Members of the Greek community at SF State are as fearless as ever, despite a recent rise in media coverage in connection with the hazing that has put California fraternities and sororities under the spotlight of public speculation.

Reported incidents such as the BB gun shooting that injured a Pi Kappa Phi fraternity member on April 8 at UC Berkeley and the Feb. 2 death of Chico State student Matthew Carrington, as a result of water intoxication incurred during Chi Tau fraternity pledging activities, are among the most recent events to gain heavy media coverage.

Students of the SF State Greek community, including Pi Kappa Phi, said that while they understand the importance of recognizing and stopping hazing, they are frustrated over the coverage of the topic and are determined to generate as much positivity as possible on campus and off.

The 28 fraternities and sororities that are part of the SF State Greek community may not have a flawless record stemming from a faculty ban put upon the community from 1950-1980, but no groups have ever faced serious charges.

The only negative press to recently surface about the SF State Greek community concerns allegations made about Sigma Omicron Pi making members hold yoga positions and Lambda Phi Epsilon making members consume revolting concoctions.

These events may or may not have happened, and members of the Greek community who have complete intolerance toward even the most innocently intened of hazing rituals, doubt that any mean-spirited actions could occur in the future that would not be immediately stopped.

“It’s important for people to not compare us with other campuses and trends going on,” said SF State Phi Kappa Tau President Phillip Zarganis.

The Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at SF State is battling this very issue.

Pi Kappa Phi members said they want to make it clear to the public they have had no repercussions in connection with the Berkeley incident, where a 19-year-old student was stripped down to his boxers and allegedly shot 30 times in the chest and arms by Pi Kappa Phi brothers. Although the student required hospitalization, he did not press charges.

“We were shocked and we have close ties with the guys of Pi Kappa Phi at Cal, but we have never seen them haze,” said SF State's Pi Kappa Phi President Evan Thomas. “We haven't talked to them since it happened, and we want to take a step back from this.

‘We've talked about it by e-mail, but because we've never hazed, none of what happened has affected us directly.”

Pi Kappa Phi member Will Guerin agreed.

“Hazing is a topic we discuss every semester so it doesn't happen,” Guerin said.

At SF State, if a student is guilty of hazing, they face potential disciplinary actions including expulsion or suspension The California Education Code, which defines hazing as a misdemeanor crime, allows for fines, probation or even jail time.

At Berkeley, Pi Kappa Phi is facing suspension or interim suspension by their national charter group pending an investigation, according to Marcia Riley, director of the office of student life.

Riley said she feels that the Greek community at Berkeley provides a safe and positive environment for students, but this is overlooked by the media.

“We never get media coverage on some of the positive aspects and contributions that the Greek community makes both to the campus and out in the broader community,” Riley said.

Members of SF State fraternities said they felt similarly about the overall national fraternity and sorority coverage.

“News about hazing is tangible and interesting, and people love to look at stereotypes, but hazing doesn't happen as much as people think,” Zarganis said.

Zarganis said he believes SF State fraternities and sororities are especially problem-free due to the campus’ strong regulations. Since 1982, the Fraternity Sorority Council has acted as a coordinating body of representatives who bridge the gap between the university and the Greek community.

“Our school has a small Greek community of fraternities and sororities who are governed by national organization regulations,” Zarganis said. “It’s hard for them to step out of the lines."
Kenny Truong, 21, vice president of the Zeta Chi Epsilon chapter at SF State, agreed.

“Hazing sells,” Truong said. “It’s just one of those things that people want to hear about, but it's not happening here. Why not think about the positive things to do with fraternities and sororities?”

Zarganis and Truong rattled off a slew of positive Greek-related attributes and events that they wish would generate more attention than hazing. Some included last week’s “Greek Week,” where activities included walks for cancer, work with the homeless, giving job connections among fraternity members and formals.

“Being a part of Zeta Chi Epsilon is like a three-unit class,” Truong said. “You have to study and learn a lot.”

Zarganis said in the great scheme of things, despite what is being covered in the media, attitudes come down to how people choose to respond to what they see and hear. There has been very little negativity echoing from the Greek community at SF State.