Kappa Sigma Fraternity: A Case Study

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”.

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

My interest in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, started a long time ago, in fact when my first interest was peaked I wasn’t even able to pursue my interest as I was still in high school. I was able to participate in several of the “groups” within Alpha Kappa Sorority Inc., such as the “Roses” and the “Pearls”.

“Additionally, issues of identity and values are important factors in neophytes ' abilities and willingness to learn to write in and for new workplaces, as they must choose between ways of thinking and writing with which they are comfortable and new ways that seem foreign or at odds with their identities and values” (Wardle 285) When I was first accepted into The University of Arkansas, the first thing that came to my mind was to put effort into my grades and into building my resume. Those would be my top priories. Before I knew it I had been accepted into a discourse community of members that were striving for the same ideals that I was-The Greek fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha. Through the proses of being an initiate, I learned life long core values of community between other members. Interviewing the president of Lambda Chi Alpha, Luke Crenshaw, I uncovered the rigorous involvement of academic writing skills and how that plays a giant roll in this discourse community. These benefits are included in the values and beliefs of a discourse community.

FAfter my resignation, I moved to Morenci, AZ where my spouse had started a job 6 months prior. I started on my Associate in Business administration at EAC in Fall of 2013. There were some courses that were difficult, but managed to pull through. I was surprised when I was selected to join the Phi Theta Kappa honor society at EAC. I graduated in May of 2015.

A wholesome diet fuels the brain. Your brain is responsible for cognitive function and thusly learning. Therefore, a wholesome diet is essential to learning efficiently. It can be said that everyone has their hobbies. Some play golf or regularly indulge in PC gaming, some are avid fashionistas or social media superstars; I yearn to learn, adventure, and eat.

Members of Omega Sigma, Houston Community College’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, hosted their first general meeting of the fall semester on Sept 4 at the West Loop campus.

I love you.'” (qtd. in “HAZING AT COLLEGE FRATERNITIES”) This was the last conversation that Mrs. Culolias ever had with her son before his life was taken after a tragic incident at a fraternity party. After consuming an enormous amount of alcohol, days later, Jack Culolias was found at a nearby river. “The coroner determined that his drowning was an accident caused by heavy drinking and hypothermia” (“HAZING AT COLLEGE FRATERNITIES”). Jack’s death was a result of the fraternity and they hold responsibility for allowing his death to occur. While looking deeper into this subject, there are many other hazing allegations that ultimately have led to a death in some way. At the University of Albany, a student was forced, through a pledging ritual, to drink a gallon of alcohol of his choice. After that night, he was found dead due to alcohol poisoning (“UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY”). It shocks me that with multiple counts of deaths occurring in fraternities all across the United States, nothing is really being done to solve this issue. Without immediate attention, fraternities will continue to affect these pledges by either scarring them for life or even worse, being the sole reason for their

"I am a Theta. I am for the child." As an undergraduate, pledging Theta at Phi chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta has provided me with many opportunities to contribute to my community, especially through our philanthropy work for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

The Fraternity does not take cultural insensitivity lightly, and I want to apologize for the misstep taken during the program presented to you by one of the Every Member Education Trainers. The last thing we want to have happen is to have our collegiate members feel upset over any programs presented. This could have opened dialogue about a subject that is relevant to all of us. It is disappointing that this opportunity was missed.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council just recently started cracking down when a Penn state student was given eighteen drinks in 82 minutes and died of alcohol poisoning. The student did not retrieve one drink for himself, all eighteen drinks were given to him by brothers. This incident sent shock to the council resulting in the removal of many fraternities or greek life as a whole from the campus. This is just one of the many deaths that resulting from hazing, deaths due to hazing have been recorded from schools all across the country.

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.

As a tradition and expectation hazing has been used as a way of accepting new members into Greek or athletic families on college campuses across the nation for decades. As Cornell University's Code of Conduct states hazing causes mental distress through humiliation, excessive alcohol or drug consumption, demeaning treatment, or intimidation(Cornell). It is because of these dangerous activities that students suffer from poor self esteem, sickness, and in a few unfortunate cases death, all to feel a sense of belonging in their new home. From the publicity and universities forced acknowledgement of these activities new legislation banning hazing has been put into action in forty-four states(Essex). No matter the organization or status it may bring students safety should be a top priority on every campus which will only be accomplished when the currently socially accepted actions are banned. Due to the negative emotional and physical effects, its promotion of bullying, and legal issues that can be produced from their actions, fraternities and sororities practicing dangerous hazing rituals should be severely penalized or banned for their actions.

Today’s society views hazing as a terrible way to treat another person. When presented in a different light, hazing might not be as unfavorable as it seems. A recent study at the University of Dayton shows that, “1.5 million high school students are hazed each year; 47% of students came to college already having experienced hazing” (“Center”). With these statistics, there is no wonder people have a view on this situation. Hazing is certainly a problem in modern America, but despite the issues with it, there are positive takeaways. Colleges and other organizations are largely known to encounter hazing, in fact, “55% of college students involved in clubs, teams and organizations experience hazing” (“Center”). These organizations most likely