Brittany Meding, peer education coordinator, will be hosting a peer education session about hazing today at 7 p.m. in the Buzzard Auditorium.

Meding said she feels hazing is becoming a bigger problem among college-aged students, and she wanted to put on the session to educate students about hazing.

Meding said the program she will be hosting will identify what hazing is. She plans to discuss the myths, facts, state laws and university polices about hazing. The presentation will also include a few videos and how to report hazing if you have experienced it.

Ryan Messinger, the assistant director for health education and promotion, believes there is a stereotype when it comes to hazing.

“Hazing has a reputation of being associated with Greek life,” Messinger said.

Messinger encourages Greeks to attend this program, because they are often looked upon as playing the most influential role in hazing events.

The Greek community has already taken steps to make sure hazing does not happen on campus.

“While it may be seen as a negative, the fraternity and sorority advising community (including campus advisors, chapter advisors, and national organizations) has taken the lead on addressing hazing concerns and educating our students,” Dean Harwood, director of fraternity and sorority programs said.

Harwood, who is a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, said he believes hazing only effects a small number of chapters and students; however, he feels that the media has made it seem like such a bigger issue than it really is within fraternities and sororities.

“The incidents that do happen are very serious and tend to draw a lot of attention, but overall most students are having positive, hazing-free experiences,” Harwood said.

Messinger said he feels many students believe that hazing is a “rite of passage” for membership in organizations.

Messinger understands that hazing is a serious issue.

“It’s not all fun and games, and it should be taken seriously,” Messinger said.

Messinger said he feels he should be the one involved in helping to reduce the amount of hazing incidents. He said that part of his job is to enhance a student’s experience at the university by promoting healthy behavior and practices.

Eastern joined the Bacchus network to help promote healthy lifestyles to students.

The Bacchus network was founded in 1975 as a university and community based network that reaches out to college students and young adults to help them live a healthy and safe lifestyle.

Catherine Bocke, the HERC marketing coordinator, said peer education will have a positive effect on a student’s life.

“Peer education is a great way for students to get involved on campus and promote healthy lifestyles to peers,” Bocke said.

Desiree Morris can be reached at 581-7942 or dnmorris2@eiu.edu.