How Miami University is fixing hazing issues

What we reported: Three fraternities were suspended for hazing at Miami University this year and multiple others were put on probation after nearly two dozen investigations into hazing, alcohol and drug violations.

With 5,398 students in fraternities and sororities, more than a third of the student body, it was an issue that concerned university officials.

The Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life told the Miami Board of Trustees it's working to fix the fraternity system problems.

"We flipped the switch on our philosophy and how we're developing our students," Jenny Levering, the university's director of the office, said at the Dec. 8 Board of Trustees Meeting.

The university made five major changes:

• There are weekly, instead of monthly, meetings between chapter leaders and staff members from the office of fraternity and sorority life.
• Chapter presidents and council executive board members are now elected in November to complete training before rush, which is three months earlier than last year.
• All new members are required to complete an online hazing prevention course before joining. Aspiring members cannot accept a bid until they complete the course. 
• A new "re‐visioning committee," made up of students, alumni and faculty was created to discuss issues, including hazing and alcohol during rush.
• The Greek Life office will no longer sit in on the university's judicial hearings of fraternities and sororities 

A student-led initiative will enhance membership experience

The Miami University Interfraternity Council, led and governed by student leaders, established a new program that each fraternity chapter must complete in order to be cleared for recruitment.

Chapters leaders must create a new member education plan that addresses hazing and provide a calendar that outlines an hour-by-hour breakdown of different activities happening on each day of recruitment.

The council will also sit down with executive boards to address their chapters' problems, including hazing and alcohol abuse.

"In years past we've skirted these issues... And therein lies our problem," Interfraternity Council President Cameron Snyders said. "We are now holding chapters accountable."

The Interfraternity Council will now impose its own sanctions for chapters that "we don't believe are living up to our standards," Snyders said. Previously, fraternities were only disciplined by the university. 

Violations of IFC policy includes recruitment violations, party registration, security, guest lists and having hard alcohol at a party on campus. The goal is to stop those issues from getting to the university disciplinary level. 

"Last year it was let's sweep it under the rug," Snyders said. "This year we are trying to proactively address these issues... It's a little bit brutal and a little bit in your face, but we need to be that way."

Status of Fraternity Chapters at Miami U.

Beta Theta Pi – Suspended for alcohol abuse and hazing in February 2014; Returning Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 
Pi Kappa Phi – Suspended for hazing, alcohol and dishonesty in April 2016; Returning Spring 2017
Zeta Beta Tau – Suspended for hazing in June 2016; Eligible May of 2018 (pending proposal) 
Sigma Nu – Suspended for hazing in May 2015; Eligible Fall of 2018 (pending proposal)
Phi Kappa Tau – Suspended for unauthorized use of keycards in April 2016; Eligible Fall of 2019 (pending proposal)
Phi Kappa Psi – Suspended for hazing in July 2015 for Eligible Fall of 2019 (pending proposal)