Marian K. Williams: An Opponent of Hazing for Professional & Personal Reasons

Marian K. Williams, newly named chair of the National Panhellenic Conference (an umbrella organization of female fraternities), has agreed to respond to interview questions regarding Greek life in the year 2000.

A graduate of the University of Missouri with a B.S, in Education., Williams has taught physical education at Christian College in Columbia, Missouri; University City Public Schools in University City, Missouri; and most recently in Albuquerque [NM] Public Schools.

Married to Chuck Williams, recently retired after 38 years with theUniversity of New Mexico, Physics Department, she has five grandchildren and three children: Steve, a West Point graduate and a Lt. Colonel at the Pentagon; Debbie (a member of the UNM chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma) now with the Department of Energy; and Ken (Sigma Alpha Epsilon member while at UNM)--now with Smart Money Magazine in financial planning.

Williams herself is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She has worked for the female fraternity since 1969 in such positions as province officer, director of standards, director of field representatives, director of membership, and Fraternity President. She is active in civic affairs, including participation in the Community - Junior League of Albuquerque, Albuquerque Goals Committee, Albuquerque Environmental Concerns Commission, Emergency Medical Services

Board, Board of Directors of Chaparral Girl Scout Council, and UNM Greek Review Board.

Here are her views on hazing and Greek life in 2000:

NUWER: Could you enlighten us what your family learned (about hazing and/or alcohol use) that can help others?

WILLIAMS: Hazing was something that happened to someone else. As a fraternity leader, we [my family and I] talked around our table about those experiences we heard or read about. I educated my son about his ability to say "no" when he went into hell week (for Sigma Alpha Epsilon at the University of New Mexico). The "Hazing builds unity" mentality and "one has to earn his/her membership" are [attitudes that are] so prevalent on campus. The use of alcohol simply magnifies this thinking.

Reality sets in when the phone rings and an undergraduate calls to tell you that your son is hospitalized [because of alcohol] and then reads [you] an attorney-prepared statement attempting to absolve the brothers and the fraternity of any responsibility. It is difficult enough to deal with the chapter members and yet another [difficulty] to get the...national organization to act in a responsible manner.

Families and potential members must be aware that the potential for hazing exists. They should know what the fraternity commitment is to educate, hold members accountable, and what alumni/alumnae presence can be expected during [fraternal] activities. We [the NPC] further recommend alcohol-free housing, along with extensive education on health (and) safety—with emphasis on sisterhood/brotherhood.

NUWER: Will the alcohol-free housing initiatives and alcohol-free co-sponsored events in men’s fraternity facilities be successful?

WILLIAMS: The time to change the culture is past due. These initiatives are giant steps to create the change and need the support of all the men’s and women’s groups, NPC/NIC, and IFC/CPH. Communication, education, accountability, and evaluation will determine their success. In alcohol-free housing, some early statistics have shown an increase in recruitment, fewer police reports, and higher grades [among members].

NUWER: How has the sorority culture changed from your undergraduate days to today?

WILLIAMS: Trends in society and campus culture both have a dramatic effect on sorority life. Life on campus and in society in the 1950s and 1990s are light years apart. I went to the University of Missouri in the late 1950s and life on campus was far more conservative. In loco parentis was in effect and authority or rules were rarely questioned. Responsibility and accountability were expectations [of us]. We came from strong family backgrounds where standards and values were taught. Our support systems were in place. We graduated in four years and few had to work to finance their education. The campus and community environments were safe. Liability was not an issue nor was the presence or dominance of alcohol. We had an abundance of role models as our advisors because women [then] had the time to volunteer their services.

NUWER: What remains constant?

WILLIAMS: The constant is that the purposes of the organizations have not changed. In meeting the needs of today’s members, emphasis in programming areas [women’s issues, alcohol awareness, healthy eating habits, etc.] has had to change. The sphere of influence of the national organization has grown due to the diminished time of today’s volunteer on the local level.

NUWER: What are your goals in your new position as NPC chair?

WILLIAMS: NPC is a conference composed of 26 member groups. These value their sovereignty and yet make decisions for the good of the whole. To that end I want to provide opportunities for educational seminars so that we all have the same information on which to make those decisions. [I want] to give academics top priority [so] that all of our College Panhellenics will be above the All-Women’s [Gradepoint] Average on campus. [I want] to collectively pool our resources to provide joint programming for all of our member chapters. [I want] to design an effective public relations plan which tells the value of women’s fraternities most effectively.

NUWER: Short-term goals?

WILLIAMS: I would like to encourage all 26 member groups and College Panhellenics to take a unified approach to alcohol-free co-sponsored events [beginning in Fall 2000] in men’s fraternity facilities [and/or houses]. [I would like to] encourage College Panhellenics to provide an atmosphere of support where all chapters can succeed on the campus [and] to empower women to set an example for the Greek community.

NUWER: Long-term goals?

WILLIAMS: To work collaboratively with all of the Greek-letter organizations in providing a quality experience for our members and to live by example [so] we are what we say we are.

At present, we work collaboratively with the Association of Fraternity Advisors, the National Interfraternity Conference, the National Panhellenic Council, the NASPA Fraternity/Sorority Network, the NASPA Summit and other organizations which affect our members. With the advent of many of the Greek organizations forming along cultural lines, we need to include them. We belong to a number of organizations—such as the Inter-Association Task Force which talks about alcohol issues. The list is endless and vital to our well being. Not only are alliances important nationally, but our College Panhellenics should be doing this on campus as well.

NUWER: Your own Kappa Kappa Gamma has long fought hazing and yet one chapter that hazes can get more press attention than all the chapters that perform exemplary service. Could you give your views on media handling of sorority incidents—including the recent article on sorority life ("Sorority Girl Secrets" by Evan Wright) published in Rolling Stone Magazine (10/14/99).

WILLIAMS: There is a big difference in reporting an incident with honesty and fairness to both sides and one which "sensationalizes" the event. Rarely does one read of the action taken internally by the undergraduate chapter members against the perpetrators—or the action taken by the national organization and all of the followup to ensure the safety and well being of members. The Rolling Stone articles is not a reflection of the quality of sorority life that I know of on the Ohio State University campus. It is trash journalism that sells that kind of magazine and not worthy of my comment.

NUWER: Is there a need for sororities on today’s campuses?

WILLIAMS: Absolutely, now perhaps more than ever before. Women will always seek the friendship with those who share common interests and goals. Our values-based organizations give them that opportunity of life-long friendship, opportunities for self-growth, mutual support, service to others, the campus, the community. [They provide] respect for intellectual development and an allegiance to positive ethical principles. The programming and other opportunities for the development of life skills are not available in any other student organization.

NUWER: What is it you personally stand for as a member of a Greek community?

WILLIAMS: I am a person of principle who role models the standards we in the Greek community profess. I am who I am because of my sorority experience. It is the beacon in my life.