Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Speaker A: At the University of Alabama, we're committed to helping you be the best version of yourself in all aspects of your well being. The Alabama Model of Health and well Being offers a holistic approach to wellness, connecting you with resources that support every aspect of your life, providing a roadmap to thriving in college and beyond. Learn more at studentwellness.ua.edu A message from.
[00:00:23] Speaker B: Student Health and well Being and wvuafm.
[00:00:25] Speaker A: The Capso.
[00:00:29] Speaker C: This show is not a substitute for professional counseling and no relationship is created between the show hosts or guests and any listener. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, we encourage you to contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
[00:00:56] Speaker D: Foreign.
[00:01:11] Speaker B: And welcome back to the Bama Balance Podcast. Real stories about college students, mental health, and how y' all been. How y' all been listening again.
[00:01:23] Speaker D: We had a lot of fun that last week with that last episode. I have been listening to some new music and revisiting some. Some old tunes like Widespread Panic where you talked about.
So I had to go back and watch that video when they were in Athens. And gosh, that was some. That was a great episode in terms of kind of the music that we enjoyed. And it was a lot of fun.
[00:01:48] Speaker A: We've been wearing the Eagles out this week. Yeah, a bunch of studying. Have you really wearing them out? Gosh, sick of me.
[00:01:57] Speaker D: No, I still, I'm still thinking about, you know, some of those tunes and, you know, particularly your last question, Brooks. The sort of top three songs or artists or bands. It's. It was hard. It was hard to do that. But, but it's fun to kind of look at my playlist and see how it's evolved and how it's changed over time. It's kind of cool.
And we are, we are thinking of putting together a Spotify playlist. Yeah.
[00:02:25] Speaker A: Yeah, we got to get that rolling.
[00:02:27] Speaker D: Yeah. Yeah. So if anybody has any suggestions.
Yeah, DM us on our Instagram account, the Bama Balance, and we'll, we'll take a look at your suggestions and hopefully to include them on our playlist. I'm trying to think now of other songs I'd like to put on there. I get carried away when it comes to making playlists.
[00:02:50] Speaker A: Stuff like that end up adding like 30 and 30.
[00:02:54] Speaker D: Right, right. That's why I've had to hold back and. And.
And wait for you guys to catch up. I think I've had eight or something like that, you know, so they're already.
[00:03:04] Speaker A: Match it.
[00:03:05] Speaker D: Okay, There you go.
[00:03:06] Speaker B: 8 and 3, 24.
[00:03:08] Speaker D: Yeah. So they're.
So it'll be building. So we can put that. We'll notify everybody or just let folks know where they can find it. And.
And so that'll be fun.
That'd be interesting.
But I think that this week is. Is going to be a fun one, too, with.
With our guest. And also as we are continuing to approach spring break, I think everybody's feeling.
[00:03:36] Speaker A: That can't come quick enough, right? This.
[00:03:39] Speaker B: I mean, the weather has been.
[00:03:40] Speaker D: It's beautiful today.
[00:03:42] Speaker B: Yeah, beautiful today. And then, like, every few days, it's been like, okay, here's a preview of.
Of, like, when it's going to be amazing. And that gets me very excited for not only spring break, but just springtime in general. Spring is my favorite season.
[00:03:55] Speaker D: Is it?
[00:03:55] Speaker B: I. I just think there's something about when it stops being cold that's just awesome.
[00:04:00] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:04:02] Speaker B: So, yeah, I'm a big spring guy.
[00:04:03] Speaker D: Okay.
YouTube proxy or.
[00:04:06] Speaker A: Oh, I'm summer.
[00:04:07] Speaker D: You're Summer. So, you know what we're. What we're not talking about is the upcoming Valentine's Day. So Valentine's Day is this coming Saturday.
We're recording this a couple days before Valentine's Day and hope that everybody has plans or has some thought of how to celebrate Valentine's Day.
[00:04:26] Speaker A: Yeah, sure. Yeah.
[00:04:27] Speaker D: It's a special holiday, right? I mean, everyone should commemorate it in some shape or form. Don't you think so, Brooks?
[00:04:35] Speaker A: No doubt.
[00:04:35] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:04:36] Speaker A: To each their own.
[00:04:37] Speaker D: To each their own.
[00:04:39] Speaker A: Many different ways.
[00:04:40] Speaker D: So many different ways to celebrate it. How. What would you recommend?
[00:04:45] Speaker A: Oh, I wouldn't take anything out of my book right now.
[00:04:48] Speaker D: Okay.
Well, in the past. How. In the past, what's. What's been a memorable Valentine's Day for you?
[00:04:56] Speaker A: Let's see what we do last year.
[00:04:59] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:05:00] Speaker A: Guess it's memorable.
