Local fraternity hazing and pledge stories
 

I have a friend who pledged a fraternity. He almost got his collar-bone broken and one of his friends went to the hospital tody for a broken ankle. The members basically body slammed them into the ground. His friend told them what he went through during pledging. One was they blindfold you and stick your pledge pin over your heart and an unknown memberwill press it into your body.

Would this be considered extreme hazing or what? Have any of you ever been though things like this when you pledged?

OMG! That is insane. Is your friend alright now? That is definitely hazing in every possible sense of it. I'm in shock. Thank G-D I never had this happen to me or know of anyone that it has happened to.:eek: :eek: :eek:

Report it to the police immediately.

that is extreme hazing... and it should be reported... however

i know that many of my freinds that are in fraternities go through similar things.... my ex-boyfriend's kidneys failed during his pledging and he has a scar on his forehead from pledging- but he won't tell me what happened.... i have guy friends who came home iwth bruises all over tehm....

on my campus though- i wouldn't report them though- i don't want to be responsible for shutting down their fraternity.... the guys who pledge know what they are getting into...

its not right.... but thats just the way it is.... :rolleyes:

p.s. i've never heard of the sororities hazing in this way

I guarantee you -- if they continue this type of hazing, eventually, someone will die. A group that has a tradition like this is definitely not deserving of any kind of protection. The members and alums that let this go on belong in jail.

That's a mistake. If things like that are happening, they deserve to be shut down...before someone is more seriously injured or killed.

Co-sign with ktsnake and DeltAlum.

I believe that if we know firsthand (either by witnessing it or by a member/pledge telling us) about hazing it's our responsibility as a Greek member to report it to the proper authority. Depends on where you are as to whether you report it to the campus or the police or the HQ.

I'm not saying one person can singlehandedly stop it, but I don't think it's OK to simply sit back and knowingly let it happen. That's along the same lines as condoning the behavior. It's a slippery slope.

PsychTau

i know waht you are saying- but i would think that the person who it happened to should go to the authorities rather then have be hearsay.... if i wen tto the police and said- oh well i heard they were hazing- then its not credible- and the school knows that they haze- and the police watch they houses but there isn't much more they can do if no one in that org steps up and has proof of hazing....

while i agree to an extent... even if you were to go based on hearsay, it would put up a red flag and the group would be watched a little more closely. And any member being hazed may not have the courage to come forward, even though they are facing bodily harm. Again, it's a vicious cycle. Yeah I can understand being called a "snitch" or whatever, but what's it to you? IT's someone's life!

its coming off as if i'm not concerned- i am! but there isn't much i can do about it... its easier than you think to hide hazing unless there is proof

and besides- i am away at the moment- and these things happened a year ago.... i don't know wahts going on at the moment- the last i heard some of these groups were getting better....

Then you are part of the problem

I can fully understand and respect AlethiaSi's desire not to turn in the members of another organization based on another's account. No one likes being labeled a tattletale, nor feeling responsible as being the one who brought a group with a long heritage to its ruin.

Sounds pretty deep, doesn't it?

It takes a very strong person to right a wrong. I think AlethiaSi's friend is strong for being able to tell her what happened to him. She can be a good friend by encouraging him to step forward and end the abuse. She should support him in his decision and help him deal with any personal issues he might suffer as a result.

If anything is happening currently, it should be reported to the Greek Advisor. We all have free will, and AlethiaSi should not feel harrassed for not reporting something that happened a year ago to somebody else.

Consider a rape victim who does not want to come forward to the authorities. Would you continue to beleaguer the victim to step forward and ensure continued harrassment and nightmares if they aren't yet ready, or will continue to be supportive. Rape is illegal. So is hazing. A person has to do what is right for them, in their current state of mind and what they are strong enough to handle.

However, let's get away from pinning blame on AlethiaSi, and back to naglok's concerns. Yes, naglock, that is hazing, that is dangerous and it should be reported. Now. Let's make sure that no one else suffers grave bodily harm, or worse, death.

