Thursday, March 15, 2007

The Difference Between Pledging and Hazing

The Frat Boy News Daily College Column
By Justin Poythress, Vanderbilt University

The issue of fraternity hazing is a rather old one in the sense that it has been debated countless times in countless different environments and situations. However, in light of the latest incident in this long chain affecting Phi Kappa Psi, I feel it is important to discuss some basic realities people seem unwilling to face.

Every organization employs some form of hazing, or, more accurately, a new member initiation process. Each organization has its own individual traits, regulations and expectations and new members must learn and accept these before they are able to display the identity of the larger group. Whether this process is something basic such as a list of rules on a sheet you must sign, such as the Honor Code, or something more intricate and intense like military boot camp, the processes exist universally.

Now, in our specific university situation, the difference I see between pledging and hazing is that hazing is any process meant to make new members feel inferior or uncomfortable in any way; more specific guidelines are comprehensive and numerous. Just so we're on the same plane here, it should also be understood that all fraternities, if examined closely, probably would be found in violation of the hazing policy. It should also be noted that there will rarely be a “hazing incident” resulting in disciplinary action unless a disgruntled pledge snitches on his own group.

However, I would argue that the university should remove the choke-chain from the fraternities. I am not a member of a fraternity, but I have seen these foolish and destructive measures taken in the name of creating a safe environment. No matter what rules exist, there will always be ways to get around them to allow a fraternity to do whatever it likes in secret. I also think it is fair to say that in the long run, nobody, especially the fraternity, wishes to see pledges getting beaten, set on fire or poisoned. Word does spread about what type of pledging the fraternities exercise, and the ones going over the top with intense hazing are doomed to decline in popularity.

The best argument as to why the university should not concern itself with fraternity pledging is because the pledging process should be a contract between the individual student and the fraternity. If a student or pledge is upset or uncomfortable with a fraternity’s deeds he should leave. There is no need to make the situation any more complicated than that. I am in no way advocating violent or “intense” hazing, but when one joins a Greek organization, he shoulders the responsibility of the group’s requirements. If he does not find those requirements acceptable, he may always leave the group, but there is no need to complain to someone else and in doing so take away the opportunities of others.

Justin Poythress is a sophomore in Vanderbilt's Peabody College.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is a load of crap, Pledging should have limits. Hazing or pledging becomes and issue when students are pressured to do activities that are unsafe if there is no real danger then it doesn't interest the members of the frat or sorority. Some act that frats and sororities force pledges to do are certainly beyond the bounds of acceptability and sometimes even the law. Hazing should be monitored and subjected to scrutiny by the college.

Anonymous said...

Even if hazing seems to not be a big deal, you're not actually hurting them etc. it evolves over the years. Study those cases where extreme hazing has occurred. I'll bet you will find that it started with seemingly harmless actions even just a few years before. Be accountable for your actions. Hazing is illegal and it is illegal to not report hazing even if you are the one experiencing it. That is why it is important for pledges to report hazing and not just quit.

Anonymous said...

how do you get kicked out of a fraternity???????

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