[00:05:01] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:05:01] Speaker A: It's closest to my memory.
[00:05:02] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:05:04] Speaker A: Little at home steak night.
[00:05:07] Speaker D: Oh, that's always good. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've done that.
[00:05:09] Speaker A: Paired with some wine, movie.
[00:05:12] Speaker D: Good time. Mm.
Edward, how about you? What's your favorite memory of Valentine's Day?
[00:05:18] Speaker B: I mean, it. Well, you know, when we were, like, growing up, my parents would always. They would make, like, dinner for us.
[00:05:29] Speaker D: Really?
[00:05:30] Speaker B: Valentine's Day. Gosh, that's really.
[00:05:32] Speaker D: That's good.
[00:05:32] Speaker B: Like, it was, like, three. It was like Easter, Christmas And Valentine's Day were, like, the three, like, biggest. Like. Like just our family dinners we would have, where they would always, like, cook a four course meal for my sisters and I. No kidding.
Which I always thought was, like, why on Valentine's Day? But I was like, hey, it's fine. We're getting chocolate covered strawberries. So, like, I'm not really complaining.
[00:05:54] Speaker D: That's. Those are darn good.
[00:05:56] Speaker B: Those are amazing. So that. I mean, that's kind of my go to.
[00:06:00] Speaker D: Have they continued to do that or.
[00:06:02] Speaker B: Well, I mean, no one's home.
[00:06:03] Speaker D: Well, when should we be there?
[00:06:05] Speaker B: Oh, well, I mean, hey, if. Because if I brought y' all down, my mother would love to.
[00:06:10] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:06:10] Speaker B: And my. I guess my dad, too, so they would love to.
I'll just have to give her a couple days notice on the strawberries. But.
[00:06:18] Speaker D: So if. If this is Thursday, then maybe we. They can expect us this Saturday with mics in hand and stuff like that.
[00:06:23] Speaker B: Yeah, this Saturday night.
[00:06:24] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:06:24] Speaker B: This Saturday.
[00:06:25] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:06:25] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:06:25] Speaker D: All right. So that's. So a couple. A couple days in advance, anyway. Do you rem.
I don't know if you guys did this when you were in school, but trading Valentine's Day cards with.
[00:06:35] Speaker A: You had those mailboxes.
[00:06:36] Speaker D: Yeah, exactly.
[00:06:38] Speaker A: Yeah, that's. That's a good memory.
[00:06:40] Speaker D: So, gosh, I remember having a crush on these two girls in fifth grade. They were twins.
[00:06:47] Speaker A: How's that gonna work out?
[00:06:49] Speaker D: Well, that was a great question. And that's why I had to give them each a brief, very wonderful Valentine's Day card. I. I mean, I wasn't into the details back then. Braxie is just. I just, you know.
[00:07:02] Speaker A: Here's a question. Do you remember what was on the card?
[00:07:05] Speaker D: I have no idea.
[00:07:07] Speaker A: Long time ago.
[00:07:07] Speaker D: Yeah, a long time ago. It was. I mean, it was one of those. It was a. It was. There were.
You know, it was a package of Valentine's Day cards you bought at Target or wherever. I still. I don't remember, But I do remember their names. It was Mary and Patricia Day was there last night. That's right. So wherever the two of you are, Mary, Patricia, you know, I hope you're listening, and if you're not, or if you are, drop me a DM on our Instagram account.
[00:07:35] Speaker A: Shoot me a dm.
[00:07:36] Speaker D: Yeah. And. And we'll grab some dinner or something up here in Tuscaloosa.
[00:07:40] Speaker E: They were.
[00:07:41] Speaker D: I don't think they're anywhere near Tuscaloosa these days, but that was fun. That's a great memory. Yeah.
[00:07:47] Speaker A: Those days of school Were always fun.
[00:07:49] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:07:50] Speaker A: Ellie, Kate is teaching right now at a first and second grade and they're out of school tomorrow and out of school Monday.
[00:08:00] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:08:00] Speaker A: So today's they're like balance.
[00:08:02] Speaker D: Oh, nice.
[00:08:03] Speaker A: So I think she was trying to mentally prepare.
[00:08:05] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:08:05] Speaker A: For the craziness.
[00:08:06] Speaker D: Nice.
[00:08:07] Speaker B: I can't even imagine.
[00:08:08] Speaker D: Always a fun time. Always a fun time.
[00:08:10] Speaker B: Always. Well, we got a really, really cool guest coming up for y'.
[00:08:15] Speaker D: All.
[00:08:15] Speaker B: We're gonna introduce him in our next segment, but we're gonna take a quick break before that. And you've been listening to the Bama Balance.
[00:08:37] Speaker A: Wvuafm, Tuscaloosa.
