I also recommend strongly that you rush.
In regards to hazing, most sororities follow the anti-hazing rules very strictly. This is very different from the fraternities at my school. Our pledge period was filled with presents!
The stereotype regarding the sexist frat guy, as well as date rape from frat guys, is sadly sometimes a reality. I personally know 4 girls who, in their first quarter of college, were raped by a member of a fraternity. However, 2 were in a sorority, and 2 were not.
I have many non-sorority friends that attend many more parties than I do (and I'm in a sorority
).
The main issue with that, is to practice caution and self-restraint. Sometimes I felt like the girls who weren't in sororities felt like they had to act/dress like complete sluts to get into the parties (where we were already on the guest lists).