Tri Sigma Blog The official blog of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority

“Founders of both fraternities and sororities are men and women who came together during extraordinary times and organized against all odds. They weren’t running around campus cleaning apartments or cars to have “pledge” books signed.” – Dani Kloap

For the next 40 days, Tri Sigma will be engaging in a conversation with you and with our inter-fraternal peers and partners. The conversation has not started today, in fact, this conversation has challenged members of the fraternity and sorority community for decades.

The conversation will demonstrate how membership in a values-based organization can find solutions to stop practices that degrade the dignity of others. Our values; wisdom, power, faith, hope and love are public information, part of the connection Tri Sigma women share, and should support the relationships we build.

No matter the age, background, experiences or relationship, we want you to know that you are cared for, respected, and should be treated with dignity. We are women of character, and our character demands that we support a sisterhood rooted in love.

There is no room, and no need for hazing in Tri Sigma, and yet we still confront it. Fraternities and sororities, teams and clubs, with people of all ages and backgrounds still feel the need to haze, justify trivial and belittling traditions, and create environments that are breeding grounds for illegal or unethical behavior. We were designed to lift you up, and so we want to make sure you know, hazing has no place in Tri Sigma.

Danielle Kloap, an alumna and recent Labyrinth Leadership Experience participant, bravely crafted a wonderful response to a recent article in USA Today: College that attempted to infer that hazing was, in fact, wonderful preparation for a professional career. Danielle was quick to respond as a woman of character. From a very compelling section of her editorial,

After talking with others in the Greek community, I realized I shouldn’t be angry at Goldman for his opinion, but instead frustrated with myself and the rest of the Greek community. I realized that these views aren’t the fault of the writer or even the men who provided quotes for the story.

This is our fault. Everyone included in the Greek community is to blame, including me.

What are we all doing wrong that someone truly believes that the benefit of Greek life is being hazed to stand out in the corporate world?

What about all those values we talk about, the true benefits of Greek life? Are we really doing a good job of living those values if others still think hazing is OK or, better yet, that hazing is required? Saying we don’t haze is not enough. We all could do more to dispel this idea that hazing is an acceptable, beneficial practice.”

Let’s take personal responsibility to dispel the myth that hazing is acceptable in any values based or team based environment. It is easy to support solutions to prevent hazing. For 40 days leading up to National Hazing Prevention Week (September 24 – 28, 2012), one commonly heard excuse for hazing will be posted via the Twitter accounts for HazingPrevention.Org (@preventhazing) and Tri Sigma. (@trisigma) Please click here for the daily excuse, and tweet us using the hashtag #40answers to demonstrate your support for this campaign.

We are developing programs, conversation starters and some materials for all members, collegian and alumnae, to share with each other as women of friendship, character, and conduct. The next 40 days should be something quite special.

We’re all in this together. Let’s figure it out.