The Effects Of Hazing On College Campuses

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 Greek fraternities, a culture that supports and encourages sexual violence thrives. My paper will focus on the relationship between the fraternity culture and lack of response that creates this life-ruining problem. The topic is important to all college students because of the lifelong consequences to both victims and perpetrators of sexual violence.

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

government would have to spend a vast amount of money to control hazing and try to prevent

College; some look for the experience to open their minds in extending their educations; as others look at it as the first step towards adulthood and running away from home as fast as possible. Sororities and fraternities have been around for decades with America’s blind eye turned towards the injustices that encompass the stigma. Student hazing deaths are climbing and something has to change to prevent these actions. What will it take to change fraternity culture?

First, people may say hazing is okay because it strengthens a person mentally. It teaches boys to be men or girls to be women. Donna Phillips, whose son experienced severe hazing at the Citadel in Charleston, SC, said “There’s no need for hazing. It destroys people” (Preventing). It is fine that a person may feel like that because they may have experienced it, but it was not as severe as the people in other cases. Others may kids will be kids, so someone is going to get hurt. But it should not get to that point.

Caitlin Flanagan uses her article to educate people about what hazing actually is. She speaks to former pledges and introduces us to what is known as the SHEP test. Flanagan also mentions how in many placing hazing has been banned but still continues in many fraternity houses across the United States. Despite many universities best effort, it is hard to stop hazing because many fraternities are off campus and the college has little control over them.

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

The article that I have selected is about hazing and how it is heavily associated with greek fraternity and sororitys across the U.S. Hazing is the act of ‘‘any activity expected of someone that joins a group and has the potential to humiliates, degrades, abuses, comprise safety, or inflicts pain until its victims’’(Richardson, Wang, &Hill, 2012). Hazing as a form of initation into these fratertinities and sorriorites and the behavior is highly anticpitate and welcomed as for many it is look at as a form of handed down tradition. Which brings us to the theory of reasoned action and it having much to do with an individuals positive or negative feelings about performing a behavior. Many have taken on the mindset that if you are not

Hazing is defined as “any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of a person’s willingness to participate” (Chaney). It is a ritual on many college campuses, especially in Greek life, forcing the students to do acts like, binge drinking, humiliation, sexual acts, and more. It is a very dangerous act that could include traumatic injuries like beating, drowning, and could even result in death on the student being hazed. Hazing is a growing problem here at The University of Alabama and at other college campus’s around the nation and there needs to be changes presented to cut out these dangerous practices. For this act to be stopped students, administration, and even parents must take steps to eliminating hazing on campus.

Along with many other so called traditions in this world hazing is one behavior that has just gotten out of control. With the way the world is today, and how long hazing has been going on I believe it will never be stopped. Hazing is involved in so many things in this world. There are some groups out there that people have to go through tasks just for applying. Then after if he or she makes it in there are more tests and tasks to go through. It goes on in sports, colleges, the military and plenty of other team groups. I personally do not think it is all that bad, to a certain extent. When the actions turn to abuse rather than tasks that is when it becomes wrong. In the military I completely believe it is an O.K. thing to do,

In 2007, seventy-four percent of varsity athletes, seventy-three percent of social greek letter organizations, sixty-four percent of club sports teams experienced hazing. (Most frequently Reported Membership Hazing Experiences among College Students, 2007). The number has risen tremendously since then. Not a single person tries to help anymore. If only people would realize what hazing does to others. Many people try to ignore it all. No one wants to admit that their child has committed something like this. In all honesty not a single human on this earth can say they have never been hazed or bullied in some shape, form, or fashion. Hazing needs to stop if it does not stop suicide rates will go up, there will be more injuries and depression due to hazing. Hazing is very dangerous, harmful, and disrespectful.

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.

Hazing can take place anywhere whether it be high school, college, sports, or fraternities. Other terms used for hazing are “hell week”, “help week”, and “initiation”. When one is trying to determine whether or not the situation is considered hazing there are many signs he/she could look for. Some examples include the following questions: is alcohol involved?, are there any risk of emotional or physical abuse?, and is there a risk of injury? (University of North Carolina Wilmington). If the answer to any of these is yes, then it would be considered some form of hazing. A study taking place at Alfred University shows that 1.5 million high school students have experienced some form of hazing. Forty-eight percent of students who belong to groups have reported to experiencing hazing behavior. These incidents can range anywhere between alcohol abuse to forcing one to commit a crime. Victims of hazing may hide the truth, whether they be embarrassed or they risk the chance of getting in a lot of trouble. While you may not notice it at first there are always signs to look for when searching for hazing activity. Some signs include excessive fatigue, wearing odd clothing, isolating themselves, skipping or missing class, and feeling depressed. Many parents are not aware of their child experiencing hazing activity. Although, now many of victims have decided to speak out about there encounters.