(ContentDesk) July 7, 2006 -- On June 26, 2006 a 10-year probation sentence was handed down to one of the participants in the Southern Methodist University hazing incident that occurred the Fall Semester of 2003. That recent hazing news prompted Big Walt Anderson and his publishing company to renew their Hazing Awareness Scholarship program for the 2006-2007 school year. Big Walt Anderson states, I have written several books covering College Greek Life, the first of which was written over 10 years ago and it still amazes me how much things have not changed. Therefore, I must do my small part and continue to offer the Hazing Awareness Scholarship program."The Hazing Awareness Scholarship offers up to 12 $500 cash awards for students books and supplies. It began 2 years ago when author and independent filmmaker Big Walt Anderson determined that more hazing awareness needed to be raised on college campuses.

Facing non-renewal of the program this year, the SMU hazing verdict and arrests of five members of FAMUs Kappa Alpha Psi Chapter last week has prompted renewal of the scholarship.Most college fraternities and sororities serve their members and communities honorably but the issue of hazing is testing the legacy and commitment of these organizations. In fact virtually all of the national organizations have implemented no tolerance hazing policies. Furthermore many states have made hazing a criminal offense. Even so, many incoming students are still not cognizant of the possible perils and pitfalls when joining a fraternity or sorority so the Hazing Awareness Scholarship will help address that issue with the hopes of deterring an injury or saving a life.Big Walt Anderson explains, It is a tricky and confusing situation for a young person wanting to belong to these glamorous organizations, the ultimate peer pressure. I wrote about it in detail in my book Pledge Brothers which is based on a true story that happened in the early 1990s.

Also, I have done three independent movies that deal with the subject; the latest is Secret Sisterhood Part 2 Fall of the Alpha Chapter at http://www.secretsisterhoodmovie2.com so I understand what is going on with college students, the peer pressure and the need to be accepted the old school way. One thing that is for sure, hazing has become a social ill and a hazing awareness scholarship may be the beginning to curing this disease. You may apply and read more about the scholarship at http://www.collegegreekbooks.com/cashaward.html Also, you may find Big Walt Andersons work in university libraries across the country including Harvard University (Pledge Brothers), and Yale University (Ivy an unauthorized history of Alpha Kappa Alpha) or you may visit his official website at BigWalt.com.