Tim Mousseau encourages Greek students to embrace change

Tim Mousseau, a speaker, writer and researcher with a background in curriculum design, gave a keynote speech about hazing in Greek life on Sept. 26.

Mousseau, who gives 40 to 50 speeches on college campuses each year, spoke about how Greek organizations at Lehigh can leverage their influence on behavior to promote good behavior among members.

From the beginning of his career working with individual fraternities at about 175 different universities throughout the country to working with CAMPUSPEAK, a higher education agency that collaborates with student affairs professionals, Mousseau has experience with Greek life and the issue of hazing.

“If there’s something going on in your chapter that you know isn’t working and you try and stick with it because it’s the way we’ve always done things, it’s not going to work,” Mousseau said.

Mousseau said people exhibit series of habits that become behaviors, which turn into traditions. With traditions involving Greek life at Lehigh, Mousseau said people must practice good behaviors and be able to deal with changes over time.

Although Greek-affiliated students are members of their chapters for life, Mousseau said only three to five percent of members will stay engaged in their fraternities or sororities after they graduate. Mousseau said now is the time for people to make changes because they still have access to the necessary resources to do so.

“I think an individual can start change, but it would take the cooperation of the entire community to actually put that change into action,” said Shannon Murphy, ’20, who attended the lecture.

Mousseau said people need to recognize that change is inevitable and constant, so it should be encouraged rather than ignored or resisted.

“In my opinion, the Greek community provides a great outlet and means to foster and inspire change,” said J.B. Lund, ’20, who attended the lecture. “But it’s upon the individuals and general members to unify and make that change.”