Have we gone too far? Excessive Punishments for Small Infactions
 

I would like to keep NGLO names out of this post if possible, but I am an Alumnus who is concerned about NGLO giving excessive punishments.

I am against all forms of hazing, but have we stretched the definition of hazing too far? I mean there are rules and regulations and then there is hazing.

For example:

I know of a chapter who does not haze, in fact the only new member event the chapter has is new member meetings other than that they do everything with the initiated members. They got in trouble for hazing for not allowing new members to put 'where the NGLO's colors.' -- This was tradition in the chapter and the newer initiated members did not know this was considered hazing. In fact, the chapter had no 'punishment' for the new members if they did 'where the colors.' (This is not what happened but is equivalent to the real infraction; I am changing the story slightly so not pointing figures at the NGLO in case some people recognize this story.)

This chapter received full probation, meaning they would have gotten the same punishment if they had made a new member drink, party, etc.

I stand on the side that says this is not the same issue and does not deserve the same punishment.

Does that situation fit the one definition of hazing I found?

"Hazing is a ritualistic test and a task involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a gang, club, military organization or other group. The definition can refer to either physical (sometimes violent) or mental (possibly degrading) practices."

What is an NGLO???? :confused:

Do you mean WEAR the colors? If so, please correct your post to reflect it...as written it makes no sense.

Thank you!

No one will answer you until this makes sense.

picky, picky, picky...

Through inference, I assumed that NGLO = National Greek Letter Organization.

I also assume that "where" = wear.

Ignorance of the rules (i.e. law, policy, regulations, etc.) is not a defence for actions that do not follow the NGLO's expectations.

I do agree that the punishment may not necessarily fit the crime, but that's a decision left up to the NGLO involved in the situation. Each group operates with their own definition of hazing. Obviously the majority of them will be extremely (if not wholely) similar. Hazing is not only a matter of the action itself. The motivation behind one's actions is also at question. In the end, if the NGLO has a no tolerance policy, then their chapters should avoid walking the line.

I've found similar situations happen on my campus, and neighboring campuses. Our Greek advisor has said that punishments are harsher as to deter a harsher form of hazing. Although this may not fit your image of hazing, everything is hazing these days. You have to think of it from an outsider's perspective. If you saw an organization not allowing their new members to wear their colors, you may question it is as well, especially if you are non-Greek.

If you are actually asking about WEARING the colors, to me, this would be "hazing" (sorta kinda). I don't know how you can force members to not wear the colors of the fraternity. And all hazing violations aside, this still seems kind of ridiculous. Wearing letters or fraternity insignia before initiation is one thing, but wearing specific colors? I would like to think that if I was a new member in my GLO and I was wearing a green shirt with some gold jewelry, I wouldn't be looked down upon because of that.

Keep in mind that even if there is no punishment for wearing the colors written down anywhere, it doesn't mean it didn't happen. Chapters that do haze don't generally have all of their hazing rituals available for the world to see. You're not in this organization. Even if they were hazing, I'm sure they wouldn't tell you, or anyone else for that matter.

On the other hand, if they were ONLY caught for restricting their new members from wearing the colors (or something very similar to that), their punishment does seem harsh if it is the same penalty they would have received had they done something more severe than this.

At the same time, I'm not completely surprised that it happened. Some schools are coming down hard on hazing violations. In order to avoid them altogether, avoid things that cross into the gray area.