[00:08:40] Speaker C: This show is not a substitute for professional counseling and no relationship is created between the show hosts or guests and any listener. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, we encourage you to contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
[00:09:17] Speaker D: Foreign.
Welcome back, everybody, to the Bama Balancing. We're happy to have with us today a special guest, and I will.
I'll let Max introduce himself to you, Max Brown.
[00:09:34] Speaker E: Yeah. Well, hello, everybody. Listening. Thank you all for having me on. It's a pleasure today.
I'm Max Brown. I'm a senior from Louisville, Kentucky.
I'm a management and finance major, getting ready to graduate here in May 2026.
Fun fact, my first podcast ever. So it's a pleasure to be on here with you fellas here today and yeah, looking forward to it.
[00:09:54] Speaker D: No, it's great to have you, Max.
We were talking earlier about Max's visit and, you know, realize we have a real celebrity in our midst as Max's been recently awarded by the North American Intra Fraternity Conference as outstanding IFC president. So congratulations.
[00:10:18] Speaker E: Thank you. Appreciate it.
[00:10:20] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah. What was that like to. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. What was that like to receive?
[00:10:24] Speaker E: I mean, it's definitely an honor. I think it just kind of speaks to the team we had last year.
A lot of great guys. So if you're listening to this shout out to y', all, couldn't have done it without them.
Great support from our OFSL staff.
I think we just had a really high functioning team. Got a lot done. Started the IFC Invitational, which that was. That was a blast. Raised around $60,000 there for IFC endowed scholarship. But yeah, just credit to my team and the hard work we put in this year, it's nice to see it get awarded.
[00:10:56] Speaker D: So that's tremendous. And the and IFC Council was awarded what, outstanding community impact as well.
[00:11:03] Speaker E: That's correct.
[00:11:03] Speaker D: That's fantastic. That's, you know, great. Kudos. Great kudos. And. And now you've given that role. You've not given up the role, but now you are.
[00:11:15] Speaker E: Retired.
[00:11:15] Speaker D: Retired.
[00:11:16] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:11:16] Speaker D: That's a good way to put it. Oh, yeah. That's a good way to put it. When I met up with Max, was it breakfast last semester?
[00:11:21] Speaker E: Big, bad breakfast.
[00:11:23] Speaker D: Big, bad breakfast.
There's a lot of great conversations happen.
[00:11:26] Speaker B: Yeah. Around breakfast.
Especially that restaurant.
[00:11:30] Speaker D: Yeah. It's a great restaurant for that to happen, isn't it? I think that's where we had our conversation. It is, right?
Yeah. We'll have to. You know, we could take this on the road, actually, and plant.
[00:11:40] Speaker A: Do it there.
[00:11:41] Speaker D: We'll do it there.
[00:11:41] Speaker B: You put a biscuit in front of me.
[00:11:43] Speaker D: I'll record anywhere. Okay.
On location.
On location. All right. Anyway, we've got. So, yeah, Max and I had a great time catching up, and he was telling me about the.
The. I got some new program that's been put into place, anti hazing program. And, you know, as we think about hazing and hazing prevention, you know, we certainly tend to think about it exclusively in the Greek communities, but in all reality, it occurs in any group or community or organization. And I'm grateful to Max and the group for coordinating, for implementing this program, so thought it'd be great to have him here today to talk more about it.
[00:12:35] Speaker E: Yeah, definitely. Well, yeah, thanks again for having me on.
So the anti hazing task force is something that we started. I want to say it was about two or three years ago. We're kind of revamping, making better. Every year it's when we get 15 guys, some of our executive IFC council members, we get former chapter presidents, former new member educators, and we split into groups of five. So we have three groups, and then we do a buddy system for the house.
So, you know, Phi Gam, Sigma Nu, ato, I think your neighbors, sigep, fasa, fisa. So we kind of just group them together and we meet with their current freshmen, who are the rising sophomores, because it's done every year in the spring. And the reason we do this is because around 90% of hazing incidents are committed by a member of the fraternity that was initiated within the year.
So it's typically your sophomores or a few joined as a sophomore. You'd be a junior.
And the reason that we do this is kind of just to lead some peer to peer education to these guys so that they know what hazing is, they know the repercussions of hazing.
Because a lot of the times, you know, when we see guys get in trouble, one of the first things they say is why didn't know that was hazing.
We talk about this spectrum of hazing. There's stuff from little H hazing, which is making somebody go and get your jersey mics, to the big H hazing, which is the stuff that's going to get your chapter put in the news.
But we just kind of run through some of the do's and don'ts, some of the things that have worked for our chapter.
And I think that it really works because they get a lot of this from the university too, a lot of the training from the university. But when you have someone that is two years older than you has had the experience of going through new member education, I think it kind of resonates with you a little bit more because you look up to these guys as leaders. They're our age, you know, they're kind of telling me how to behave and I think it sits with them a little better.
