Nicholls has strict policies against hazing

Nicholls State University follows the laws of the University of Louisiana System in relation to hazing.

There are new hazing laws in Louisiana that came as a result of Max Gruver’s death at Louisiana State University.

All Greek life organizations on the Nicholls campus had a mandatory risk management meeting that covered the policies of the University of Louisiana that Nicholls follows to prevent hazing.

This training is put on by the university for all Greek life, but some sororities and fraternities may have their own separate hazing training required by their national chapter.

“At the risk management meeting, here that we conduct on our campus, all of the members are given the policy on hazing,” David Ford, coordinator of Greek life, said.

Louisiana is one of the few states that has direct hazing laws that are set because of hazing incidents.

Nicole Smith, nursing sophomore from Houma and member of Sigma Sigma Sigma, said she goes through the university required training on hazing and does another online training for her sorority.

“And you can’t get into any socials or any events without doing it,” Smith said.

The athletics department also has a strict policy on hazing within its handbook.

“Our policy is stated in our student-athlete handbook and the first line is that hazing is absolutely not permitted or tolerated inside the department of athletics,” Matt Roan, athletics director, said.

The university takes any allegation on hazing seriously, and any mentions of hazing will be investigated. The university, in both Greek life and athletics, has not faced any serious allegations of hazing in recent years.

“One thing that we encourage, that if someone hears allegations of hazing, or if they’re being hazed, or anything along those lines, to report it,” Ford said.