The Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and Max Gruver Foundation will partner to launch a campaign to end hazing this fall in advance of National Hazing Prevention Week, September 24-28, 2018.
Steve and Rae Ann Feldner Gruver, a member of Alpha Delta Pi from Clemson, are the parents of Max Gruver who died as a result of a hazing incident in the Phi Delta Theta chapter house at Louisiana State University in September 2017. This tragic loss was devastating not only to the Gruver family but also to Phi Delta Theta. We lost one of our own.
The Gruvers have traveled to high school and college communities to share Max’s story and spread their message. This new partnership with Alpha Delta Pi will enable better distribution of educational materials, “Fly High Max / Stop the Hazing” wristbands and additional anti-hazing resources to fraternity and sorority chapters across the U.S. and Canada. Phi Delta Theta strongly supports these efforts and shares the belief that change must come from within the Greek community itself.
Phi Delta Theta is a values-based organization that is committed to promoting a culture of responsibility in our chapters, and we remain vigilant in protecting the safety of our members and guests. Despite continuous efforts over the past few decades to eradicate hazing among Phi Delta Theta’s membership, more needs to be done.
In 2000, Phi Delta Theta was the first and largest fraternity to adopt and implement alcohol and substance free housing. Throughout our history, we have actively endorsed and promoted initiatives to prevent hazing such as “Don’t Tarnish the Badge Amnesty Program,” sponsors the annual Hank Nuwer Anti-Hazing Hero Award through HazingPrevention.Org, and supported the Max Gruver Law in Louisiana.
Immediately after the incident at LSU, Phi Delta Theta initiated a thorough review of all of the Fraternity’s health and safety initiatives. While these efforts continue, it has already resulted in the creation of required bystander education, a Good Samaritan policy, mandatory new member program development, and enhanced parent engagement and communication. Above all, we continue to challenge our undergraduate and alumni members to uphold the principles and values of Phi Delta Theta.
To find out more about how Phi Delta Theta protects its members through health and safety programming visit our website.
We encourage our members to support the efforts of Alpha Delta Pi and Max Gruver Foundation to end hazing. For more information about the Max Gruver Foundation or to order wristbands, please visit http://www.maxgruverfoundation.com. Also, those interested in demonstrating their support on social media may do so by using the hashtags #flyhighmax and #stopthehazing.
