Hazing Essay

A common myth is that hazing is a “reality” in Frats and sororities. We've all seen it in movies and we've all heard stories from our friends. Hazing can be defined as people or individuals who are forced to do something that is psychologically, physically, or emotionally harmful or damaging (Merriam Webster). Greek organizations all over the world have taken steps in developing human rights policies and strict “anti-hazing” policies to get rid of hazing in all forms from all campuses and fraternities. In the 1980s the movie “Animal House”, became a hit. The movie’s “mocking” of the wild side of fraternity life: binge drinking, hazing, sexual harassment, wild parties, drug use, and poor living conditions, became the American public’s view of Greek life. Many television movies and shows depict the ‘crazy side,’ of Greek life and choose to show its negative side. In doing so, many movies and shows do forget to showcase the beneficial side of joining a Sorority or fraternity and show its positive

In February 2017, Tim Piazza died as a result of hazing within his fraternity. In the article “Death at a Penn State Fraternity”, Caitlin Flanagan summarizes the death and events beforehand that made the death occur. She also gives insight as to other occurrences in other fraternities along with at Penn State. Throughout the article, Flanagan seems to rely on life being valuable and that life should not be cut short for social reasons within one’s control. Caitlin Flanagan provides meaningful commentary to help others realize the dangers affiliated with hazing and other “social norms”.

In S.Rogers, C. Rogers, T Anderson’s 2012, article EXAMINING THE LINK BETWEEN PLEDGING, HAZING, AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AMONG MEMBERS OF A BLACK GREEK FATERNITY. Gives the reader an insight on the stereotypes and misconception that are placed on African American Greek organizations. Even though there are hazing rituals that are conducted to build a better relationship between the pledgees and the organization. The “hazing” or as most know it by the initiation rituals are to weed out those who seem unfit to be a part of a 100 + year organization. Though some of the initiation rituals have resulted in physical, psychological and even death. The initiation rituals build not only character nonetheless members for life.

Often partying, drinking, and hazing are key words that come to mine when talking about fraternities and sororities. “Since 1975, there has been at least one hazing-induced death per year across college campuses—and 82% of these have come as a result of binge drinking” (Glass, Nicole). Greek life leads to a culture of alcohol and drug abuse. Young, inexperienced drinkers find themselves running into trouble when trying to fit in around alcohol. Also there are some organizations that partake in “forcing new members to drink as much as possible” as part of a right of passage (“Joining”). The drinking habits being learned due to Greek life cause a serious threat to a student’s life in the present and in the future. Statistically, “75% of fraternity members engaging in heavy drinking compared with 49%” of non-fraternity members (“15”). Also like fraternity men, “62% of sorority members engage in binge drinking compared with 41%” of non-sorority women (“15”). The likelihood that members in Greek life are more likely to suffer from substance abuse after graduation scare away the timid potential new

Reitman acquires information that in 2010, a first year student by the name of Andrew Lohse, pledged to a fraternity called Sigma Alpha Epsilon which disclosed the traditions of Greek hazing. The article elaborately describes the acts of hazing new pledges must face. “One brother recalls the night some of the pledges were served a scramble of vomit and eggs, known as a ‘vomlet’” (356). Lohse unveiled all of the hazing events that he had been involved with for nearly two years, until it had become clear that

When you are a part of Greek life you are popular. In professional sports, with men sports the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major Baseball League etc., there is a history of hazing to accept new rookies into the league. Even though, the organization have dangerous activities, but ignore outrageous events they may have to endure to become part of the organization. Hazing is classified into three types subtle, violent, and harassment. Subtle hazing is mainly deception, or not having to do the same thing other new members had to do. These falls under “reasonable hazing” to others, but to me it is not. With subtle hazing when a pledge is lining up you could call a guy run a lap but referring to him as a girl. Mainly, required greeting of members in a specific manner when seen on campus. With harassment hazing is causes stress, a relative degree of discomfort, physically or emotionally, to the new members

can force others to drink, which can cause an unintentional death. The fact that hazing has been

In the United States, fraternities and sororities have been using hazing rituals as part of their pledging processes. Death, injury, and suspensions have all been a result of this action. Greek life has been one of the most influential subjects in multiple universities today. Typically we see the positives of Greek Organizations in media and from universities, but the negative outcomes are typically left behind the curtain. In most cases, organizations have their houses on campus. The controversy comes from these organizations getting away with the harmful actions and universities not taking action. Are these rituals ethical or not?