So one of our favorite things to do is we go in there and we share personal stories from our own chapters. Now, I wasn't my chapter president because I was on IFC exec, but we have different chapter presidents who typically didn't get in trouble, had no reports, had a smooth process, and just kind of, you know, pick their brains, get them to share stories of, you know, how they got through it.
And a lot of it is just focusing on, you know, making sure that these guys understand the repercussions of their actions.
You know, you don't want to make a decision as an 18, 19 year old that's going to jeopardize your future.
One of my good buddies, Bennett Katz, I remember when he was talking, Shout out Big Cat if you're listening. He shared the Nick Saban story that he, when he was talking about Henry Ruggs. If you don't know Big Cat, he loves.
[00:15:28] Speaker A: I don't know how, like, I've never heard the same one from him.
[00:15:32] Speaker E: Yeah, it's, it's incredible. It's incredible.
But yeah, talking about Henry Ruggs who got into that car accident after he had too much to drink and just how, you know, Coach Sabin was saying if, if a good friend would have been there to take his keys from him, that would have happened. And that's kind of the message we share. Like, hey, look, if you're not going to do anything dumb yourself, prevent your buddy from doing something dumb, keep an eye out for them.
[00:15:56] Speaker D: Right.
[00:15:57] Speaker E: So, you know, I think it's been a great success. We've had very positive feedback.
You know, I think new member education is a great process when done the right way.
You know, you think you got a 18 year old coming in here.
Most of them, you know, living away from their parents for the first time. They're, they're truly an adult that is responsible for their own life for the first time.
[00:16:18] Speaker D: Time.
[00:16:18] Speaker E: And it's a time period in their life where they can make a lot of choices, you know, good or bad. They can choose to skip class, not get involved, or they can choose to, you know, whether it's attend a Bible study, join a club, you know, getting to working out, getting physically, you know, mentally stronger.
[00:16:36] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah, I, the, the program is, is outstanding. How did, how did it come about? Like, how did it originate? What was the thinking behind putting it?
[00:16:50] Speaker E: So, you know, as I said, I believe that it was started around two years ago, but the whole premise behind it is kind of attacking this peer to peer and pleadship education from two different sides.
Because you've got the, you know, the university, a lot of the officials, you know, telling you, oh, this is going to happen, you know, we're going to kick your chapter off. And I feel like, although that stuff is necessary sometimes it doesn't sit with, As I said, 18, 19 year old men as well. So that's why we come in kind of from the different angle.
I wouldn't necessarily call it good cop, bad cop. I would just say it's, it's the same story being told.
[00:17:27] Speaker D: Right.
[00:17:28] Speaker E: Through two different lenses.
[00:17:29] Speaker D: Yeah. So I'm, I'm so glad that you're, that you have, you all have established this and particularly as a peer to peer thing because I remember talking years ago with, with Wolfrackia and a couple other folks about, you know, how to pull together a program for the Greek community in particular around hazing prevention, which wasn't, which didn't have the tone of don't do this, don't do that. But here's what you need to know about what hazing is and here's what you can do that isn't hazing kind of thing.
I think it's remarkable and I'm thinking too that I guess now we're in the season of spring rush for all intents and purposes.
[00:18:13] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:18:16] Speaker D: I'm trying to think back on maybe both of your experiences and thinking about, you know, what the messages were that you received around hazing prevention and what stuck with you, what didn't.
[00:18:34] Speaker A: Yeah, I think when we got here freshman year, like Max said, the university does a pretty good job of putting you through these trainings. And as I've grown and gotten older and I'm now active in the fraternity, we still have to do that. So both sides of it are getting it.
But I'd say, like, the most beneficial thing that happened to us and the best advice we got were from other people, specifically older guys, just because, I mean, me and you found it out last year talking about exactly the GRIT program.
These kids under understand something coming from student. Other students and peers better than they do. You know, some guy sitting at a desk put.
[00:19:22] Speaker D: Right. Right.
[00:19:23] Speaker A: Mass email out.
[00:19:24] Speaker D: Right.
[00:19:25] Speaker E: It's just.
[00:19:26] Speaker A: I mean, they can relate more. They may look up to you more. There's a bunch of different aspects into it. So I felt like the better messages we got were from peers in a way, so.
[00:19:41] Speaker D: Yeah, I mean, I. I totally agree.
[00:19:43] Speaker B: I mean, I'd probably, you know, echo that a little bit. You know, I think for me, it's a little bit different, you know, not really being a part of that right when I got here.
[00:19:52] Speaker D: True.
[00:19:53] Speaker B: You know, but I think as we kind of, you know, built where we're at, you know, you. You learn about it kind of as you go.
