What constitutes hazing
 

is it excessive drinking?
makin some1 do embarassing stuff?
physical endurance?
...

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im working on one...

In my opinion:

Forced drinking, yes.

Physical endurance, yes.

Making someone do embarrassing stuff? Well, that all depends on what the "stuff" is. I do not call asking other Greeks for signatures or learning & singing songs "embarrassing." To me, those have a point (getting to know the Greek community and the traditions of your sorority). If someone asked me to carry around a dead fish in a plastic purse for no reason, I'd call that embarrassing and hazing.

But then again, I remember how the Sigma Chi's had to walk a chicken around campus on a leash and it was hilarious. I think the pledges had more fun than the brothers with that. College is the last time you have in your life to really cut loose and do crazy things, and it just seems to me that is almost sacrelige to suggest that anymore, and not just as far as Greeks are concerned. If it's not saving the world or helping you get ahead in your career or both, it's a hideous waste of time and you should be flogged for even suggesting such a thing. This is going to make me sound momlike, but sometimes I just want to say "You're young! Have some fun for crying out loud!!"

GO 33girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 100% with you!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

I'll be rushing soon, and I can't wait untill I get to do stupid stuff. It looks fun. Emmbarassesment (spell check?) only comes from when you are ashamed of what you are doing, or why you are doing it, or who you are doing it for. Why would you join a fraterity/sorority that you are ashamed of?

Hazing as I define it:

Anything that causes emotional, mental, or physical harm to someone. Anything that is FORCED upon a person.

Too many times the word HAZING is used in a context that is not in line with it's definition. Many people use it as a loose term to define 'stupid fun stuff' that goes on, like singing songs, scavanger hunts, etc. If these are done in good fun and all those participating are doing it under their own free will--this is NOT hazing.

HAZING is in no ways fun, it is when you are forced to do something you don't want to do--such as being forced to go without sleep, forced to drink.

In my opinion, we need to start using the word correctly because Hazing has become a word that we associate secret rituals with, or harmless traditions with. Neither of these things are hazing and as soon as they are made out to be hazing activities--they will begin to become banned.

I've seen some hazing going around at my school before. Well, at least they call it hazing. I got to know a few of those pledges and I know that they hated some of the stuff, but they would never have done the activities if they thought they were demeaning or dangerous. They mostly did the stuff on their own. My organization has many rules against hazing, but many are really dumb. The defintion of hazing has gotten outa hand. Even making the girls get signatures is considered hazing. I wish I woulda had to do that stuff because I woulda gotten to know more Greeks on campus. So what exactly is hazing?

My sorority did scavenger hunts and skits by the pledge class last year, and this year we are supposed to eliminate it as it's hazing. We're at a loss what to do, because the pledges love these activities! How can something be considered hazing if the pledges like it? Our hunts were always so much fun, and we got to know everyone. Skit Night was hilarious, as the pledges got a chance to poke some fun at the active members. I still can't see it as hazing and I can't figure out what to do instead...any ideas?

I can come up with an assortment of ideas if you like, in addition, several alternatives are listed in past posts.

Much of what else to do, depends on the size of the pledge class and the size of your chapter. One big sugguestion is why not let your pledge class plan and host an event. This will give them the opperunity to show leadership, inititave and understand how to plan and set up an event. In addition will show the actives their interests.

Other ideas to get to know pledges through out the semester could be as easy as movie nights -- and maybe not just chick flicks, choose a few titles that make you think -- ie Blade Runner. And schedule time after to break into groups and talk about the movie and the symbolizm in the movie. Or pick a chick flick and make sure you have plenty of kleenx boxes around.

Have a poetry night. Everyone brings a copy of thier favorite poem, or a self authored one to share. Don't forget even music is a form of lyrical poetry...

Anyway.. the list is endless..

Good Luck!

Artimis

I think the term "hazing" is so widely used is because what mortifies one person may not even faze another.
During rush I heard a rumor that a sorority took their new members, one at a time, to a crowded restaurant and had her stand on a chair & sing a song. To some, that's cake. To me, when I heard that, my blood ran cold. I refuse to sing in front of ANYONE & to do so in a crowded place would embarrass me beyond words.
We just need to keep in mind that everyone is different & that's why some people think they were hazed while others don't, even though they did the same activity.
Heidi

That's a good point heidi. It's different things for different people. One thing I refused to do while pledging was having blood drawn. Delta Zeta held a blood drive with the American Red Cross at our school, and the sorority wanted each member to give blood--as an example to the school. I just couldn't do it, there were some people mad at me because they thought I was selfish, but in all honesty, my phobia of having my blood drawn is a serious matter. The last time I had it done was about 4 months ago. I had to have a sedative and 4 people hold me down. If you can imagine someone in complete terror--that's me when I have to have blood drawn. I scream, cry, squirm, thrash, bite, beg to be let go, and just completely go insane. It's like another person has taken over my body. Anway, if they absolutely had made me do this, I would constitute that has hazing, but they got over it, I got over it. . .and it was done.