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A Hazy Horizon When walking around a major university, or even a smaller institute, it is obvious that there is a strong Greek population. By Greeks I mean fraternities and sororities, young college students each year bend over backwards in order to join these organizations such as Delta Phi, Phi Kappa Sigma, Omega Psi Phi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi, etc. (Carlson). Obviously most of these initiation processes are somewhat harmless or nobody would want to join these “circles”. Due to the potential dangers hazing is banned at most places in the US (Fierburg). There is no set definition for hazing, but the relative universal basis in the 41 or so states that have laws against it is Conduct that causes or threatens to cause serious physical injury or psychological injury to another as a condition or joining a team, a student organization, or other group (Fierberg). While this behavior is more prominent in college it still happens at earlier levels such as high schools and middle schools. An article in Education Digest talks about a case in which ten students at Winslow High School in northwest Arizona were indicted on several felony charges in May for allegedly hazing teammates, mostly freshman on the basketball and track teams; Four students at Mount Zion High School in Illinois, faced expulsion this spring after being accused of spanking and paddling eight graders apparently as a form of initiation into the high school. In a survey held by Alfred University of those who have reported being hazed, 5% said they were first hazed while in middle school, and 42% said it first happened in high school (Fierberg). Michlen Robinson was a student at Norfolk State University, while at the school he was a victim of the hazing process in which he endured paddle swats, punches and a punctured lung (Black Issues). Robinson claimed to be a victim of hazing from the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity on September 21, 2000, and is suing the local chapter for $500,000 (Black Issues). To those who feel that hazing does not affect victims that much, Robinson’s attorney, John Watts quotes, “Frankly, he’s still scared (in regards to returning to Norfolk for the trial)”. Soon after this case and a few others school officials have expelled four students, including three Sigma members (Black Issues). In late March at Old Dominion University in Virginia, an 18-year-old Kappa pledge experienced chest pains, collapsed and stopped breathing after being on the line for at least fifty days. While in the hospital medical staff noticed extensive bruises on his hands and buttocks, the obvious patterns of abuse lead to criminal investigation. In written statements from other pledges the fraternity gave those pledging the option of joining them through the official process or by pledging which would entail “mental, physical, and emotional abuse”.
Approximate Word count = 1758
Approximate Pages = 7
(250 words per page double spaced)
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