Altheia, you said your ex bf's kidneys shut down during his pledging?

If they continue to endanger people like that, it's not only likely, it's inevitable that someone will end up dead or permenantly disabled as a result of this stupidity.

Well the weird thing is this school is in the south, it's a central university not a main "state" university. My State univeristy is very heavy and has good strong greek systems. I know they all haze there, but its making a pledge clean up something or do pushups if he tries to get a girl a member is after in the house. Minor, non-physical hazing really.

But, Ive never heard anything like this until I was told about it yesterday. His gf told me that someone is put into the hospital every year.. however, I don't know the valildity of that because I would assume nurses or doctors would see pledges and kinad catch on. But that is what I was told.

And sticking the pledge pin over the chest, in the chest? That sounds disgusting.. Funny thing is, in my opinion, the frat is not even that good and have no idea why they would go through such hell or continue to.

You sound like you know that what happened is wrong. And regardless of whether it happens at a big school or a smaller one, hazing is hazing.

I don't understand the motivations of those who haze. Following a tradition, I suppose. Trying to inspire a team environment through tests of loyalty. The hazees? A desire to fit in and belong, despite any physical or emotional abuse.

Ignore what his GF said. That's hearsay. You have seen what happened to your friend and the account of what happened. Those are the hard facts.

Well, the verdict from Greek Chat is hazing. What do you plan to do?

Options
1) Talk to your friend and advise him that he was hazed and you support his turning the fraternity in.
2) You send a letter to the Dean in charge of student activities, citing your concerns. Hazers know they're wrong, and they harrass those who point this out. I'd advise you to remain anonymous if possible, to avoid harrassment.
3) You do nothing, and live with the knowledge that nothing will be done.

Well I dont really feel like it is my place to say anthing. I know hazing is illegal, but I look at it kinda in a different perspective. If I saw two kids in their car smoking pot, would I call the police because it is illegal? Of course not. The pledges need to do the talking, it involves them, not me.

Two kids smoking pot in a car is a victemless crime, unless they drive under the influence. There is no real moral equivalency.

Knowing about violent hazing and being quiet, is like knowing about a guy next door, who regularly beats the crap out of his wife. If you stay quiet, the violence will almost definitely continue. If you tell the authorities, they may be able to stop it.

Its unfortunate that you are in this position, but if you remain silent, this will almost definitely continue. At least until someone else is hospitalized, or killed. Or until someone else has the courage to step forward.

Ummm....I'd amend #3:

3) You do nothing, and live with the knowledge that nothing will be done. Then, I hope you can live with yourself when the eventual serious injury or death happens.

I'd start with #1, but go to #2 if they are not willing to do anything - your a friend, and his brothers are SUPPOSED to be friends (AND BROTHERS) as well, and I guarantee you it's not supposed to happen this way!

Only brothers treat each other as brothers - these boys are simply sadistic, and, sadly, your friend is going to fall into the same mold unless something drastic is done to save someone's life someday.

Don't take it lightly, or simply think it will just go away - it won't, and you'll have to live with the guilt you'll endure WHEN something seriously wrong occurs. Not if. When.

You can make reports anonymously...they wouldn't even know who reported them. Trust me, any greek life office in the country would investigate allegations such as these very intently.

i can understand both sides of this but i think it boils down to how common or uncommon hazing is at your school. there's so much politics involved depending on who knows what and i'd have to imagine that most schools and universities are very fearful of the publicity and lawsuits, especially since most of the time it's going to be pretty hard to prove unless there's sustained physical injuires or pictures or video. even then it can be impossible to actually prove who did what and to whom, or who had knowledge of it and to what extent. i can see wanting to blow the whistle in order to try to prevent it, but if the groups doing it really want to, it's easy to do it and not get caught, and some groups of people, even considered minor, can create an atmosphere in which the few people out of a larger group who have been hazed and want to report it, can be made fearful of doing so, especially when you're talking about a town or a campus where everyone knows each other and these people have to be able to live amongst each other. believe me, i know it sucks and am in NO WAY condoning hazing, but often times the administrators who could try to crack down on it know about it anyway, and when so many idiots will volunteer to be hazed, it's a big mess and could easily turn into a major burden for one person to try and change it, and in many cases, actually try to change people's morals and free will. it's impossible.

i think there should be more focus on why is there so much hazing anyway - why does our culture seem to promote this attitude in people, either apathy, or loss of identity within group-thinking/image, or sadism? it's really scary to watch the facial expressions of people who are having fun hazing other people.

