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Originally posted by DeltAlum
People do get killed during basic. But not that many.
I had to think about that a little.
Certainly the military is in the hazing business, but the hazers (DI's, etc) may be a little more mature than the average fraternity man (or sorority woman). They all have several years of military training themselves which probably creates some amount of that maturity. Additionally, while sometimes calling for "creativity" on the part of the DI, the military has the training down to a science and many years of "experience." The people doing the hazing are, for the most part, highly disciplined -- not the case in an organization of 18-22 year old college students away from home for the first time.
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You've said exactly what I expected. I can completely see how hazing, of this sort, would serve to bring people together. Even well-moderated hazing on the college level
could potentially do so.
BUT,
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Changing gears, of course I was hazed during the pledge process. In those days, everyone was.
Over the years, I've been an advisor and division officer, and I can see absolutely no indication that physical hazing and mental distress somehow creates "closer" relationships or better pledge classes.
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I fully agree with this statement.
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However, I do feel strongly that the definition of hazing needs to be honed. Some laws and rules are so broad as to be ridiculous -- but it is my opinion that the reason for these far ranging rules is that when allowed some level of hazing, some chapters and members don't know when to stop and things get terribly out of hand.
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PRECISELY! And, then you could get into the difference between pledging and hazing. I honestly believe that some level of strain is beneficial. If a group were to develop a "pledge program" that is overseen by their inter/national hq (however that would happen, I don't know), I can see how it would be a good thing.
Of course, I absolutely DO NOT believe that physically assaulting pledges should ever be tolerated when the pledgers are undergraduates. And I also believe that all elements of the "pledge program" should have a very clearly defined purpose. If it's just to see a pledge squirm, you'd have a hard time convincing me of its worth.
To everyone who keeps equating the military with collegiate organizations...it's not the same thing. It's not a fair comparison.