Augusta University recognizing Hazing Prevention Week

Augusta University will recognize Hazing Prevention Week Oct. 16-20, with multiple events happening throughout the week to provide awareness of the dangers of hazing.

National Hazing Prevention Week is typically recognized the last week of September; however, AU pushed it back to October in order to accommodate the schedule of featured speaker Rae Ann Gruver, the mother of Max Gruver, a student at Louisiana State University who died in 2017 in an alcohol-related hazing incident. Gruver was one of seven young men to die from fraternity hazing that year alone.

The week leads up to the Mr. and Miss Augusta University competition, Greek Picnic and Multicultural Student Engagement’s Unity Talent Show. All of these events highlight one of the four pillars that fraternity and sorority life at Augusta University are founded upon: brother/sisterhood, leadership, service and scholarship.

“I want to make sure we embody all four values in this week of awareness. We are taking a different approach to hazing prevention week from years past in order to make a larger impact and unite fraternity and sorority life here at AU,” said Roberto Aragon, assistant director of Student Programs.

In addition to the events planned, students can donate canned goods or non-perishable food items to the Open Paws Food Pantry throughout the week.

The events during Hazing Prevention week take place on the Summerville and Health Science campuses.