Hazing in universities across the nation has become an increasingly dangerous ritual that is seemingly becoming more difficult to put an end to due to its development into an "underground" activity. Though a regular activity in the seventies, hazing, a possible dangerous act of initiation to a group, has now become an activity that is banned in thirty-nine states (Wagner 16). However, this ritual has not been stopped or become less severe. In fact it is becoming more dangerous. Since it has been banned, with many colleges imposing their own penalties against those participating in it, many fraternities and sororities have pursued this activity in an underground fashion. Since these groups have gone underground, some victims of these

Hazing in universities across the nation has become an increasingly dangerous ritual that is seemingly becoming more difficult to put an end to due to its development into an “underground” activity. Though a regular activity in the seventies, hazing, a possible dangerous act of initiation to a group, has now become an activity that is banned in thirty-nine states (Wagner 16). However, this ritual has not been stopped or become less severe. In fact it is becoming more dangerous. Since it has been banned, with many colleges imposing their own penalties against those participating in it, many fraternities and sororities have pursued this activity in an underground fashion. Since these groups have gone underground, some victims of these

Over several decades, Greek life has been an integral part of colleges and universities throughout the United States. There is a high demand of “fitting in” in today’s society and a question that students, parents, and teachers alike often ask themselves is, “Does Greek life provide a more safe or harmful environment?” With strong evidence, it is absolutely absurd to believe that fraternities and sororities do more good than they do harm. Various statistics provide factual evidence as to why Greek life is a toxic and dangerous environment for many young adults. Between the rape culture, hazing, and delinquency linked to the students associated with Greek life, it is time that it comes to an end for good so that students may have a more safe and enjoyable college experience. Fraternities and Sororities should be banned off of college and university campuses due to the danger and drama associated with them.

First of all, fraternities have proven to be a serious reason for underage drinking and binge drinking. These young adults have far less supervision and

Imagine you’re a senior in high school, you have your applications in for college and you’re waiting for that one school that you’ve been wanting to go to for your entire life to send you your acceptance letter. Maybe your parents went to this specific college, maybe it has everything you’ve been waiting for, and maybe it’s the home of the fraternity or sorority that you would kill to get into. Now imagine that to get into that fraternity or sorority, you might have to do just that. Or maybe even worse. Hazing is an activity that can be innocent, and can cause mild embarrassment, but there are some cases where hazing can be much more sinister. Here are some scenarios where “hazing” took a turn for the worst.

Hazing has often been thought to exist primarily in fraternities and sororities; many people are starting to realize the pervasiveness of these harmful rituals. In fact, a recent study by Alfred University and the NCAA found that approximately 80% of college athletes had been subjected to some form of hazing. This total comes to more than 250,000 athletes during the 1998-99 school year alone. Half were required to participate in drinking contests or alcohol related initiations while two thirds were subjected to humiliating hazing. The majority of hazing occurs during the initiations to club sports and fraternities/sororities.

Just imagine sending your child off to college without realizing you are saying goodbye forever. Parents have a belief that their children will have a safe learning environment in college. Unfortunately, hazing related deaths are an increasing epidemic in American Colleges that shatter that belief for some parents. Research finds that college students are emotionally and physically injured every year due to hazing events. Hazing has also been linked to multiple deaths. There are state laws put into place that prohibit the act of hazing, yet many college students fail to understand the seriousness of hazing and continue this traditional “rite of passage. There is no denying that hazing deaths on American College Campuses have raised a red flag; nevertheless, hazing tragedies have continued to happen with no end in sight. It is time for hazing to be eliminated because not only does it cause emotional and psychological problems, but ultimately can lead to death.