And I think, like. Like, we. We had so many people who were pouring into us that allowed us to kind of learn these things before we, you know, did like, these new Embry education and all this stuff for the first time, like, we had no idea we were doing, but we. At least, you know, I think between, you know, like our. Our nationals and.
And people at the university who helped us out, I mean, and. And like you being our advisor early on, it was. It was easy to kind of have a framework about what to look for, what to avoid. And, you know, there are times where you have to be wary of that. So I think we.
We were, you know, it felt very bush league in the beginning, but just kind of learning that I think was. Was huge for us when we did. I mean, we had a lot of resources available to us to do getting.
[00:20:55] Speaker D: Some of those fundamentals in place, and that knowledge was. Was important. This is.
I mean, it's a great program. I look forward. We look forward to talking more about in our next segment. So we're excited to have you here today, Max. Yeah. Everybody hold on. And we'll be back for the next segment. This is the BAMA Balance.
[00:21:28] Speaker A: Wvuafm, Tuscaloosa.
[00:21:30] Speaker C: This show is not a substitute for professional counseling, and no relationship is created between the show hosts or guests and any listener. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, we encourage you to contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
[00:22:11] Speaker D: What's up, guys?
[00:22:12] Speaker A: We're back with segment two. As I was sitting here thinking specifically back to my sophomore year, you know, a fraternity is one of those things where you've got a bunch of different guys and these different groups and organizations that you may have hazing in have so many different characters and so many different beliefs, so many different thoughts.
And I think it's really easy for, you know, one guy to get a negative thought and do something to put the whole chapter at risk. And, I mean, then you're talking about people losing where they're living and their fraternity while they're in college. And I think it's big to have, like, a structure of the fraternity and how you're going to structure things like new member education.
And there's a bunch of different ways to do it that I know of.
Max, what are some that y' all like to encourage and like to see implemented?
[00:23:08] Speaker E: Yeah, definitely.
So one of the first things, like I said, you know, a lot of these guys coming from high school, they don't have a great study schedule. They don't know how to study. They don't know how to keep a planner. So one thing that we did with my fraternity that we realized works, and, you know, I would suggest to any fraternity, we set up an academic advisor council.
And so what we do there, we pick about 15 to 20 either juniors or seniors in the house, all with different majors, and they're paired up with new members.
It's about a one to four ratio. So one advisor for every four new members.
So if you're, you know, mechanical engineer, we try and pair you up with a mechanical engineering major.
And a lot of the reason for this is, you know, they've taken similar classes. So they can give you advice, where to find a tutor, you know, when to start studying, how to study, how to keep a planner, how to make sure that you're not missing assignments. Because one thing that we Noticed in our fraternity, a lot of the academic downfall of our freshmen is just lack of preparation. They just don't have a planner. You know, they're missing homework assignments, they're doing fine on the tests, they're showing up to class.
But, you know, you miss a homework assignment here and there, and that can really, you know, start to hurt your grade.
Another thing that we did, we set up a weekly Bible study. We have a chaplain in our fraternity. So letting guys just kind of, you know, explore their faith, grow their relationship with God, you know, that's something that really impacted me as a freshman. When I had a senior sitting down with me, you know, asking me about my faith. Kind of just let me talk.
That that was something that really had a strong impact on me my freshman year.
[00:24:48] Speaker D: So these are some really great ways essentially to build community and brotherhood.
[00:24:53] Speaker E: Definitely.
[00:24:54] Speaker D: Right. Versus, I guess, some of the ways to destroy community and brotherhood.
[00:25:00] Speaker E: Yeah. And. And, you know, kind of banking off that point that you just made, one thing that we really tell these sophomores is the grade below you and the grade above you are the people that you're going to spend the most time with here.
So, you know, if you got a guy in the grade below you who absolutely hates you because of the way you treated him, you're gonna have to see him every week for the next three years. And, you know, that's just not a healthy relationship. Guys, you know, not going to look up to you. You're not going to be a good role model. So we just really emphasize, you know, after new member education is over, you're not going to disappear. These guys are going to be, you know, members of your chapter. They're going to be your friends. They're going to be friends with your friends.
So making sure that you have a positive, healthy relationship moving forward in the chapter.
[00:25:46] Speaker D: You know, it's. As we're talking about this, I'm.
I'm reminded of kind of my own personal connection to a student that I knew.
And this was when I first got here. So Max Groover was a kid that grew up with my nephews in the Roswell area. Roswell, Georgia. Max went to lsu and this was back. So he was a freshman in lsu.
I can't remember the fraternity he.
He pledged, but he was involved. They were. I mean, he was hazed by his fraternity and.
