TCU's student organizations are kicking off their first National Hazing Prevention Week with a hodgepodge of events aimed to prevent hazing, though TCU officials said the events are not in response to past hazing issues.

National Hazing Prevention Week is geared to educate students, campuses and community members on hazing prevention, polices and procedures within state and federal law, as well as TCU's policy, said James Parker, assistant dean of Campus Life.

"I think this is a proactive way for the university, the student organizations and the students to say, 'Let's go out and educate people on the proper way (to prevent hazing),'" Parker said, "rather than reacting after something happens."

According to TCU's anti-hazing policy, hazing is any action that creates "mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule," which may include scavenger hunts, road trips or anything that causes excessive fatigue. 

Greek officials declined to comment on past hazing allegations, but Panhellenic adviser Stephanie Williams said hazing can easily arise within any student organization.

"I think we all notice that we don't have many conversations about hazing until after the investigation," she said. "We want to make sure that not only students, but staff and faculty ... are aware of what we are trying to prevent so it can be a campus-wide effort."

At least 20 members of the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council, and at least five members of the National Panhellenic Council and Multicultural Greek Council, are required to attend the event to learn about hazing prevention, Parker said.

The presidents of each student organization, including the 29 sororities and fraternities, have been educated on hazing prevention, but the issue has not been openly discussed in the past, Williams said.