With many of my friends currently undergoing the hazing processes due to spring rush, I felt the need to do some research after witnessing some of the ridiculous and even dangerous acts they're told to perform in order to gain "respect" and the "right of passage".
After completing a little bit of research, I was shocked to find that at least one person has died every single year since 1969 due to hazing. Even more astonishing, is that hazing deaths have been occurring since 1838.
The National Collaborative for Hazing Research and Prevention at the University of Maine defines hazing as "any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers them, regardless of a person's willingness to participate".
Now don't get me wrong, I understand that both, fraternities and sororities, are wonderful ways to meet people and create life-long friendships, however, the initiation process has injured and killed too many innocent students.
The most common type of hazing act I see occurring among my peers is binge drinking. However, more rituals include desertion, brutal workouts and many more.
Binge drinking may not seem like the most threatening hazing ritual since hey, it's college right? Doesn't everyone drink a lot in college? No. This is a deadly ritual that has killed a multitude of students throughout the years. On January 25, 1980, Lurie Ballou died from choking on his own vomit after being forced to drink an excessive amount of alcohol. On September 17, 2004, Gordie Bailey, a Chi Psi pledge at the University of Colorado at Boulder, passed away from alcohol intoxication. To honor Bailey, The Gordie Foundation was created to "provide today's young people with the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, binge drinking, peer pressure and hazing".
Chad Meredith, a Kappa Sigma pledge at the University of Miami drowned on November 4, 2001, after he was instructed to swim across Lake Osceola while being completely intoxicated. After suing the fraternity, Meredith's parents were awarded $12,600,000. Four years later, the Chad Meredith Act was passed in Florida, allowing prosecutors to "seek felony charges for hazing".
Many of the young men who were deserted in the middle of the night died from being struck by cars. On the weekend of October 7-8, Gerald Foletta, a Sigma Pi pledge at the University of California, was driven to the countryside and forced to find his way back home. He was struck by a vehicle walking back to school. Likewise, on May 25, 1951, Fred Evans Jr. and Thomas Kleppner, Lambda Alpha pledges at the University of Miami, were taken 30 miles away from campus and were also forced to find there way back. They boys fell asleep on the road and were hit by a vehicle. Kleppner died instantly and Evens died 5 days later.
Another ritual of desertion led to the death of Thomas Clarke, a Delta Kappa Epsilon pledge at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on February 10, 1956. Clarke was yet another victim who was taken to a remote location and forced to return home on his own. He drowned after falling through the ice covering a reservoir. On December 22, 1972, Fred Bronner, a Chi Chi Chi pledge at Los Angeles Pierce College, was stranded 10 miles away from campus and told to think about how "obnoxious" he was. On December 30th, his body was found at the bottom of a 500-foot cliff in Angeles National Forest.
There is no circumstance where stranding someone alone somewhere, should ever be accepted or tolerated.
Excessive and brutal workouts have also led to the premature deaths of young pledges. The ritual of working out may not seem very dangerous at first either, but it can be deadly. Joseph Parella, a Delta Kappa pledge at Ithaca College, died April 2, 1980, from a heat stroke after completing brutal exercises consisting of doing 100 pushups, sprinting up and down a steep hill, doing 100 more pushups and running up and down the hill again. On January 29, 2001, Joseph Green died from an asthma attack while jogging and doing calisthenics as a ritual.
Some people may counter these stories with "well my frat would never do that" or "we don't do things that serious, that's crazy". But the facts are that dangerous hazing rituals still take place today and continue to take away the lives of innocent and prosperous young students. Pledges need to know that it is okay to say no when they are uncomfortable or scared of their situation. Brothers need to know that they do not need to beat, humiliate or hurt incoming members, solely to initiate them. The friends and family of pledges need to know that it is okay to tell them that they should not be doing something that threatens their safety or the safety of others. Parents need to know the risks that are involved when dangerous hazing rituals are taking place.
Please be aware of the dangers involved in hazing and never put yourself in a situation where you do not feel safe. No person, club, group or organization is worth losing your life. Disclaimer: Florida State University does not condone hazing among any student(s) or student organization, If you feel personal or social pressure to participate in activities that may include harassment, ridicule, intimidation, or physical exhaustion as a result of membership in a fraternity or sorority, please contact the Florida State University Police Department immediately at (850) 644–1234.