Which ended in his death. And so his parents and family have been, you know, since that time. They've been involved in raising awareness, in guiding some of the political landscape to, you know, towards anti. Hazing. Laws and things of that sort. I think Max's mom spoke here in 20.
Gosh, 17, 2019, maybe 2018, to as part of convocation did a great job.
But as you all were talking, you know, one of the questions like that came to my mind is, and this is for all of you is, you know, why does, why does hazing happen and why do, why do some people haze?
[00:27:20] Speaker E: That's the million dollar question right there. Yeah, I mean, you know, when I think about it, I think a lot of it is kind of having to grandfather hazing out.
There's this mentality, you know, if it happened to me, it's kind of my turn to give it back.
And so defeating hazing is just kind of breaking that chain.
And I think if you can just kind of get rid of that mentality, you know, something that we were talking about is promoting it to a power within mentality rather than a power over.
You know, you could have either. You know, when a freshman shows up and you're a senior or junior and you know, you're older, you're probably more physically mature, you, you've got power, you could have power over them. You know, you could try and intimidate them into doing things. And we're kind of trying to shift that mentality to power within, which is, you know, instead of you having power over them and ruling in fear, you're kind of ruling with, you know, inspiration.
You want those guys to want to be more like you and kind of respect you and that's the reason that you have power, you know, with them.
[00:28:36] Speaker A: So, yeah, I think that is a fantastic point and just a great thing.
Yeah, I mean, continue encouraging that because I mean, my thing that reminded me every year was on those convocations when we'd have those families come and talk. You're looking at a mom and dad who sent their 18 year old son off to college and now can't see him anymore because somebody made a dumb decision.
[00:29:02] Speaker D: That's right.
[00:29:03] Speaker A: And thought they had power over a kid instead of having power within him.
I mean, this new member education period to me and how we've used it, and especially with the GRIT program last year, I mean, you're setting a path for these kids like you.
[00:29:20] Speaker D: You.
[00:29:20] Speaker A: The goal of it, in my opinion, is to bring them tighter, bring everybody else tighter to them and allow these kids to know that you can do whatever you want to do on campus, you can know whoever you want to know, you can be in whatever organizations you want to be in.
But I just think like you said having power within is way more important than having power.
[00:29:42] Speaker E: Definitely.
[00:29:44] Speaker D: I don't think I've ever heard it explained that way. That. That's. That is a wonderful perspective.
I think that. And that captures it, I think, entirely.
[00:29:53] Speaker E: Definitely.
[00:29:53] Speaker D: How receptive have guys been to that approach?
[00:29:58] Speaker E: I think extremely receptive, honestly.
I think when they step back and think, you know, I'm gonna spend the next three years with this guy, how do I want my interaction to be? You know, when I pass him in on the quad or when I'm making my food next to him at dinner? Like, I want to have a healthy enough relationship to where I can talk to this guy and, you know, he can come to me if he needs anything and, you know, we're friends. I'm not just some guy that's three years older than him and, you know, wasn't the nicest or in new member education.
Gosh, that.
[00:30:31] Speaker D: So yes to all of that. How did that. So how did that. How did you guys develop that. That lens or that.
That folks I love? I don't think I've ever heard it explained that way.
[00:30:43] Speaker E: Yeah, I mean, I think at the end of the day, it's just when you examine, you know, the values of every fraternity, it's supposed to be a brotherhood, you know, that promotes, you know, well, being, trying to become the best version of yourself.
And, you know, when you guys. When you got guys hazing each other and creating relationships that, you know, are superficial, that's. That's really not going to last. And it's not what a fraternity stands for.
[00:31:06] Speaker D: Yeah. Yeah. I think, you know, having said all that, you know, to me, this seems like it's one of the best examples of an initiative that's student led, student driven, that connects peers in a really useful and productive way. Love it.
[00:31:25] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:31:26] Speaker A: I mean, I definitely agree. I think it's funny that you can haze people to bring them down.
Like, in reality, it should be the other way. Like, I'm gonna haze you, Dr. Prince. You can become better and make better decisions.
Not necessarily using the word haze, but if it was flipped the opposite direction and we were bringing people up instead of down, one, it'd be a lot safer. Two, you wouldn't have nearly as many problems. Three, you'd probably have the best four.
[00:31:54] Speaker D: Years of college of your life and a stronger community. Absolutely.
[00:31:57] Speaker B: 100.
[00:31:57] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:31:58] Speaker B: I think a lot about just how, you know, we're all, like, a lot of, like, all these. We're all college guys. And even though, like, you know, we're all Even. Even juniors and seniors who are older, we're still kind of like.
It's just kind of kids still. I mean, like, our brains are not developed whatsoever or not at least not fully developed.
And it's just kind of. You know, I think about that as, like, how do you minimize dumb decisions?
And you can.
