Hazing

 

Following up on the story from the previous week, The Dickinsonian discussed the continued controversy from the anonymous, anti-Greek publication "Stop the Violence" that accused Dickinson fraternities and sororities of crimes including hazing and even rape. 

The College Club and Peace Action co-sponsored an open forum in ATS to discuss the situation that was attended by over 400 members of the Dickinson community.  

In a letter dated October 27, 1919, President Morgan wrote Dean Meredith concerned about what he termed "class interference," also known as hazing. Such incidence occurred between sophomore and freshmen women in Metzger Hall.  He asked Dean Meredith to remind the women that a similar situation happened thirteen years earlier and that such behavior would not be tolerated. According to Morgan, such activity would result in expulsion.

The STOP THE VIOLENCE publication includes numerous accounts of violence against women.  The accounts often deal with sexual violence and almost all of them include some form of humiliation and embarassment for the women who were invloved. 

Included in the STOP THE VIOLENCE publication, is Dickinson College’s definition of hazing as it appears in the student handbook.  It appears that “the breaking of these rules has become so routine on this campus that most people do not even realize it is against the law.”  On the same page, personal accounts of violent acts, some quite horrific, are included.  The names of all involved are withheld for safety reasons. 

 

A group of unidentified Dickinson students organized themselves and produced a pamphlet in hopes of bringing about awareness and stopping violence on campus.  “Its right here; RIGHT HERE ON THIS CAMPUS,” reads the headline on the first page, and is followed by the mission of the article/pamphlet.  Their demands include the investigation and end to all fraternity and sorority related hazing and ritualized violence and the investigation and prosecution of any act of hazing or ritualized violence by the college.  “Hazing has become painfully obvious,” and “detrimental to the social and intelle

President J. H. Morgan wrote to the Dean of Women, Josephine Meredith, about an instance of "class interference" at Metzger Hall informing her of what her actions should be. The President informs Dean Meredith that an incident of the sophomore and freshman classes terrorizing each other had occurred before, about thirteen years ago, and announced that no such interferences would be allowed. Any young woman who would participate in such events would be considered "Wise to withdraw from the College" because it is in the College's interest to keep up a good reputation.

The 1910 freshmen were tantalized by the upper class by a poster posted by the class of 1909 for the freshmen class. The poster outlines certain rules the incoming freshman class must observe in order to not be teased by the upper classes.

"Hazing at Dickinson" was an article published in the December 1886 Dickinsonian about just that subject. Surprising to the paper, they mention that it is the girls on campus that still participate in hazing. Supposedly one of their methods is to "surprise their victims, bind and gag them" and upset some of the furniture. The paper is so appalled at the female's actions that they call for those who read this article to cut it out and mail it to the females of your household and "instruct them to reform."

The 1907 Microcosm records this fictitious event of the Sophomore class hazing the Freshman, both male and female. The Freshman co-eds had thrown a reception for the male Freshman earlier in the night. When the Freshman, both male and female collectively, had returned to their dorms, they were greeted by the Sophomores upon return. At Lloyd Hall, the Sophomore co-eds had bought fly paper and rough-housed with the girls in general. The entire Sophomore class was then brought before the "Faculty Committee on Discipline" for their actions.