Proactive Bystanders Needed: How Greek Organizations Can Help Prevent Campus Assaults and Death

Susan Stone, Kristina Supler, and Dayna Hloska, Kohrman Jackson & Krantz, scs@kjk.com & kws@kjk.com

The very nature of Greek life implies that students join fraternities and sororities to form tight bonds. Bonding is why students join, why they stay and what these organizations sell to potential new members. And yet, while the Association of American Universities found in 2016 that 48% of Greek students have witnessed a drunk person heading for a sexual encounter, the same study showed that 77% of those students did nothing. There could be many reason for a students inaction. Some students might fear ruining a friendship or a relationship with another organization on campus. Others might not know what to do, or just want to avoid getting involved.

That’s why more Greek organizations are calling upon members to become “proactive bystanders,” by taking personal responsibility for a situation and intervening to ensure the well-being and safety of others. It’s a concept that could have a prevented recent high-profile incidents impacting fraternities and sororities. Year after year, chapters are being closed for violating university policies. Last year’s hazing death of Timothy Piazza, a pledge at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Penn State University, resulted in the indictment of four members. One was sentenced earlier this month to house arrest, probation, fines and community service after pleading guilty and a permanent ban was placed on the fraternity on campus. Piazza’s death could have been prevented by a proactive bystander.

So how can fraternity and sorority members play the role of proactive bystander?

• Say something when a brother or sister is stumbling upstairs with a girl or guy
• Tell chapter leadership when an assault happens
• Support those in the community speaking up
• Help brothers and sisters find safety
• Call the police/campus security if someone is in danger
• Intervene
• Change the subject if the conversation turns sexist, homophobic or rape-supportive
• Leave with the brothers and sisters you arrived with, or make sure they have a safe way home

Proactive bystander intervention challenges the norms on campuses by encouraging students to speak out and act in situations that can lead to a sexual assault, violence and even death. By “doing,” the culture shifts and campus communities become allies. It should be no surprise that campuses with higher levels of bystander intervention also have a lower level of sexual assaults, physical violence and verbal abuse.

Doing and being a proactive bystander doesn’t make students “uncool” or “a snitch”, it shows how much students care. They may be angry at the moment of intervention, however, they might later be grateful. Greek men and women are powerful enough to change their campus cultures and reduce incidents of sexual assault, verbal abuse, physical violence and relationship abuse when they act as proactive bystanders. Greek students have a responsibility to look out for their brothers and sisters by being aware and preventing potentially harmful situations. The university community is part of the solution, but it starts with Greek life.