Brown and White Vol. 119 no. 10

              Cornell dean cites hazing dangers, consequences
By AUBREY DETTERLINE
As part of Lehigh’s efforts to illustrate the true ef­fects of hazing during National Hazing Prevention Week, Travis Apgar, associate dean of students at Cor­nell University, spoke Tuesday about his own trauma­tizing hazing experiences during his college years.
His speech, “Hazing: The Fallout,” showed the dra­matic effects hazing can have on college students.
Initially, Apgar said it is very important to under­stand the definition of hazing. It typically involves an activity expected of people joining a group that humili­ates, degrades, harasses or abuses them physically or mentally, regardless of their willingness to participate.
“Unfortunately, I do think that movies can desensi­tize us a little, twisting our thoughts on hazing,” Apgar said. “They tend to blur the line between appropriate and not appropriate, fun and not fun.”
He also said hazing does not just occur within Greek life. Varsity athletes commonly haze younger players, as well. Statistics show athletes may even haze more than those involved in Greek Life.
Apgar exposed the sad truth.
“As college students, you are under extreme pres­sure for people to like you,” he said. “Peer pressure is a big part of your life, whether you want to admit it or not. Some kids will do anything to fit in.”
He went on to show photographs of students who have died from hazing encounters all over the country.
Apgar said these occurrences, unfortunately, happen all the time.
“These are all students – just like you,” he said. “These students all lost their lives as part of an initia­tion to a varsity sport, fraternity or sorority.”
Apgar discussed the series of events that led to the death of a college freshman.
Apgar said that as part of Gordie Bailey’s initiation to a fraternity at the University of Colorado, all of the pledges were taken to a clearing in the Rocky Moun­tains. They were given extreme amounts of alcohol and were told, “You don’t have to drink this, but it’s an ongoing tradition. Each and every brother before you has done this.”
“By the time the boys made it back to the house, [Bailey] was drunk,” he said.
Shortly after arriving, he passed out.
“Of course, when he passed out, the fraternity broth­ers took to drawing all over him – obscenities all over his body,” Apgar said. “But at some point, one of the boys realized ‘this kid’s not breathing.’ ”
Bailey died with his “brothers” drawing all over him, making a joke of the effects that hazing had pro­See
HAZING Page 3
College Board, MTV team up to ease college affordability
By JOHANA BHUIYAN
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, MTV and College Board of­ficials presented students with the op­portunity to reinvent the financial aid process and facilitate college affordabil­ity in a phone conference with college journalists on Monday.
Jason Rzepka, vice president of MTV Public Affairs, and Gaston Caper­ton, president of the College Board, discussed the importance of attending and completing programs of higher education and the detrimental effect col­lege affordability has on accessing this education.
Rzepka highlighted MTV’s commit­ment to help more students graduate from college.
“The first pinpoint we’re targeting is college affordability,” he said.
In an effort to “use MTV’s super­powers for good,” Rzepka presented students with the “Get Schooled College Affordability Challenge,” a competition asking students nationwide to create a new digital tool that makes the financial aid process easier.
The finalist will receive a $10,000 prize, as well as $100,000 that will go toward developing the tool, with the help of MTV.
According to Duncan, this compe­tition will significantly contribute to reaching “the North Star of all our edu­cation efforts.”
“As all of you know [President] Barack Obama has set an ambitious goal for the country,” Duncan said. “He wants America to again have the highest proportion of college gradu­ates in the world. To get there we need an all-hands-on-deck approach, from preparing students for college and help­ing them to not just go, but to complete
B&W photo by MATT BREITEL
Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and Delta Chi fraternity joined The Goosey Gander to raise proceeds for The V Foundation for Cancer Research on Wednesday. Left to right: Tony Silvoy, owner of the Goose; Celinda Stanton, ‘11; Emily Rojer, ‘11; and Reid Mulvihill, ‘12.
Slicing for a cause
Vol. 119 No. 10
Friday, October 8, 2010
‘All the Lehigh News First’
THE BROWN AND WHITE
Lehigh University’s Student Newspaper Founded in 1894
SPORTS
Men’s soccer
anticipates Navy
Page 12
ONLINE
Find out when you can get a flu shot
thebrownandwhite.com
‘Antigone’
allures
Page 5
LIFESTYLE
See FINANCIAL Page 3
By JACKIE LYONS
Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity hopes to raise $30,000 in donations this year for the Ameri­can Cancer Society through its Election for Cancer Research, according to event co-chair­men, Kyle Schreiner, ’11, and Matthew Mel­illo, ’11.
The ECR, which began Sunday, is in its 21st year and has raised about $530,000 over past years.
“This is a really great event for Lehigh, since it unites a lot of different organizations under a common goal,” said Jessica Fromm, ’12, a candidate representing Student Senate.
A new addition to the election’s events is the Family Weekend 5K Run/Walk. This will take place at the cross country course on Goodman Campus on Sunday Oct. 17 at 10 a.m.
“They’ve been doing the run for a few years now, and we just partnered up with them,” said Schreiner, a former candidate. “But it’s usually less than 100 people. This year, we’re shooting for 300 or so. We’re going to split the dona­tions between the ACS and Victory House.”
In the ECR, various organizations choose an individual to represent them and run as a candidate. Each dollar donated in the individu­al’s name counts as a vote for them.
Whichever candidate has the most “votes” at the end of the voting period wins the elec­tion. Top fundraising candidates will receive prizes.
All of the proceeds from the election will be donated to the ACS for cancer research.
“It is really easy to find someone you know that is connected to this disease, and I wanted to help bring awareness to the Lehigh com­munity,” said Jarred Barnes, ’13, a candidate
See CANCER Page 2
Sig Ep to join in annual fight against cancer