by Archana Subramaniam by CNB
Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: TUESDAY, March 2, 1993 TAG: 9303020189 SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY SOURCE: DATELINE: EMORY LENGTH: Short
HAZING CRITIC TO GIVE SPEECH AT E&H CAMPUS
Eileen Stevens, who became a national critic of fraternity hazing after her son died in a hazing incident, will speak tonight at Emory & Henry College at 7.She will open with personal reflections and answer questions from students and others attending her talk in the Board of Visitors lounge in the Van Dyke Student Union.
Her son, Chuck Stenzel, died Feb. 24, 1978, near Alfred University in New York State after being required to drink a quantity of alcohol in a fraternity pledging ritual. Stenzel, who had never drunk more than a few beers at one time, died of alcohol poisoning. Two other men involved in the ritual were hospitalized.
Upset over her son's death and later angered with reluctance by the university and the fraternity to provide the details she wanted, Stevens launched a national fight against hazing.
She and her sister founded the Committee to Halt Useless College Killings to promote awareness of hazing practices, encourage protective state legislation, document hazing-related deaths and injuries, and encourage fraternities and sororities to drop hazing from pledge programs.
She has appeared on television, on the Phil Donahue Show, 20/20 and Today. She has also been invited to speak at national conventions, sometimes as the first woman or non-member before some national fraternities.
The program at Emory & Henry is sponsored by the college's Health Advisory Committee. - Southwest bureau