Hazing

[McDreidel09]

Some people wonder why I don't try to join a sorority. It's because of hazing crap. My school just discovered that a sorority of ours makes prospective members watch porn and write detailed notes and then take a quiz on it. If they don't answer the quiz perfectly, they must watch the porn all over again until they do the quiz perfectly.

To keep from getting in trouble, they are saying that it isn't hazing because it has educational value.

Educational value my ass. I am sorry, but by age 18, I think one would know the mechanics of sex, so it really has no educational value.

Who knows what else these sororities and fraternaties are making pledges do, besides having to make or buy gifts for members every week or basically become their bitch?

Is hazing really appropriate? Discuss.

[AdminAssistant]

Hazing is never appropriate. The philanthropic aspect of Greek organizations is all but nil, and I question why administrators still allow them at all. All they do is promote, besides hazing, racism, sexism, elitism, and culturism. "My group is better than your group." Not to mention stripping young freshmen of their individuality in the name of creating "friendships" that typically don't last beyond graduation. Far better to join an organization centered around your major, or to join a charitable organization that actually performs philanthropy without needing keggers.

[guywithashovel]

When I was in college, I think there was one fraternity that made pledges go without sleep for a prolonged period of time. There was also another one that would give pledges cell phones, and the pledges had to keep this phones with them at all times, even during class, and they would call them at random throughout the day. I guess that's not the worst thing they could do. The worst I can think of that could have happened is that they called them during a class and the prof jumped down their throat over the phone ringing.

I never joined any frats just because I wasn't interested in all of this stuff. Maybe I took an overly simplistic view of them, but I just didn't like the idea of people who would only be my friend and include me in their group if I passed a bunch of crazy tests that they had put together for me. In some weird way, it reminded me of those clubs that young kids form where you have to do something gross---like eat a bug or worm---to join.

[Greenday]

I'm just not into the whole "paying for friends" thing which is basically what frats are. Over $500 per semester? Fines if you miss a meeting, even if it's because you have class? Kiss my ass. And I'd knock someone's ass out if they tried to haze me. It's not for the connections. That's a load of shit. You can make those through any normal club.

I live in on-campus housing and my apartment is for five guys. The other four are all in the same frat. The mostly Latino and a few other minorities frat. I can officially say I've seriously experienced racism. They are nice to me, but I've dealt with hearing a lot of racist stuff towards whites from them.

Frats/Sororities are stupid regardless. They don't really contribute to colleges in any positive aspect.

[crashhelmet]

Hazing, in general, serves a purpose. It's designed to test the determination of the prospective member and separate the worthy from the those that aren't. It needs to be better defined though.

In academic institutions, it's pretty much defined as making a prospective member do something in order to gain admittance. Essentially, hazing is when you say "You have to do this or you can't get in." Hell, by their own definition, going through the steps to be accepted into the school is an act of hazing.

Military Boot Camps and other Schools (Jump, Flight, etc) are filled with it, but unless it's something like Blood Pinning or "Code Reds", no one seems to have any problems with it.

Make them streak down Greek Row with marshmallows shoved up their ass? Have sex with livestock? Forced Binge Drinking? That has no place in any organization, whether it be academic, military, or professional.

Make them do something that is pivotal to what they're going to be doing like run an obstacle course, jump out of a plane, or volunteer at a hospital and that's acceptable. Soldiers hoping to be come a Navy SeAL are subjected to sleep deprivation, extreme exercise regimens, and malnutrition. Any and all of it can be fatal, but it is accepted and not considered hazing. Do it anywhere outside of the military and it is.

Getting back to the OP, just because 1 chapter is caught hazing, it doesn't mean that all chapters haze. Greek organizations treat hazing matters very seriously and revoke their Charters in just about every valid case while the schools expel the students. Hazing in the military is often met with Court Martials, Dishonorable Discharges, and jail time.

Fraternities and Sororities are supposed to be about what they are. Brotherhood and Sisterhood. They're about grouping with people of similar ideals and forming a bond to help you while in school and to continue outside of it. I'm in a Fraternity and it's been 16 years since I was initiated. 16 years later and I'm still active with my Brothers and the newer Brothers that have come along since. My particular Fraternity prides itself on building better men. I can say that I truly am a better man because of my Fraternity.

CH

[DesignFox]

I could never understand the concept of having to purchase your friends. That's pretty much how I view fraternities and sororities.

However, I know two people who joined in college and it was extremely beneficial for them in the long term. *shrug* I guess different people have different needs. My one friend is extremely insecure and the girls in her house ended up giving her the social support she needed. She is a recent graduate, and is still welcome to visit their house/keep in touch with her sisters.

My SO had a myriad of problems. His brothers were there to support him and help him get through some of the tougher times. He still keeps in touch with many of them, years after they all graduated.

As far as I know, they didn't have to go through anything traumatic, but they were tested.

*shrug* I don't think the crazier stories of hazing that we hear are appropriate, but on the other hand, if you agree to that sort of thing, it's your own damn fault. You can always walk away.

[blas87]

In my opinion, there is no need for frats or sororities anymore.

[protege]

I went to a college that no longer has fraternities or sororities. Seems that the president (who is a dick, BTW) felt that they didn't fit in with the "Christian" image...and booted them all, even the service and honorary ones. Never mind that many of their members did volunteer work, and were actually pretty good students otherwise, they all had to go. Now, he can't understand why many alumni are pissed at him, refuse to donate money as long as he's in power, and why the college is constantly hounding people for money

Then there are military programs, and people who simply cannot handle the "harsh" treatment at boot camp. Specifically, getting pushed around by older members and leaders. My brother was one of those--he dropped out of Virginia Tech's cadet program, which is a military program from what I understand, because he didn't like the "hazing" that was going on. Reality was, he couldn't handle the program, and used that as an excuse to quit.

[gremcint]

they are a club like any others, they charge dues like so many others, as for the paying for friends last I checked they were given residence, food, resources and allowed to participate in events, they're paying for these. It's the same as joining a book club that charges fees. As for elitism and all that jazz, we argue that clubs and stuff should be allowed to choose who their members are and companies shouldn't be forced to hire people of certain minorities, why should this be any different.

[McDreidel09]

I found out other hazing things they have done.

They blindfolded the girls and took them way out of town and dropped them off in the middle of nowhere with only a flashlight to get home. They also put a brick with their colors on it somewhere on campus and the girls had to keep looking to find it NO MATTER WHAT until it was found. So they couldn't stop for the bathroom,food,classes,homework,etc.

[AdminAssistant]

Book clubs 1) serve an educational purpose and 2) don't usually haze. The problem with Greek social organizations* is that they are sanctioned by the University, which means that the University apparently approves of their actions. That generally include encouraging promiscuous sex, humiliation, degradation, oh, and don't forget, bonging beers and doing shots until recruits get alcohol poisoning.

Not to mention that students use their frats as an excuse to get out of work. I TA a Theatre Appreciation class. One of the requirements is to *shock* attend two theatre productions. I had a student try to get out of it by saying, "That's Homecoming weekend and my Frat has activities ALLL weekend. So I can't." I replied, "Oh, really? Well then, I would like to talk to your chapter president about releasing you from fraternal duties so that you can fulfill your class requirements." He dropped the issue and came to the show.

*to differentiate from honor societies and other clubs that take Greek titles, like Phi Kappa Phi.