Greek Life at BU Fights Hazing Stigma

9/21/2012 (Updated 6:51:03 PM)

(Source: Jason Weinstein)

More than five months after Binghamton University shut down all fraternity and sorority pledging because of hazing complaints, and two days after the school's hazing issues were the focus of a front-page article in the New York Times, dozens of members of BU's Greek Life community held an anti-hazing rally.

"In the New York Times article the fraternity they were talking about was an unrecognized fraternity. We're all recognized fraternities trying to show we do not support hazing," said Paul Viglucci of Tau Alpha Epsilon.

"The problem is one, two, or three organizations are now representing the entire Binghamton University fraternity and sorority life. And that's not good to all of us," said Andrew George of Malik Fraternity Incorporated.

Administrators say a number of measures have been instituted in the wake of recent hazing investigations. These include the university knowing which students are in which organizations.

"We finished all of our investigations and have administrative agreements in place with every organization that includes more oversight for organizations, deferred rush, or not being allowed to rush new members in certain cases. So those are some of the changes in the last two months.

Some students who aren't part of Greek Life and didn't want to go on camera say they feel pledging and hazing go hand-in-hand but that both are voluntary. Another took issue with the Times article because he feels hazing issues aren't any worse at BU than other campuses.

"I think that we're kind of the poster boy of what not to do and I don't think we should be," said Jason Becker of Tau Alpha Epsilon.

"Every time with fraternities and sororities there holds a stereotype for hazing and that's what we want to address, that we don't support it," said Carl Sanon of Kappa Alpha Psi.

According to Binghamton University's website two Greek organizations are still under investigation, two others received a disciplinary warning, and another - Delta Sigma Phi - is on probation. Even members outside those organizations know they face extra scrutiny this year.

"Like he said, among Greek organizations hazing is the assumption but we need to let it be known that it's not always the reality," said Wale Jegede of Kappa Alpha Psi.

****In Vestal, Jason Weinstein, FOX 40 HD News.****