FSU hosts State University System of Florida institutions for hazing prevention summit

Florida State University welcomed more than 90 student affairs professionals from all 12 State University System (SUS) institutions on June 12–13 for the SUS Hazing Prevention Summit. It was FSU’s first time hosting the event.

The summit focused on using organizational change models to prevent hazing and create safer campus environments. Attendees explored strategies, shared best practices and collaborated on cross-campus solutions.

“It is such an honor and privilege to host the other SUS institutions at Florida State University,” said Amy Hecht, FSU vice president for Student Affairs. “With the passing of the Stop Campus Hazing Act, this summit is vitally important. Through collaborative dialogue, we can collectively challenge the status quo and ask how we might cultivate environments where a proactive approach is needed to address and prevent hazing on our campuses.”

FSU partnered with the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery (HECAOD), an academic center at Ohio State University, to develop the content for the summit. HECAOD provides training, tools and assistance to higher education professionals nationwide who work to address collegiate substance misuse.

“Through collaborative dialogue, we can collectively challenge the status quo and ask how we might cultivate environments where a proactive approach is needed to address and prevent hazing on our campuses.”

– FSU Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht

Attendees represented many areas of campus, including fraternity and sorority life, campus recreation, student engagement, student conduct and health promotion services. The institute-style summit, facilitated by FSU Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Freddy Juarez and HECAOD Outreach and Engagement Manager Logan Davis, focused on student profiles, upstream prevention strategies and how to evaluate their current structures on campus to combat hazing.

“The summit gave our colleagues across the SUS an opportunity to spend intentional time developing a plan to address the complexities of hazing prevention,” Juarez said. “This time was enhanced by the collective ingenuity found within the professionals of the SUS. Together, we can create safer communities that work to cultivate student success.”

Through small groups, participants left with shared content and tangible ideas on how to combat campus hazing.

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