Months after CSU Northridge student Armando Villa was pronounced dead as the result of what was concluded to be a “hazing incident,” CSUN completely shut down pledge activity for not only Pi Kappa Phi, but the entire Greek system, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“It is my unfortunate duty to notify you that the university has learned of yet another instance of possible hazing,” wrote William Watkins, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “I am directing that all pledge activities immediately cease and desist.”
In doing so, Watkins completely overstepped his boundaries. There is no need for school administration to police this sort of activity. There are already federal laws in place that ban hazing of any kind, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has already started their investigation on the issue.
Second, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity had already voted in favor of shutting down the CSUN chapter. Any punishment to the rest of the Greek system seems completely unfair, and also shines a negative light on the entire community because of the misguided actions of a single chapter.
“This is an opportunity for them to redefine their culture, to help dismantle the negative, bad reputation that the entire Greek community has gained because of the actions of some who refuse to follow policy,” University President Dianne Harrison told the CSUN Daily Sundial.
Harrison seems to believe that everyone shares her belief that fraternities and sororities are frowned upon across the country. Instead, she should be boasting about how the Greek system at CSUN stresses not only academic excellence, but also the importance of community service and philanthropy.
Greek organizations at CSUN have raised money for charities such as AIDS Walk, the American Heart Association Run and Walk, the Los Angeles Breast Cancer Alliance, Choose Children, Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Children’s Hospital, Children’s Miracle Network, the Special Olympics, Diabetes Walk, the A.S. Children’s Center and CSUN Disabled Students, according to the CSUN web page for prospective fraternity and sorority members.
Eliminating Greek organizations will not magically cause hazing to disappear. There are numerous unfortunate incidents that occur due to hazing that have nothing to do with fraternity or sorority life. ABC News reports that on October 31st, former Florida A&M band member Dante Martin was found guilty in the hazing-related death of Robert Champion, and faces 22 years in prison. If that punishment does not discourage organizational hazing, then what more can be done?
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