Matthew Richardson and Akeya Simeon are on a hazing education mission, focusing on how to continue creating a safer and more inclusive community at West Virginia University where such destructive behaviors have no place.

From regularly dropping in to parties and gatherings to hanging out where students spend time on campus, organizing focus groups, getting into every classroom they can and providing training to all Greek Life members and student-athletes, the director and assistant director, respectively, of the WVU Center for Fraternal Values and Leadership have their fingers on the pulse of campus.

Simeon has extensive experience in community organization, social administration and youth development, and a passion for helping at-risk youth. Her dissertation focused on finding solutions to address hazing in higher education and exploring the need for broader education, including for parents and during the pledging process.

“Hazing predates higher education,” Simeon said. “A lot of these concepts were introduced to broader society and higher education from soldiers after World War II. But we find as those generations get further and further away, our young people are becoming more open to a different way and it’s becoming easier to educate them on the topic.”

Her approach to hazing prevention is grounded in education and collaboration. She said she believes that by understanding students’ perspectives and engaging them in the process, it is possible to create a culture of respect and accountability. She emphasizes the importance of open communication, early intervention and supporting students who have been affected by hazing. She also understands the importance of meeting young people where they are by developing innovative educational programs using ice cream, tacos and pizza to teach heavy topics like consent.

“There is change on the horizon. It’s a faint light but it’s a light,” she said. “Like you’re in a train tunnel — you can hear it and you can feel it and you can see that faint light of change in the distance. Nolan Burch served as a catalyst for a lot of change that needed to happen and taught us that there is nothing that we can’t come back from better.”

Burch was an 18-year-old WVU freshman from New York who died after a hazing event at an unsanctioned fraternity house in Morgantown in 2014. His death galvanized the WVU community and inspired the University to form the Hazing Prevention Task Force, create the Hazing Prevention Advocacy Network and launch the “Would You?” campaign.

Richardson, for whom hazing became an organic focus and passion following his dissertation exploring antidiscrimination in historically white populations, has worked closely with the Burch family in the years since his death.

“The COVID-19 pandemic really helped us in an interesting way because it allowed us to go places virtually with this campaign and programming that we haven’t gone to before and might not have otherwise,” he said.

“We’ve presented all over the country and it really resonates with people. We’ve developed such a strong relationship with the Burch family, and they come back to campus every year to help us continue making strides. There is no doubt that our work together has saved lives here at WVU and on college campuses across the country.”

Richardson and Simeon are currently working with the WVU Government Relations team to review state hazing laws.

Simeon explained hazing activities on college campuses are not defined as Clery Act crimes which must be monitored and reported by academic institutions. Both Simeon and Richardson would like to see that changed and for there to be extensive oversight of hazing in K-12 populations. They also support increasing penalties for hazing in West Virginia, making participation a felony and naming the law for Burch.

“This can be a great effort for all West Virginians led by the state’s flagship, land-grant University,” Richardson said. “We can lead the charge in creating good global citizens in this way. There are so many cool things that we can do to change lives. Behavior can be changed, death cannot.”

Richardson added that he hopes lawmakers can see hazing as a bipartisan issue.

“Hazing might still be happening on university campuses across the country, but it’s being reported, too. The fact that young people are picking up the phone and reporting it is a testament to the work that we’re doing,” Richardson said.

“It’s not a good thing that it’s happening, but it’s a great thing that people are learning that they don’t have to be part of these harmful activities. They don’t have to participate in hurting their brothers and sisters and they’re finally coming forward. That means we’re getting closer to where we want to be.”

Richardson said the pairs’ ultimate goal is to work towards making Prevent Zone, the hazing prevention education module currently required for all student-athletes and Greek life participants, a requirement for all incoming students.