Thinking of rushing..Terrified of hazing
 

I am considering attending University of Idaho and rushing a sorority. I joined Greek Chat so I could browse the forums about hazing. I want nothing to do with hazing or any such incidents. That is the one thing that is holding me back from rushing. I understand from reading these posts and news articles that most hazing goes on during the pledging process. Also, that most hazed students were actually doing the acts their abusers asked them to do. If someone tries to leave a dangerous situation are they harmed? Or are they allowed to freely leave?

Does anyone know if University of Idaho still has problems with hazing? Do most universities have hazing problems? Should I not even rush? I am so terrified of this, so any serious information or experiences would be appreciated.

Are there any tips anyone has to look out for early signs that may foreshadow hazing that I should look for before I am in a dangerous situation?

You are WAY overreacting. Very very few sororities haze anymore. Even fewer that than do any kind of hazing which could be considered "dangerous". All of the NPC sororities have hotlines to call to report hazing and hazing is a crime in most states.

Again, you are WAY overreacting.

I don't really think I am overreacting. I see many news articles about greek organizations losing their recognition because of hazing issues and also death reports. I understand what I can do AFTER an incident, but I want to avoid anything happening in the first place.

But, maybe the media has overdramatized these situations. That's why I am asking for information.

Honestly, I think you may be overreacting to the overdramatized situations in the media. Sororities offer a great way for you to meet new people and bring your skills and passions to the table, in order to help others through philanthropy. I think you should consider looking at the various sororities on campus and you may be surprised that they are filled with some great girls. Check out greek life but, please go in with an open mind.

When does the news ever report on the good any person or organization is doing?

Do some better research.

What exactly is there to be "terrified" about? Even if there was hazing, it's not as if they can force you to do anything. Simply walk away and call the hotline/law enforcement authorities.

There's the big scary hazing that you see on TV, that's really rare because when it happens, people usually get caught and chapters get shut down.

There's smaller hazing that is slightly more common and less likely to get caught. It's also far less dangerous although still disallowed by the Inter/national sororities.

But the best defense against hazing is you. Never agree to do something you're not comfortable with. I never once dealt with real hazing as an active and only a couple of times ran across things could have been called hazing even if they weren't intended that way and no participant was upset.

Don't go into recruitment looking at all of these girls as potential hazers, look at them as potential sisters.

I didn't know Idaho had a problem with hazing. You seem to be a little too paranoid. Sororities, in general, do not have a real big problem with hazing at this time. The risk is too great and most Nationals have a zero tolerance for this type behavior. I suggest you not join a sorority as you seem way too weak.

I think that VandalSquirrel might be able to clarify if she is still around.

This. You only see the BAD things in the news about greek life. The good FAR outweighs the bad. Personally, I was never hazed, but I saw it happening in other chapters on my campus. Even still... what I saw back then was minor. My org has a very strict anti-hazing policy with it's own designated hotline to report hazing incidents to. You will be FINE! Go in with an open mind and open heart. If at any point you feel you are being hazed (if you pledge somewhere), contact the proper authorities.

Thank you all for your points. I agree that all you see is the bad because stories of greek organizations benefitting society wouldn't be as popular. I guess I just saw a few articles within a short amount of time and was scared that this was the norm.

I appreciate your advice. I will stop LOOKING for the bad.

Look at it this way. If it was the norm, then it wouldn't be newsworthy would it?

I would also suggest that when you go through recruitment not to listen to the tent talk because I can almost bet that you will hear about sororities that "haze hard" when in fact it is completely untrue. Don't let the gossip bring you down. I know I didn't and I'm so happy for that because I love my (non-hazing) chapter.

OMG! Of course!!! :eek:

I wouldn't go that far. The "sororities" (and fraternities) aren't what's hazing. It's some of the members in some of the chapters that are hazing. It is good that you put "dangerous" in quotations.

This is one of those topics where the person can read the hazing headlines and draw their own conclusions. Whether they want to pursue Greekdom is completely up to them. We aren't suffering for members and don't need to convince anyone of anything.

Yes.

That's not a good reason. As a Greek, I am offended by Greek members who choose to haze, and I do consider it my responsibility inform non-Greeks that it is a negative stereotype and like most stereotypes, only applies to a small few. I think your "we don't care" attitude regardless of whether hazing is real/dangerous is probably more harmful than good. Many say stupid stereotypes should just be ignored, but for something that is illegal and potentially harmful, I disagree. Just my humble opinion

I don't think that's what she's saying.

It's not up to us to scream "NO NO NO! Hazing doesn't happen! Come ooonnnn, we neeeeed more members!" There are plenty of people in GLOs, so it doesn't really matter if Susie PNM is swayed by the negative stereotypes. PNMs/aspirants should be researching and using common sense.

All we can do is represent our organizations in a positive light. Those who are serious about Greek life will be able to break through the clutter.

I'm sure there's some of the NPHC/NPC differences coming across, but I don't see answering these questions as begging for members or desperately trying to convince someone.

We corrected the misconception and encouraged her to a) think for herself and b) go through recruitment and find out. PNMs aren't held to the same expectations that aspirants are and 17-18 year-olds can need reassurance. Far better that we correct the misconceptions than allow them to continue.