Hey, gang--I'm an alumni advisor @ 2 Lambda Chi Alpha chapters in Illinois. I'm also a member of AFA, and if you want something to get done the best person to deal w/is the Greek Advisor.

I know that these folks are earnest in their desire to keep things like this from happening on their campuses. Let them know who/what/when/where ASAP.

For those that say the advisors are "just out to get us" or "kick all the Greek houses off campus", I simply reply that the advisors would then be unemployed if there wasn't a Greek community @ that school. Makes sense, eh?

These groups aren't gonna change overnight. I guess it's really like we say in Lambda Chi: Naught without labor. Best of luck...

Fraternally,
Bill Foltz
Illinois State '77

No MATTER WHAT, Common or uncommon it is at a school??????????:mad: That makes it right?

It will be common as long as no one lets it be known or until someone is seriuously injured or maybe dies!:(

What it boils down to is:

Well, I got My Ass Beat, so why cant I do it!:confused:

Yepper, takes real mentality to figure that out doesnt it!:rolleyes:

I am sorry but as boz states what does it prove. I also work with My Brothers at My Alma Mater, and trust me, they know how I feel about Hazing!
I have also vistied many Chapters in My Area and talk with them!

If I find out about it, I will contact Out International and let them know if We as Alums cannot get it straightened out!:mad:

As you can see, We as LXA Brothers feel very strongly about this and rightly so!:cool:

So, use your head, not your butt! ;)

Oh, by the by, you are talking to an ex Police Officer:D

boz, PM me about AFA can you!:)

naglok- Yikes man! That is hazing alright. It looks to be they took an old military hazing tradition called "Blood Wings". If I were you I would talk to your friend about reporting it, or at least to stop this act in future pledged classes.

On AlethiaSi, I understand where she is coming from. Heck, a sorority on this campus put 1 pledge into the hospital w/kidney failure, 1 pledge recieved a broken knuckle, and another pledge had an undisclosed hospital visit :( Our school knows hazing goes on in one shape or another, as long as it doesn't hurt their image they don't care. Majority of their alumni support are Greeks anyway that went through -much worse- then any pledges now go through.

when looking at a widespread problem, you have to make some generalizations. if hazing occurs at school, whether it's regular or an occassional problem, i'm NOT saying that it's right or ok because it's definitely not. what i'm saying is that the person who is accustomed to hazing as a part of their campus life is far less likely to either see it as a problem or feel it's their business to try to stop it. someone whose HS or college experience is devoid of hazing will probably be much more likely to blow the whistle if they're confronted by it, experience it or even hear about it. that's what i meant by "common or uncommon"; if it happens a lot then more people tend to turn a blind eye, as rio_kohitsuji points out.

Please send an unsigned letter to their nationals. They will check it out. If nothing is going on then they won't close the chapter. If something is-then they are giving all greeks a bad name!

Wow... there's a term I haven't heard in a while... but yeah the Canadian military did (and still does) it too... except in some cases it is any badge or mark on your uniform...

Basically for the pin... put in on with no backing and have everyone punch you on in or push it in... hence the blood... I've also seen it with rank badges... except everyone gives you a punch on the arm... everyone (100+).

This is really harsh and really awful. It's hard to take a stand against something that you think is wrong and is not in your own org.
I have seen and heard of hazing events in orgs on my own campus and although they are nowhere near this bad or destructive, I don't know what to do about them.