And kind of, to your point, you can be dumb in a fun, uplifting way.
And probably. That's probably not a great way to say that, but, like, you can. You can still do things that are. Like, that build people up and. And bring community together. That, you know, happens in a very guy way. It's just trying to.
[00:32:44] Speaker D: It's not hurtful or. Hurtful or things of that sort.
[00:32:48] Speaker E: Playing paintball.
[00:32:49] Speaker D: Exactly, Exactly. I love it.
[00:32:53] Speaker B: Different kind of hurt there, but.
[00:32:54] Speaker A: Yeah, that's true.
[00:32:55] Speaker D: That's a whole other.
[00:32:55] Speaker A: You better have some, like, pants.
[00:32:57] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:32:59] Speaker D: Oh, yeah. Don't wear Schwartz.
[00:33:01] Speaker A: Well, this has been awesome, guys. And this will wrap up segment two. We'll be back with the ending. This is the Bam Balance.
Wvuafm, Tuscaloosa.
[00:33:26] Speaker C: This show is not a substitute for professional counseling, and no relationship is created between the show host or guests and any listener. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, we encourage you to contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective counties crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
[00:34:07] Speaker B: Hey, y'. All, welcome back to our, kind of our outro here. And I think we've, you know, had a really good conversation today about the things that Max and IFC are doing. But Brooks. Brooks has something for us. He kind of leaned over and said he wanted to ask us all a question about, you know, Valentine's Day coming up. Does it have to do kind of with that?
[00:34:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:34:28] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:34:29] Speaker A: Sir, we own an outro. I wasn't expecting this. Oh, wait.
[00:34:32] Speaker B: Oh, I thought we were jumping.
[00:34:33] Speaker A: No, no, no. We can do it real quick.
I mean, Dr. Perez said he had two crushes in the fifth grade. Yeah, if that was at the fifth grade, I'm assuming everybody still has one now. Celebrity crush.
[00:34:46] Speaker B: Go.
[00:34:47] Speaker D: Dang.
Megan Fox.
[00:34:54] Speaker A: Solid.
[00:34:54] Speaker D: Maybe.
[00:34:55] Speaker B: I mean, yeah, that's.
[00:34:57] Speaker D: I mean, this first one that comes to my mind.
[00:35:03] Speaker E: I'm gonna have to go with Jennifer Lawrence. She's from Kentucky. Oh, I remember watching the Hunger Games. She's really thought I was in love with her.
[00:35:11] Speaker B: She was Canadian.
[00:35:11] Speaker E: I. I don't know why I thought. Kentucky.
[00:35:13] Speaker D: Yeah. North Kentucky, maybe.
[00:35:15] Speaker B: Oh, man, Brooks, you got. I'm trying to think. I. I don't know.
[00:35:18] Speaker D: Celebrity crush? That's a good question, friend.
[00:35:20] Speaker B: I'm just.
[00:35:21] Speaker A: Other than my Carrie Underwood. Carrie Underwood.
[00:35:25] Speaker E: Oh, that's a good one.
[00:35:26] Speaker A: I think she knows that, so.
[00:35:27] Speaker D: You think she knows that?
[00:35:29] Speaker A: I know she does.
[00:35:30] Speaker D: Oh, you know, she. How does she know?
[00:35:32] Speaker A: I've probably told her. I mean, there's been some jokes about Carrie Underwood I like to make every now and then. Okay, Gary Underwood.
[00:35:40] Speaker D: Okay, this sounds like this is another episode, but we'll trust you on that one.
[00:35:49] Speaker B: Man. Have you all seen.
I'm a big Star wars guy.
[00:35:56] Speaker D: Okay.
[00:35:57] Speaker B: It's hard not to go with Natalie Portman.
[00:36:02] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:36:04] Speaker B: Padme.
[00:36:04] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:36:05] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:36:05] Speaker D: Oh, yeah, Yeah.
[00:36:06] Speaker B: I mean, that. That, like, you see, you see, you watch those movies as a kid because they're kids movies, but you're kind of like, hello.
[00:36:13] Speaker D: Wow. Right?
[00:36:14] Speaker A: Just like.
[00:36:15] Speaker D: Right.
[00:36:15] Speaker A: Transformers.
[00:36:18] Speaker D: Exactly. Yeah. I'm. Hey, nothing wrong there.
[00:36:22] Speaker E: Revenge of the Sith.
[00:36:23] Speaker D: Revenge. I mean, that's. That's the quintessential.
[00:36:26] Speaker E: Watched it about a week ago.
[00:36:27] Speaker B: It's such a good movie.
[00:36:28] Speaker E: Oh, yeah.
[00:36:28] Speaker B: Such a good movie.