What actions would you consider hazing that would "scare" you? Did you know that scavenger hunts are considered hazing? What about requiring a certain shade of nail polish for initiation? That's hazing too. Do those things scare you? I doubt it...but they are considered hazing. Yes, there have been some bad incidents - dangerous ones. But there are also these types of things that happen that shouldn't "scare" you but are demeaning inother ways. The NPC groups have come down hard on hazing - even the scavenger hunts and the nail polish. Odds are you won't run across even this.

I don't believe that NPC "begs" for members either -- I think it really comes down to the bolded. Our organizations have plenty of information about hazing (definitions, what to do if you suspect it, etc) and PNMs/aspirants have access to that information. They can choose to acknowledge that info or to ignore it.

If, after researching, an aspirant STILL doesn't want to pledge, so be it. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Co-sign.

I think the point is that no matter how much we, or our orgs, point out that we don't allow hazing, it can happen. But I really don't see how any of this is 'begging' or lowering ourselves.

She can go through recruitment and see, but she can also be aware that if she's faced with a hazing situation she has the ability to say no and not be pressured into it.

I don't think the fact that our laws tell us not to haze coupled with the fact we have enough members in our GLO's is enough to not do anything else. In theory, this is accurate, but in practice, no.

This is something that's communicated to PNMs/aspirants. Anything beyond that would be stepping into "spoonfeeding" territory (IMHO).

To each his/her own. If you want to go beyond that, that's your call. But it isn't necessarily "wrong" to expect prospective members to form conclusions on their own.

I agree, I just didn't see how anything here was related to us begging for members.

"We aren't hurting for members" =/= "Begging for members" (in my eyes)

I think the point is that none of our GLOs will cease to exist if a handful of PNMs/aspirants don't form their own conclusions. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of others that are more than willing to come to us.

Yeah I just don't get where that relates per se. Again perhaps it's the NPHC/NPC difference. Not responding to this thread, or anyone else's comments, wouldn't hurt our numbers, but why not respond with accurate information? I don't get that attitude of not providing simple, accurate answers when someone asks in good faith. Even if nothing else, it's just good PR in this situation and correcting one person's view can spread to her friends or classmates.

*shrug*

ETA: I do understand why questions regarding membership in D9 or other orgs are redirected elsewhere, I think that's a different issue.

(Only dragging this on because I don't want to continue working lol)

It's because most of the questions have already been answered by our I/HQs. If an interest doesn't take the time to try to find information on his/her own, it makes it seem as if the person will be a member that requires spoonfeeding at every turn.

Again, to each his/her own. I'd prefer to represent my organization by fulfilling my duties as a member rather than schooling interests on things that they can easily find the answers to.

(Yeah I'm dodging the kitchen.) I can understand why someone comes to ask 'people' rather than read the websites. Particularly since hazing happens despite what our websites say, so asking "what really happens" is pretty legit, IMO, and not spoonfeeding info about our individual orgs.

I figure if I can spend an evening snarking someone I can spare some time to answer a question. Obviously no one should be expected to, because we come here for our own reasons.

Those people should be "real" people as opposed to usernames, but I get what you're saying.

Good to be educated
 

I think it is good to be aware of hazing. No Greek organizations that I know of endorse hazing. If any hazing is done it is usually by a couple of bad apples not the whole group. I certainly wouldn't let this hold you back from participating in recruitment. I don't know any thing about the University you site or the groups there. I don't think there are any warning signs if a group is going to haze you. I would treat sorority life like your own life, if some thing is going on that makes you feel uncomfortable leave and tell some one.

I asked this question because it IS NOT a simply answered question. Some posters are acting like I'm stupid for asking this, yet there are MANY threads in the Risk Management section about chapters being suspended and closed for hazing allegations. As for not doing enough, or the right, research, many of the articles are reporting deaths. I don't think you can exaggerate that. Either someone died, or they didn't.

I'm not asking for people to beg me to rush. As someone who wants to join a sorority for the social, academic, and philanthropy positives, I asked for information and opinions on the serious matter. Not for reassurance. I don't think I deserve to be patronized over a sincere concern.

If this was a non-issue there would not be so much debate over it.

Thank you to those who took the time to seriously reply.

Ehh...you're not the only aspirant/PNM being discussed. :rolleyes: We just happened to talk about this in a thread you've created.

But, as you've stated, there are plenty of resources out there. As you've seen, our organizations don't condone hazing (as evidenced by chapters closing, etc), but there are some bad apples in the bunch.

You (should) know what to do if hazing occurs. Whether or not you rush is up to you.

Ideally yes, but since many PNMs hit recruitment in their first weeks of school they may not have the time to make connections and, for example, my mom's experience at XYZ at Large State U are not necessarily relevant to my experience in ABC at Small private U and so on.

:cool: I like you, kid. I may just hire you after all :p

Bolded is likely where much of the disconnect is coming from. I wasn't really thinking about the NPC recruitment model when typing my responses. At least the OP (Hey, OP -- NOW I'm talking about you) can see different sides of the coin.

And hook it up with the vision insurance and you've got a deal lol

It obviously is to me. The rest of your post had nothing to do with mine.

ETA: NotYetGreek isn't even smart enough to just take the responses and be quiet. Another simpleton aspirant.

Aye, that's why I think some of this is NPC-style vs. NPHC-style perspectives.

Ooh, vision. Hmm ok I can swing it but you're on your own for dental.

Did you look and see how many of the deaths involved NPC sororities? Or did you just look at the Greek letters?

As other people pointed out, the threshhold of what's considered "hazing" for many NPC groups is beyond ridiculously low.