NEC examining school culture after hazing incident

A recent fraternity hazing incident has left a wake of rumors and emotions on Henniker's New England College campus.
Seven members of Sigma Alpha Beta received burn marks about 7 inches long above their left chest, similar to branding, during an organization ceremony.
Interim Dean of Students Lori Runksmeier was reluctant to say exactly how the college was informed of the incident, but emphasized that what really matters is what NEC does from now on.
"What really matters is that I know when I look around at NEC, that we are not a place where anybody would think it's okay to hurt somebody else," Runksmeier commented.
She added that the college now has to address several questions such as how the school moves forward, how they change organizations to make sure that people know hazing is not okay, and how to change the culture of the college to make sure everybody knows they're looking out for each other. Both the investigations of the Henniker Police Department and NEC Campus Safety are still ongoing.
Henniker Police Chief Tim Russell has suggested that charges could be brought against the students relatively soon, whereas Runksmeier feels the Campus Safety investigation may take longer.
"I think our Safety Department is really careful with any investigation to make sure they do what needs to be done, and they don't rush things," she commented. "I think that's one thing that we do pretty well, is make sure we have a complete picture before we go on, so that everything is fair to everybody."
Representatives from NEC's Campus Safety declined to comment.
There has been some debate among students whether "branding" should constitute as hazing.
"It's their decision if they wanted to be branded. If they didn't say no, then it's their decision and no one should get charged," stated NEC Freshman Nicoline Persechino. NEC Senior Nick Paradis was rumored to be a member of SAB, and was upset about this characterization when he found out. When Paradis was a freshman, he remembers SAB wanted him to rush. He went to a few parties with the members, but ultimately decided not to join.
In reference to the recent hazing incident, Paradis referred to them as primitive tribal gatherings, questioned why they wouldn't just go to a tattoo parlor, and joked that they should have just gotten Lisa Frank stickers together.
"The hazing, I've never understood it. I think everyone in that frat is scared. They're all trying to hide from something," Paradis surmised. "I think it's absolutely pathetic--forced friendship is not a good thing." Runksmeier emphasized that it is not up to NEC to decide what hazing is, they follow the state definition of hazing.
According to the State of New Hampshire, "'Student hazing' means any act directed toward a student, or any coercion or intimidation of a student to act or to participate in or submit to any act, when: (1) Such act is likely or would be perceived by a reasonable person as likely to cause physical or psychological injury to any person; and (2) Such act is a condition of initiation into, admission into, continued membership in or association with any organization."
"It doesn't really matter if it's a tattoo or branding, or not being able to sleep when you want to sleep. It's anything using coercion or intimidation, as far as being part of an organization," Runksmeier highlighted.
New England College Communications Professor William Homestead feels the recent hazing incident can be attributed to ‘group think,’ in which members of a group agree too quickly, and there’s no idea tester.
Famous historical instances of group think include the Nazis, as well as the Bay of Pigs Invasion during JFK’s presidency.
“When I hear of instances of hazing, the first thing that I think of is group think. Who was the idea tester, or where was he? How come someone didn’t stand up and say this is really stupid, we should really think before we haze?” Homestead commented.
Homestead himself has never been in a fraternity, but he notes that students he’s had who have been in fraternities always argue that unless you’re in a one, you don’t understand the bonds of brotherhood.
“I think bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood are beautiful things and I don’t deny that frats and sororities express these bonds in productive ways,” Homestead commented. “However, I’m still concerned that frats and sororities have not learned the lessons of past abuse of pledges due to hazing.”
Thinking of ways NEC could combat group think to reduce instances of hazing, Homestead suggests the school could require that all fraternities and sororities study the psychology of groups and the dynamics of group communication.
“There’s often a lot of pressure to go along with the crowd, or what the majority thinks. Since one of the main goals of universities is to create critical thinkers, the fact that group think takes place on campus, in frats and sororities, is sad and somewhat ironic,” Homestead offered.
Opinions also differ on how the school, and the police, should penalize the students and the fraternity as well.
"I think the school should just leave them alone," Persechino asserts. "It's their decision ... no one should be involved with it except students."
Paradis believes those involved with the incident are still students who belong at NEC, but feels like the fraternity should be banned.
"It just gives our liberal arts school a bad name ... Maybe they've done things in the past that are good for their community, but they must be changing their moral values if they're branding each other," said Paradis.
NEC Professor Regina Bailey feels that these students broke a major rule, and there are consequences for breaking rules.
Bailey hopes to see this incident serve as a deterrent for future hazing cases. In that light, she proposes that the entire Greek community at NEC play a large role in determining what a fair consequence for hazing would be.
“There needs to be consequences to that and perhaps the students should help decide what that consequence should be,” Bailey suggested. “If it’s students agreeing on the consequences, then I think it gives more ownership to that and then it’s not just the college wagging their finger.”
Runksmeier forecasts that after the college's investigation is complete, hearings will be held at the college to determine how the students will be penalized by the school. The college hearings can either be just with the Dean of Students, or they can be with the Judicial Board, which is compromised of students, faculty and staff.
Runksmeier believes the hearings will be J-Board led to ensure that there is a range of people represented and a range of people who have a say in the outcome of the case to ensure they do what's in the best interest of the NEC community.
During the hearing, everybody involved will get their chance to tell their part of the story. Then, the faculty, staff and students will make recommendations to the Dean of Students and he/she can go along with those or change them as he/she sees fit.
"The school is going to have to deal with what happens to the organization, if anything, and what happens to individuals as well." Runksmeier added. "So there'll be two different levels of things that will be going on when the investigation is done."
"When I think about NEC, it's strength is the people. . .who really legitimately care about each other. So I guess that's my concern in this whole deal, is are we really taking care of each other," Runksmeier concluded.