I am an independent college student. I belong to no Greek organization. I have multiple reasons for choosing not to go Greek. That includes the cost of dues and other things that you do in a fraternity and I personally feel like I would not benefit from being in one. Now, this is not an article to bash those college students that rep their Greek letters proud but this is an article about the dumbest thing that could make or break a pledge: hazing.

According to hazingprevention.org, hazing is any action taken or any situation created intentionally that causes embarrassment, harassment or ridicule, and risks emotional and/or physical harm to members of a group or team, whether new or not, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate. This is done in order for current members of a team, Greek organization, etc. to see what new recruits or pledges will do in order to be considered a part of them.

And, more often than not, this is centered around "tradition."

Common examples of hazing are the humiliation of potential members, forced consumption of alcohol, and other strenuous activities to "prove" someone's worth and/or character.

Here's what perplexes me. How in the world does consuming absurd and dangerous amounts of alcohol or forcing people to do humiliating things help build unity? Because those controlling the hazing say they do it to build unity. Well, I call bs.

I think hazing is nothing more than people being able to bully and getting lots of power and control from doing so.

Hazing can be fatal as well. Look no further than the frat pledge at Penn State who died from alcohol poisoning. He had no idea what was going to happen when he went to the frat house that night. He didn't have a clue that he would never see the light of day again because of hazing. And he didn't want to walk away from the golden opportunity to be a member of that fraternity. That is sick that some students think that being in a fraternity is the end-all, be-all of their existence.

Now, I do respect the fraternities and teams that don't haze their members. And, wouldn't you know it? That's the teams and frats that have the most unity. I say again that this isn't an article to bash frats/teams. Go do your own thing. But hazing? That can go away and never come back and this world would be so much better for it.