, serves as vice president of risk management on CPC’s executive board and discussed the event.

“I think National Hazing Prevention Week is a great time to remind each chapter of the opportunities they have to welcome their new members without the threat of hazing,” Seale said. “We want these new members to feel comfortable in their new organizations, and our social media campaign throughout the week emphasized that hazing is not an effective or acceptable way to welcome new members.”

On Monday, CPC promoted an online anti-hazing pledge on Facebook by encouraging sorority members to sign it on HazingPrevention.org.

The pledge was to report and prevent any known hazing before or as it occurs and to spread awareness about hazing.

On Tuesday, the focus was on debunking hazing myths. CPC tweeted about several common misgivings about the harms of hazing, including “hazing builds unity and character,” “hazing is okay as long as it is nonviolent and non- dangerous” and “women are not involved in men’s hazing.”

On Wednesday, CPC posted links on both Facebook and Twitter to a short documentary called “We Don’t Haze,” which brings to light truths about hazing in today’s world, both within and outside of Greek Life.

On Thursday, CPC hosted a trivia game on Twitter regarding hazing policies specific to Southern Miss’ Greek system.

They also held a roundtable with new member educators and risk management chairs to review hazing policies.

In addition, the standards and risk management chairs will be doing a preventative online course so that they will be prepared to prevent hazing and handle hazing incidents within their individual chapters should such incidents arise.

On Friday, CPC finished off Hazing Prevention Week by tabling at the fountain from 12:30 until 2:30. Members had a sheet and different colored paint for people to add their handprints as part of the “These Hands Don’t Haze” campaign.

In addition to the council as a whole promoting hazing awareness and prevention, each individual chapter designed graphics and provided member testimonies to show their support of the week’s purpose on social media.

Amanda Ladner serves as vice president of public relations on the CPC executive board and helped market the campaign on social media.

“We, as sorority women, cannot truly live out the values of our ritual if we create an environment where respect is forced rather than earned,” Ladner said. “Our council is supportive of each other both as individuals and chapters, and it’s encouraging to see the positive feedback and support of this week by each of our eight sororities on campus.”

For more information on hazing prevention and the “These Hands Don’t Haze” campaign, visit Southern Miss CPC’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.