The International Civil Rights Center and Museum along with N.C. A&T held a program on Saturday entitled, ‘Hazing: A Membership Ritual or Human Rights Issue?’

The International Civil Rights Center and Museum along with N.C. A&T held a program on Saturday entitled, ‘Hazing: A Membership Ritual or Human Rights Issue?’ This program was a part of the In the News: Headlines and Headliners, a monthly current events forum that is funded by American Express Philanthropy.

The programs moderator, Sheeka Strickland, a reporter/anchor for Fox 8 News and WGHP, guided the main topics of discussion, which included the dangers of hazing to society, the various types of hazing, the pattern of violence, and media technology involvement.

A group of panelists were present to address the topic of hazing, give their own definitions, views and opinions.

Panelist Judy Rashid, Associate vice-chancellor for students and dean of students here at A&T said, “There is a distinctive difference between initiation or intake, and hazing. Hazing is a crime, it is a criminal act, and it is not a right of passage.”

Others on the panel were: Leigh Hebbard – director of activities, athletics, and driver’s education for Guilford County Schools, Sharon Cook – A&T’s director of the social work program, Detective E.L. Cuthbertson of the Greensboro Police Department, Alexandra Marchesano – director of campus activities and programs at UNCG, and A&T graduate student John Hunt III.

Hunt pointed out that hazing is not limited to college campuses or athletics and organizations, but also is present in high school, the military and in the work force.

Hazing is defined as acts of physical and mental abuse. It may function as part of initiation ritual into a secret society, military unit, athletic team, fraternity or sorority, and gang. Hazing in non-initiation contexts has also been seen as acts of bullying and intimidation, particularly against “outsiders.”

“Long term effects of hazing are physical and sociological,” said Cook.

People who engage in hazing know right from wrong and the tragedy is that knowledge of right and wrong is discredited because of acceptance and the power differential that is tied to hazing.

Power differential explained by Cook, is groups of people that have varying levels of power.

“I feel as I can do this to you because of my level of power and once you get to my level what do you decide to do with the power?”

One of the biggest questions of the night was “Who and what is to blame for the continuing act of hazing?” Another was “what is the solution to fix the problem of hazing that has spread over decades and centuries?”

Panelists expressed that generations of tradition and mainstream media were to blame for the continuing acts of hazing.

They also gave suggestions of solutions to fix the problem such as to educate, have candid conversation, watch subliminal seduction, and for adults to listen to the young people who are actually emerged in the situations.

The International Civil Rights Center and Museum’s next event will be a Justice Rally for Trayvon Martin with speakers, spoken word, and music.

It will be held in the American Express Auditorium Friday, March 30 from 6:00- 8:00 p.m.

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• Symone Kidd, Contributor