HazingPrevention.Org Announces NHPW Digital Pix & Composites Photo Contest Results

HazingPrevention.Org announces the results of the NHPW Digital Pix & Composites Photo Contest. The Photo Contest theme challenged individuals to identify how they empower others to prevent hazing. Photos were judged based upon the following criteria: composition, depiction of the event described, diversity represented, and uniqueness or appropriateness of the event displayed. Digital Pix sponsored the awards for the 2011 contest winners.

Recipients of the 2011 Digital Pix NHPW Photo Contest are:

1st Place: Brittany Johnson from Northern Arizona University Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol. During National Hazing Prevention Week, Northern Arizona University (NAU) Greek students reached out to the NAU community to spread awareness about the physical and psychological effects of hazing on college campuses across the U.S. Throughout the week, Greek students, members of the Residence Hall Association (RHA), and members of Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol (GAMMA) encouraged student and faculty contributions to a community art project entitled “Stop The Haze.” By tabling at the University Union, Greek and RHA members had students cover their hands with paint and place their handprints on a large 6’x7.5’ canvas that stated, “Hazing is an extraordinary activity that becomes perversely ordinary as those who engage in it grow desensitized to its inhumanity.” Each hand-print symbolized that student, staff, or faculty member’s commitment to living an anti-hazing lifestyle. The students also passed out over 600 blue “Stop The Haze” bracelets to the community and spoke about their stances against hazing to the community. At the close of the week, the art project was dedicated to NAU and then hung up in the University Union as a constant reminder for the community that hazing is not tolerated on the NAU campus.

2nd Place: Ari Mason from Delta Zeta Sorority at University of Connecticut. Mason took the photo, along with several others, as part of UConn’s annual anti-hazing photo campaign. The photo project was part of UConn’s observance of National Hazing Prevention Week, and involved members of all chapters in all councils on campus. Fraternity and sorority members, bearing serious expressions, wore letters and put Band-Aids on their cheeks that read “hazing hurts.” This campaign sought to emphasize the physical, mental, and emotional effects of hazing, and to convey the message that hazing has a negative impact on fraternity men and sorority women alike. The photos were blown up and printed on canvas posters with captions written across the bottom. The campaign was a huge success and received very positive feedback from the student body. The students posted are Avery Yoshimine of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Alex Addabbo of Delta Gamma.

3rd Place: Stephanie Waits, San Diego State University. Thephoto was taken at GAMMA SDSU’s tabling efforts during National Hazing Prevention Week. GAMMA set up a table during our weekly farmers market hoping to reach as many students as possible. The students had anti-hazing pledges for New Members and Active Members to sign stating that they would not tolerate being hazed and would not haze others. GAMMA’s goal was to reach members of student organizations, athletic teams, bands, sororities and fraternities — any organization that might deal with hazing. Once people signed their pledges, the pages were hung up to show the participation and make a visual statement to the student body. A large poster paper was available and encouraged students to write hazing alternatives that would still provide team building and show new member commitment. After students signed pledges and participated in the activity, students gave away sun glasses that had the tagline, “See Thru The Haze” printed on the side. Additionally, quarter sheet cards were printed with the tagline and a fact about hazing on one side, and on the other side a printed “hazing flowchart” to help other students determine if their organization’s activities would be considered hazing. A few hundred students stopped by the table and conversations about hazing were started with students from many different organizations that all deal with hazing.

The mission of HazingPrevention.Org is to empower people to prevent hazing. The organization develops its own programs and harnesses external resources in an effort to diminish society’s tolerance of hazing and inspire everyone’s belief in their own ability to prevent and stand up to hazing.

Hazing is defined as any action taken or situation created intentionally, whether on or off campus, that causes embarrassment, harassment or ridicule, and has the potential for mental or physical harm. Actions can fall under the hazing definition even if victims agree to participate, and even if they are no longer considered “new” members of a team or organization.

For more information, visit www.HazingPrevention.Org.