CSU Bakersfield kicked off National Hazing Prevention Week on Mon., Sept. 23, 2019 and held workshops throughout the remainder of the week to help prevent hazing on campus. On Wed., Sept. 25, keynote speaker David Stollman spoke to members of the campus’s Greek communities about the many dangers of hazing at universities and how to prevent it from happening.  

  “Tradition is most often a word used by cowards who fear changing what they know is wrong,” said David Stollman, president of Campus Speak, during the presentation for National Hazing Prevention Week. 

  During the presentation for National Hazing Prevention Week, Stollman gave examples of hazing traditions that have occurred across the United States and the outcome of such dangerous practices. 

  “Parts of it were really heartbreaking to me that it’s a reality for people. We [Gamma Phi Beta] really don’t have to worry about that stuff especially with my sisters. That’s literally the last thought in my mind like,‘Am I going to get hazed?’ I always feel safe with them,” said Julia Gaworski, sophomore. 

  “Everything was positive. It gave me something to do on campus. It brought brotherhood. It taught me how to be a better man, how to be a gentleman, and how to conduct myself as an upstanding citizen,” said Greg Long, senior, and a member of Kappa Sigma.  

  According to Long, he had nothing but good encounters during his early years in the fraternity at CSUB. 

  Maureen Anderson, Greek Life and Student Leadership coordinator, oversees the fraternity and sorority community for the CSUB campus and instills the importance of creating a positive experience for sorority and fraternity members. 

  “We really talk about it in a way of just creating a culture of care. Just care about one another,” said Anderson.              

  While the news has covered dozens of incidents of hazing across schools, there are also countless movies and shows that portray hazing as the norm for college life in a fraternity or sorority.  

  “You have to create that positive atmosphere. Nothing crazy is going to happen. That’s a stereotype perpetuated by Hollywood and you have to break that down. A lot of us are just students who just want to belong to something cool,” said Long.