Proposed changes to Virginia law impact sorority culture at James Madison University

Sorority recruitment at James Madison University has come to an end and with new changes being proposed to the Virginia Anti-Hazing Law, the university will regulate hazing more than ever before.

After a hazing-related death occurred at the Virginia Commonwealth University, this dangerous form of initiation has been taken more seriously by the state. The suggested change to the already in place Anti-Hazing Law will make hazing a felony instead of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

JMU has a strict anti-hazing policy that can be found in the student handbook. The university defines hazing as “any behavior or activity that causes emotional distress, physical discomfort, embarrassment, shame, harassment, malicious amusement, or ridicule connected with a club or organization”.

Despite this policy, JMU cannot get involved in incidents if there is no record of a report.

Reports can come from multiple sources including JMU police, Harrisonburg police, a student, or a staff member who is within the organization. These reports then are forwarded to the Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices.

Dr. Wendy Lushbaugh, director of OSARP, handles cases of individual students in organizations that use their membership status to haze new members.

“OSARP would receive a report of an alleged hazing. It is important to note that hazing reports are also dealt with at an organizational level. OSARP only deals with individual behavior. Therefore, OSARP would only receive a hazing report if one of more individuals were identified as allegedly hazing,” Dr. Lushbaugh said. “Most students do take accountability for their behavior when talking with OSARP about it.”

This academic year OSARP has received one alleged hazing policy violation.

A sorority is currently under investigation due to an event that occurred after the organization’s bid day. Sigma Sigma Sigma, commonly known as Tri Sigma, prides themselves on being an anti-hazing sorority. However, an alleged incident occurred that refutes this claim and was reported to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. This incident shocked all of the sisters and has forced them to pause all sorority involvement after a single meeting.

A new member of Tri Sigma was appalled by the actions of her sorority sister. A primary reason that they decided to join this specific organization was due to Tri Sigma’s opposition to hazing.

“I think hazing is just to show you can fit in,” the sorority member said. “I think it’s stupid because the whole point of being in a sorority is that you’re supposed to be a good sister to everyone and not pressure them into anything.”

Marissa Goodman, a health science major at JMU, has not explicitly experienced hazing, but is aware of its prevalence in the university.

“The university should spread more awareness and provide more supervision about what’s going on during the pledge process,” Goodman said.

If anyone believes they have been involved in or witnessed a hazing incident, they can anonymously report the event to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life or to the Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices.