In a recent article in the Chronicle, hazing was the point of discussion. This article examined a national study that involved 11,000 students from 53 institutions on hazing, and was presented at NASPA. The types of cultures mostly involved in these activities tend to be fraternities, sororities, and sports clubs. The acts that are usually used to haze involve alcohol consumption, sex acts, and sleep deprivation. The article claims these types of activities can lead to significant physical and psychological damage. The article goes on to say institutional administrators need to do more to discourage and condemn this behavior on their campuses. It has been seen too long as a part of student life and campus culture. This is apparent when 9 out of every 10 students in the study did not think they were hazed; they merely thought it was something they had to do to earn their stripes so to speak. The latter part of the article focuses on parents wanting more accountability from colleges with regard to their student’s education and safety. The push for more accountability is emphasized as parents are asked to pay more and more for tuition. Parents are making more demands for their hard earned money.
I obviously agree hazing is a despicable act and an antiquated tradition. Unfortunately, it is a part of many cultures on campus and has been for quite a while. Many hazing traditions have survived under the veil of “tradition”. It is time to break these traditions because they are humiliating, degrading, and have indelible psychological consequences. The latter is apparent in why hazing has become a tradition. Why else would someone administer the same sort of treatment they received as new members of a culture unless they felt a catharsis in the process? This is to say, abusing someone else, may help some deal with their own experiences being abused. It is a sad cycle, and administrators should do more to see an end to it on campus.
http://chronicle.com/article/Student-Affairs-Meeting-Ha/12051/
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There in lies the problem, when students are asked, they don't think it is hazing. Which in turn, makes it pretty hard to do something about if students are not coming forth and letting administrators know what is happening. Plus, if students come forward and tell administrators what is going on then they will be going against the brother or sisterhood of the group they are trying to be apart of.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree in that these "traditions" need to stop as many of them involve alcohol, which has ended with student deaths at several institutions because someone just had to take one more shot or drink one more beer for the sake of "tradition." As I sit here writing this, I do understand that I have no idea what it is like to be apart of the greek system, so I can't really talk about the insiders perspective of the "traditions" (aka hazing), but from an administrators perspective, these acts can be devestating to a student and/or parents.
Thanks for sharing Chris. This article definitely made me think about how I can respond to things like this when I become aware of them in my position at UNC.
I agree hazing is not acceptable and can cause physical and psychological damage, however hazing does not always happen. I am in a sorority and I can truly say my sorority does not haze nor make the new members do anything they feel uncomfortable doing. My sister is also in a different sorority and agrees that her sorority does not partake in hazing. The University of Northern Colorado banned hazing as well as makes it know that if any organization participates in hazing then that particular organization will no long be affiliated with the University. Each year UNC asks each sorority to present their new member’s process to the University to make sure no hazing takes place. I can only speak for my sorority, however while UNC tries to take action on a no hazing campus, I know it still happens with a couple of organizations on campus. How can a University stop hazing when they do not know hazing occurs? UNC requires all new members to attend hazing seminars. This educates new member on hazing and if hazing takes place the students are more likely to inform a school personal. Because Universities take hazing seriously many organization do not risk the possibility of being on probation or getting kicked off of campus. It is important to remember not all organization such as sorority, fraternities, and sport clubs haze. The very few organizations that do haze give a bad name to all. Keep in mind that most states have anti-hazing laws, however six do not, they include New Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana.
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