Quote:
Originally posted by justamom
GammaGirl1219 I am pretty much in line with your feelings.
BUT-
Escalation of hazing in a chapter seems to be very real because of the "I had to do it-so should you" way of thinking. Until GC, I never saw the effects of hazing. I honestly thought it was fodder for TV shows. What an eye-opener. Ripped those rose colored glasses right off!
So far back in this thread, wasn't it LXAAlum who mentioned undisclosed/unknown medical histories? This is something that plays in the back of my mind and why even seemingly "innocent' situations can turn deadly.
I follow a few college newspapers, and it is amazing the written responses you get on the issues of hazing. Just like on GC, you have every kind of response, from total damnation to the same old, "If they don't EARN it, they don't deserve it." One editorialist went so far as to describe the new members as wusses for "not being able to take it and ALLOWING the information to be confirmed. I guess the writer expected them to LIE.
I honestly do see a lot of grey and feel many of the banned traditions like- study hours-profiles-projects-as a loss. But like Tom said-If Nationals has said "NO MORE", then that's what chapters MUST abide by.
Of all the threads on hazing, I think this thread is the best example of thoughtful dialogue. I want to thank all who posted thus far for sharing their insight. I could quote every single one of you! Excellent!
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Thanks JAMOM! You're right - it's the "'I had to do it-so should you' way of thinking" that leads to disaster - sooner or later, someone will believe that "it wasn't all that hard, so let's make it more challenging for the next class" or similar attitudes that leads to the slow, gradual, escalation to a headline, expulsion, suspension, and often death or serious injury.
I remember a thread war a couple of years ago that someone wanted to equate pledging to the same thing as a "boot camp" experience - this "gentlemen" was an Army veteran, and thought that military style discipline was THE answer.
No, it isn't. Unfortunately, the history of most fraternity hazing incidents can be traced back to the late 1940's. Can anyone guess why? Who was in college in the late 1940's? That's right - WWII veterans. Millions of them. And many of them brought the military discipline experiences with them. Eventually, the 60's and 70's started to mix alcohol with the then-modified military style humiliation of hazing, and that's when it really started to become hazardous. A lot of changes, as well as a gradual escalation by chapters, and a gradual decline of national headquarter's oversight by many national GLO's all but guaranteed the outcome - the changes we are having to make for past mistakes.
At least we have the courage to stand up and try to change these stereotypes. It's not easy, but, it can be done.