SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWSLETTER

Empathy in Action: Leading the New School Year with Compassion

Each fall, students step into new groups and teams, new teammates, new pledge classes, new communities to build. It's a season full of possibility, and also a season that calls for intention. This is why, as the school year begins, we turn our attention to Empathy in Action as one of the pillars of compassionate leadership.

Empathy refers to the human ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. This ability is central to compassionate leadership because it helps leaders motivate, collaborate and build powerful groups.

Yet empathy alone is not enough. It is only when empathy is paired with action that it becomes transformative. To see and understand the struggles of a group member is the first step, but it is when we take action to help that we become compassionate leaders.

This is particularly important as student leaders welcome both new and returning group members. Hazing cannot exist in a group headed by a compassionate leader because empathy is in action.

This September also marks National Hazing Prevention Week, when campuses and communities across the country join a national conversation about ending hazing and building safer, more inclusive traditions. It is a timely reminder that the work of Empathy in Action doesn't happen in isolation, it is part of a larger movement of student leaders choosing connection over harm.

True leadership is not about authority or holding power, it is about care, empathy and support. Great leaders stay connected to the needs of those around them, create spaces where people feel protected, and act intentionally to keep every member safe, included, and thriving.

When groups are grounded in empathy, trust is built, members feel seen and valued, and together we create spaces that are not only safe and inclusive but also become communities that bring out our best and call us to something greater than ourselves. Take action to ensure that empathy is at the heart of all initiation rituals:

• Consider how initiation rituals support the desire for belonging and comradery.

• Innovate! Launch one new idea supporting this to make your initiation process more amazing.

• Develop thoughtful procedures to keep your members safe.

By practicing Empathy in Action, leaders set a powerful example. This creates a culture where students support one another, and where initiation becomes a time of unity, inclusion, and fun, which creates a safe experience for everyone. Together, we can create a culture where initiation becomes a celebration of community rather than a test of endurance. Be the group that leads the way into a new era of traditions filled with connection, joy, and compassion!!

Together as ONE, we lead with compassion.

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NATIONAL HAZING PREVENTION WEEK 

September 21–25, 2026

As we mark National Hazing Prevention Week (NHPW), we invite you to join our NHPW Round Table in collaboration with our partners  at 7pm on Thursday, September 24, 2026. Please register by clicking link here https://forms.gle/DvRPPy46SDQhwR7v6

We also encourage you to explore the valuable resources and events from our partners:

StopHazing at https://stophazing.org/resources/nhaw25

The Gordie Center at https://gordie.studenthealth.virginia.edu

Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain at https://www.stfblaw.com/hazing-lawyers/

Hazing Prevention Roundtable, Hosted by the ATLF

Join us on  Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST for a discussion with national experts on hazing awareness, prevention, taking action and becoming an advocate for safer campus culture.

ATLF’s Hazing Prevention Roundtable is in collaboration with our partners StopHazing.org, the Gordie Center and the offices of Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain.

Be part of the change!

This event is free and open to all interested audiences.

Follow the link and register today https://forms.gle/DvRPPy46SDQhwR7v6

Together as ONE, we lead with compassion! 

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