This article was published in The Daily on January 17, 2024. The article was written by Anna Hull, and all credit and rights belong to her and The Daily.
At the beginning of winter quarter, UW instituted its new anti-hazing education program,Hazing Prevention 101 – College Edition. This mandatory online training expands on existing virtual instruction, with the goal of better fulfilling the regulations set bySam’s Law (H.B. 1751).
UW defines hazing as “any act committed as part of a person’s recruitment … that is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student.”
This definition is in accordance with Sam’s Law, the 2022 Washington House bill that requires anti-hazing education at institutions of higher education, provides amnesty to reporters of hazing, and further regulates university Greek communities. The law is named in memory of Sam Martinez, a Washington State University freshman who died of alcohol poisoning while rushing a fraternity.
Prior to fall quarter, students, faculty, and administration were required to watch an educational anti-hazing video. The Greek community also has its own set of anti-hazing instruction. UW’s original training emerged as an immediate response to Sam’s Law, but the office of Community Standards & Student Conduct (CSSC) aimed to better fulfill the goals of the law through an interactive, educational, and robust program.
“We really wanted to get this program up and get it going for students to have this information to where they can really engage with the content,” hazing prevention and response specialist for CSSC, Alex Salemme, said. “They can engage with the curriculum, learn from the curriculum, and then they can do a self reflection of, ‘Is this going on in my organization or not?’”
UW’s administration hopes to make the school environment safe and fulfilling for students. Ed Mirecki, the director of CSSC, explains that the three tenets of the new anti-hazing training are awareness, empowerment, and taking action.
Both Salemme and Mirecki encourage individuals who have witnessed or experienced hazing to report it to CSSC, and remind students that they can file a report anonymously, that they are protected due to Sam’s Law, and that CSSC is available simply for comfort and consultation.
“We’re always there as a resource, to talk through what’s going on, and help support whoever is involved in that situation,” Mirecki said. “We want people to contact us, to help us understand what’s going on. And we can figure out the best pathway for them.”
Students who don’t complete their training by March 1 face the possibility of a registration hold on spring quarter classes. Mirecki notes that this hold system will likely operate similar to theTitle IX – Husky Prevention & Responsecourse.
“You’ve worked so hard to get here, this should be a great experience,” Mirecki said. “This should be everything that people expect from being a University of Washington student. Why would we do something that demoralizes people?”
Reach reporter Anna Hull at news@dailyuw.com. X: @annadailyuw