Hazing Essay, Research Paper

Hazing

Hazing

Thesis: Hazing is a cruel way of being initiated into a fraternity.

I. What is hazing?

II. Why is it illegal?

III. What are some actions of hazing

A. Where it occurs

B. Deaths

IV. Why it is socially accepted

V. Signs that hazing might be occurring

Definitions

1) Hazing: any act that embarrasses or harms ones health, in order to be initiated into a group.

2) Fraternity: a college organization.

3) Alcohol: a substance that alters ones mental ability.

4) Chapter house: a fraternity house.

Introduction: Hazing is any action or activity which does not contribute to the positive development of a persons; which inflicts or causes physical or mental harm, which degrades a person, regardless of location, intent, or consent of participants. This action could or may intentionally or unintentionally endanger a student’s admission to an organization. Unfortunately hazing has been a common practice across college campuses. “Many agree that hazing has no place on campus and should be eliminated.”(Pledges vs. Hazing)

Plain and simple, hazing can be dangerous! Not only does it kill innocent people, but mocks, embarrasses and tortures them. This causes physical, mental, or emotional harm, or distress. In New York State hazing is illegal. A person is charged with first-degree class A misdemeanor. “There are anti-hazing laws in every state except Arizona, Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Michigan, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, and Vermont.”(Stop Hazing) Hazing expels and jails people and closes chapters and raises organizational dues. There are no winners in hazing. “This “tradition” that teaches “respect” for the group and its members should be replaced with another “tradition” education.”(Hazing)

Actions of hazing include, keeping dates and time of initiation a secret, making new members use separate entrances to the house. Paddling or striking, marking or branding. Phone duty, treasure hunts or road trips. Forcing exercise, forced to carry items such as

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rocks, matches coins, books, paddles etc. Preventing class attendance or sleep, forced to eat or drink. Working parties for new members only, preventing personal hygiene, causing indecent exposure. Physical harassment such as pushing, cursing or shouting etc. Required dressing in opposite sex’s clothes, attending in a Hell week activities before being initiated. Practice periods of silence, and any other activity, which may result in physical, emotional, or mental harm.

Two fraternity pledges were killed in Louisiana State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Both died of alcohol poisoning after fraternity members supplied them with alcohol and coerced them to drink. They drank themselves to death.

A student at Texas University, died after the Cowboys “picnic.” He drowned in a nearby creek with a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit. The organization was banned for five years and upon returning two or more years on probation.

In Boston, in 1997, an investigation was conducted after a former fraternity member binge drank and died. Scott Krueger, 18, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, died following a night of binge drinking at a fraternity.

The Sigma Chi fraternity was investigated for hazing after the house was caught on fire. Candles were lit for and initiation. The fraternity was charged with hazing and suspended until May 1999.

In February 1994, in Missouri State University, Micheal Davis blacked out after going through a “seven station circle of physical abuse.” Davis suffered from lacerated kidney and liver, broken ribs and bruises on his upper body.

In another incident, 10 cadets of the Citadel Military College were charged with hazing. Two women cadets reported that they were victims of hazing. Their clothes were set on fire while wearing them.

At Alfred University in New York, a football game was forfeited due to hazing of veteran teammates. Five freshmen players were allegedly treated for alcohol poisoning after an off-campus party.

The Chi Upsilon was found guilty of hazing. It was over heard that new members were to sleep in a tent, only given hot chocolate and blankets, outside a cabin.

In December 1993, fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon was suspended for making pledges stand in the middle of a Ring of Fire. The members are required to attend on and a half-hour class about hazing.

A frat house at Dickinson College was closed after a hazing tragedy. A pledge fell out of the window after vast amounts of alcohol.

The University of Colorado was suspended following a hazing incident where a pledge was forced to drink shots of vodka every time he missed a trivia question. He was later hospitalized.

The Morehouse College was suspended when a hazing incident with a pledge with a bad heart condition was shoved because he was unable to answer questions about the fraternity.

The University of Washington was also accused when two police discovered two sheep in the house boiler room. Pledges were also found in their underwear, covered in peanut butter and Crisco.

A west Texas University freshman received injuries to his kidneys when he was forced to squat and recite fraternity information.

A fraternity pledge at a Louisiana University became blind after being hit in the head by a frying pan.

A pledge at Texas University was handcuffed and forced to drink large amounts of alcohol. He later died, an autopsy revealed that his blood alcohol level was four times more than the legal limit.

At Arizona State a freshman suffered psychological damage during a hazing incident. He wasn’t able to sleep and was forced to do 2,000 push-ups a day, and made to crawl in degrading positions.

Some signs that hazing may be occurring are hesitation to questions, silence pledges look like they haven’t slept, showered, changed clothing or eaten. Total devotion to the group, pledges avoid talking to you or destruction to the house. Rumors of hazing, pledges separated from the rest of the group or pledges are the only ones answering the house phone or door. Conversation stops when you enter the room, more than what seems a normal ritual activity, yelling or screaming at a constant level or pledges dress in

a certain way. Carrying certain items, eating certain foods or eating a certain times, strange coming and goings at the chapter house and pledges are at the house more than necessary.

Conclusion: “Hazing has been socially accepted because it’s been a “tradition.”"(Tradition???) No one knows when or how long hazing dates back. Many feel that “tattling” will show the other members that their not up to the challenge. It all has to do with group mentality, peer pressure, and the fear of losing the teams disapproval. The leaders of hazing feel a sense of superiority and as a result cause danger to college freshmen.

Bibliography

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