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... scent males, surrounded by "oceans of beer; loud music; sweating and willing women" (De Parle 39). Although, fraternities were founded to be .".. an organization that stresses fund-raising and community service, as well as being a social outlet for members... " (Fraternity Chapter Starts " I 1).
If fraternities are tired of being stereotyped, then they have to work hard in changing their reputation. Fraternities have to show society that they do have a beneficial purpose, and that they are not all about beer and women. There are a number of college campuses, in which "fraternities and sororities have endorsed a plan to change, ... that would not only abolish hazing but also remove the possibility of it ending the generation-old tradition of pledging itself" (Marriot B 3). A number of fraternity members that were hazed in the past would probably ask, "How can you accept somebody wholeheartedly into your sacred group who doesn't pass your tests whatever they may be?" (Marriott B 3). Still, physical and "torture" tests are not the only types of tests that can be given to initiate pledges.
Some fraternities have "rules already approved, "in which, "applicants for membership must be interviewed by members and then in which they will be taught about the fraternity group" (Marriott B 3). Even "some groups, such as Alpha Phi Alpha, will administer written tests" (Marriott B 3) instead of physical "torture" or drinking tests. Also, if college men are educated enough and discover what occurs during fraternity initiation ceremonies and what is done to them, if they join the fraternity, then they will probably think twice about joining or demanding some types of changes, on the fraternity's part. Already initiated fraternity members have to consider that they did not enjoy what was done to them during pledging, so why would future members enjoy hazing. Another solution that would restrict hazing, and eventually put a stop to it, is intervention by college administration.
Fraternities are, literally, getting away with murder, which is seen by the "reported forty-five to fifty deaths between 1978 and 1990 " which include hazing, accidental and suicide deaths (Nuwer 27). For example, in a well-publicized hazing death of Charles (Chuck) Stenzel, Author Hank Nuwer states that, "the then-president of Alfred University, M. Richard Rose, spoke at the memorial service... [and] said that no individual student could be blamed for the death in which Chuck's mother has called a senseless hazing incident" (Preface). Chuck died in a hazing incident from "a cute alcohol poisoning combined with exposure to cold, and severe pulmonary edema... " (Stevens 24). The college expressed that "although they deeply regretted the tragedy, etc. , they could accept no responsibility for what had happened (Nuwer 11). If the college is not responsible, then who is?
The victim? College administrators must take full responsibility of what happens with their students. If something happens to their students, especially when something is done by college-approved organizations (fraternities), then college administrators are responsible. Even though administrators dont want the responsibility that is asked of them. Even author Hank Nuwer states that, unless media and public pressure is brought to bear on colleges and other groups in which hazing is common, administrators will continue to call hazing by any other name (27).
One final solution that could restrict hazing, and eventually put a stop to it, is stricter laws that prevent hazing from occurring. Some 35 states have anti-hazing laws which are considered constitutional (Marcus B 1). Still, this does not mean that they are preventing hazing altogether. Author Hank Nuwer states that, In relation to the number of crimes committed annually, hazing laws are seldom invoked by district attorneys.
In New York state, for example, the first convictions for hazing did not come until 1985, and involved a high-school fraternity (250). While anti-hazing laws were passed in some states, college administrators were not the ones who fought to get these laws passed. Parents of children who died in hazing incidents are the ones responsible for getting the laws passed. As stated in Broken Pledges, Mary Lenaghan, the mother of dead pledge Jay Lenaghan, has a passion to end high-school hazing that Eileen Stevens [Mother of dead pledge, Charles (Chuck) Stenzel] feels for ending college hazing (251). Organizations like CHRORUS, an acronym for Campus Hazings Offensive Rituals Undermine Schools, formed by Lenaghan helped inspire an anti-hazing law in Massachusetts, just as Eileen [Stevens] and Chuck [Committee to Half Useless College Killings] has done in New York... (Nuwer 251 - 252).
Nuwer also states others like... Joan Carry, Ray and Make Below, and Dorothy Flowers [who]... [have] helped achieve [anti-hazing laws] in Wisconsin, South Carolina, and New Jersey, respectively (252). As a result of these peoples interests, fraternity members are discovering that they are extremely vulnerable to legal action stemming from alcohol-related incidents, hazing abuses and sexual assaults (Marcus B 1). Fraternities are liable to pay large sums of money in hazing related deaths.
As Mr. Manley (a lawyer) states in an article written by Amy Marcus, the students dont realize that they could end up in jail, in bankruptcy court, or spending the rest of their lives paying off a multimillion-dollar debt (B 1). All fifty states have to pass anti-hazing laws so that hazing can be put to an end, without having more pledges die as result. As Eileen Stevens states in Marcus article, publicity about larger settlements and damage awards has forced many colleges to re-evaluate the fraternity social system and implement tougher rules (B 1).
Without the help of college administrators, anti-hazing laws are useless in preventing hazing incidents from happening. Certainly, each of these solutions, individually, can prevent hazing from occurring, but if all three solutions are used at the same time, hazing can be put to an end, faster. If fraternities are giving the education about hazing, they should see that hazing has evolved into a big problem. On the other hand, if they do not see hazing as a problem, college administrators can punish and reprimand the fraternities. If hazing incidents still exist, fraternities can be fined and sued since hazing is illegal in 35 states under law.
Together, these three solutions are able to prevent hazing now, end hazing in the long run. Bibliography:
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