[00:36:29] Speaker D: It's a great movie. I agree. It's great for Valentine's Day or any day.
[00:36:34] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, you know, there's. There's so much in all of Star wars you could equate to any. No, you could find any. You could find a reason. Any reason, any day to watch those movies.
[00:36:44] Speaker D: Real Heroes Journey, I think those. Those movies are.
Which then sort of brings me to pivot again on. On who we've been talking to and what we've been talking about.
[00:36:57] Speaker A: That threw us.
[00:36:58] Speaker D: Totally.
[00:36:58] Speaker E: Yeah.
[00:36:59] Speaker B: I thought we were doing that im.
That's my fault.
[00:37:02] Speaker D: Yeah. That's okay. No, no. It was a lingering question. We had to get out there. I loved it. It was a good question.
And. And as grateful as I am for that question, also grateful to have Max here as well. Max, what's it been like for you to be here with among the Three Stooges today?
[00:37:18] Speaker E: I. It's been a blast. I didn't think I could enjoy a podcast so much, but. Yeah, sitting around talking. It's a good time.
[00:37:25] Speaker D: It's pretty good time. Who's there? Is it what you expected at. To be like or what you think it was going to be like?
[00:37:30] Speaker E: I was actually very nervous when I walked in here. I'm not going to lie. I've spoken in front of Thousands of people. But, you know, speaking in a mic on a podcast made me a little nervous, but I got more comfortable as we started talking.
[00:37:41] Speaker B: Yeah, I think it's hearing your own voice.
[00:37:43] Speaker D: Oh, that's.
[00:37:44] Speaker B: At least that's what always does me. That threw me.
[00:37:46] Speaker E: I can't stand the sound of my. I don't know what it is, but when I list myself on a recording, I'm like, do I really sound like that?
[00:37:52] Speaker D: Wow, you sound great.
[00:37:53] Speaker E: Thank you.
[00:37:54] Speaker D: Yeah. Got a great voice.
[00:37:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:37:56] Speaker D: And you'll be hearing it again next week, certainly.
[00:37:58] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:37:58] Speaker D: When it's out there.
This has been a lot of fun and again, I think that you know that the points that you, that you've made regarding the anti hazing program that IFC has put together, it's been remarkable. I don't, I don't know any other program like it, you know, at other colleges or universities. Is there, is there a comparable program real quick?
[00:38:21] Speaker E: Not that I can name off the top of my head, but a lot of people have reached out wanting to start something similar.
[00:38:26] Speaker D: Yeah, I think that's great.
[00:38:27] Speaker A: I think the more and more people understand that like, you know, hearing something from a non coexisting student doesn't work as well, the more we're going to want to gear towards this student led topic. And I, I think that's how you'll finally get this thing to stop rolling. Definitely is. If you get other influential students in front of students and show them what's up.
[00:38:54] Speaker D: Yeah, I love that as a campus and as a community, we're being leaders in that effort.
I think it's great.
Can't wait to hear how it continues to grow and how it continues to be effective for, for our Greek community. Because again, hazing happens in any, can happen in a, in any organization or community. I think we're fortunate that you guys have put together this pretty innovative program that is going to do a lot of good, has done a lot of good and will continue to do that.
So thanks for being here.
[00:39:32] Speaker E: Thank you all for having me.
[00:39:33] Speaker D: Max. Yeah, this has been fun. And thank you for letting us know who your celebrity crush is.
[00:39:36] Speaker E: Of course, any.
[00:39:38] Speaker D: That was amazing. I mean, that was. Is a particularly useful insight to have.
[00:39:45] Speaker A: I think we've had this thing on a good train with like, you know, one interesting thing.
[00:39:50] Speaker D: Yeah, I think it's good. I think. I love it. I love it. So it's been good to have, have you here, Max. Yeah.
[00:39:56] Speaker B: Well, we thank y' all so much for tuning in. This is something that you know, we're very happy to get to do so.
Yeah, I think that's all we have today, so thanks for listening. This is Edward Fountain.
[00:40:08] Speaker D: This is Brooks Barbary, Max Brown and Dr. Todo Perez. We'll see you all next week.
[00:40:14] Speaker B: Thank you all.
[00:40:31] Speaker A: WVUA fm, Tuscaloosa this show was not.
[00:40:34] Speaker C: Intended as a substitute for professional counseling. Further, the views, opinions and conclusions expressed by the show hosts or their guests are their own and not necessarily those of the University of Alabama, its officers or trustees. Any views, opinions or conclusions shared on the show do not create a relationship between the host or any guest and any listener, and such a relationship should never be inferred. If you feel you are in need of professional mental health and are a UA student, please contact the UA Counseling center at 348-3863. If you are not a UA student, please contact your respective county's crisis service hotline or their local mental health agency or insurance company. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
