CORRECTION APPENDED

Members of the College community gathered for a movie screening and held conversations on hazing this week.

The two-day event was initiated by Alexandra C. Dowd ’11, a sister in the Kappa Kappa Theta sorority [SEE CORRECTION BELOW]. Dowd’s home-town neighbor Lynn Gordon “Gordie” Bailey Jr. died of an alcohol overdose during the Chi Psi fraternity rush at the University of Colorado in 2004.

“Gordie was like a brother, a friend. It’s sad to think how easily Gordie’s death could have been avoided,” Dowd said.

Monday night’s movie screening of Haze—sponsored by The Panhellenic Council, which raised funds to purchase rights to the movie in the fall—profiled Bailey’s life and the dangers of binge drinking.

Bailey’s story was brought closer to students on Tuesday evening, when Tim Marchell, director of mental health initiatives at Cornell University, engaged students in a discussion about hazing and past incidents of hazing at Harvard.

“What would you think they were feeling here?” Marcell repeatedly asked the audience, pointing to photos of Speedo-clad final club members washing cars in the winter and of Paul R. Callahan ’80, a former Harvard basketball player who was paralyzed in a 1979 final club initiation.

Those in attendance included sisters belonging to one of the three Harvard sororities sponsoring the event and individuals who belonged to organizations that signed the Hazing Compact, which pledged to create and encourage an atmosphere of social responsibility and respect for human dignity, as well as to recognize the dangers of hazing.

“I’m here representing my team,” said men’s heavyweight rowing team Captain Teddy W. Schreck ’09. “We signed the Hazing Compact, and I think it’s important to be aware of the dangers of hazing.”

The Hazing Compact was drafted by Chris F. Altchek ’09, who said that “hazing is not an athletic problem, it’s not a Greek problem, it’s not a finals club problem—it’s a problem that cuts across all campuses in society.”

The Compact was signed by 25 campus organizations—including 13 varsity sports teams, 6 final clubs, 2 sororities, and 4 other student groups.

The events were sponsored by Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Services, Department of Harvard Athletics, Office of Student Life and Activities, The Freshman Dean’s Office, DAPA, and The Panhellenic Council.

CORRECTION

The Mar. 18 news article "Groups Grapple with 'Haze'" incorrectly stated that Alexandra C. Dowd '11 was a member of the Kappa Kappa Theta sorority. In fact, Dowd is a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.