SEPT. 6TH IS NATIONAL ANTI-HAZING DAY

            Phi Beta Sigma chapters around the globe will observe the first-ever National Anti-Hazing Day on Thursday, September 6, 2012. The NationalAnti-Hazing Day is apart of a major anti-hazing campaign entitled “LET’S NOT BEAT THE LIFE OUT OF A BEAUTIFUL LEGACY”. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the National Action Network are taking the lead in this effort, aimed at ending the practices of hazing and pledging which have infiltrated Black Greek-lettered organizations.

“We no longer can treat pledging and hazing as a series of isolated and unrelated set of unfortunate incidences,” says Jimmy Hammock, International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. “Phi Beta Sigma has started a movement that will eliminate the culture of hazing. At the end of the day, Sigma’s main objective is to be the leader in destroying this culture, not only within the African American community, but also within the mainstream community.”

Phi Beta Sigma has developed an anti-hazing sensitivity training curriculum, along with a 60-minute video presentation that will be used to train Fraternity members and members of other organizations. The goal is to take this training into schools, colleges and the community at large with three goals in mind: 1) to teach potential organization members the proper way to conduct membership intake programs which are educational and free of activities that may encourage hazing, 2) teaching potential initiates how to spot activities that constitute hazing, how to report those activities and to whom such activities should be reported, and 3) the distribution of hazing awareness materials, intended to alert families about the dangers of hazing, tell them what they can do to protect family members and to support efforts of colleges and other organizations wanting to eradicate the culture of hazing in their respective settings. These materials are currently available at no charge to all organizations by checking the Phi Beta Sigma website at www.pbs1914.org.

On National Anti-Hazing Day, Sigma chapters, Black Greek-lettered organizations and organizations all over are encouraged to host sensitivity training workshops on campuses using the newly developed anti-hazing sensitivity training curriculum material. Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority chapters are encouraged to join International Presidents Jimmy Hammock and Mary B. Wright on the Anti-Hazing Town Hall Conference Call on Thursday, August 30th at 8:00 p.m. (EST) to prepare for National Anti-Hazing Day. 

Jonathan A. Mason, Sr., International First Vice President and Task Force Chairman, says “Phi Beta Sigma has taking the time to produce these anti hazing sensitivity training materials for our chapters and for other organizations that are committed to ending the culture of hazing. We are encouraging you to download them today and get prepared to conduct training in your local communities.”

Joining the Sigmas and Zetas in this effort are a growing coalition of politicians, organizations, social service agencies and institutions, all committed to bringing attention to this critical issue that has affected several historical institutions.

If your organization is interested in joining this critical coalition or for more information regarding Phi Beta Sigma’s Anti-Hazing Campaign, please log onto www.phibetasigma1914.org

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