Hazing allegations at U of Nebraska

[LXAAlum]

From the Daily Nebraskan newspaper:

LINCOLN, Neb. -- It's true. A picture can be worth a thousand words.

But what exactly do you say when you receive an e-mail with a photograph showing the results of physical abuse to two men -- fraternity brothers, your boyfriends, your classmates, friends or acquaintances.

We sat in disbelief, some of us members of the greek system, others not.

We tried to rationalize the welts and large abrasions on the buttocks of the two men, who are both smiling.

Seven other men look on.

Four are holding beer cans.

One, who is holding a paddle with the greek letters delta and upsilon, is laughing and looking off to the side of the room.

Another man is looking at the two men who have their pants pulled down to their thighs.

Everyone else is looking directly at the camera.

We tried to make some sense out of what appears to be alcohol violations and hazing acts in a basement room of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity house on campus.

But no matter how hard we tried to comprehend how someone would allow themselves to be swatted with a paddle until their skin peeled off -- we couldn't.

It's not right, even if it is tradition.

A 1994 Nebraska law made hazing illegal.

Someone on this campus realized this and forwarded the e-mail anonymously six days ago to Linda Schwartzkopf, director of Greek Affairs.

A cowardly act, no.

A courageous one, yes.

We have heard from students this e-mail has been circulating among individuals within the greek system for the past month.

We commend the individual who got up enough nerve to bring the photograph to the attention of authorities.

To the rest of you -- 78 who received the e-mail from the same source as the Daily Nebraskan and we know there are more -- what were you thinking?

It's understood every greek chapter and greek system has their own unwritten code of ethics.

It's not brotherly or sisterly of you to tattle on a fellow member, you say.

This type of stuff goes on all the time and everyone in the house has to go through it, you add.

If this is the case, we wonder how severe the hazing, the binge drinking or the physical abuse of your brother or sister has to be before you and others acknowledge your actions are wrong.

If you don't, the results can be heartbreaking.

In late January, a former Sam Houston State University student sued Chi Omega Sorority for spiking her drink and having her sexually assaulted during the fall of 1999.

On Feb. 10, two 18-year-old San Diego State University freshmen died when their pickup crashed after they left a party at the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity house.

On Feb. 14, a 19-year-old University of Maryland student was removed from life support and died after he was found in the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity house, unconscious and in cardiac arrest.

All three incidents are still under investigation.

All three incidents may or may not have included hazing.

All three incidents could have been prevented or even stopped.

We don't want to assume hazing occurs at all University of Nebraska-Lincoln greek chapters.

But we do know Delta Upsilon Fraternity is in a lot of trouble.

To the men pictured in the photograph, it's unfortunate you and your brothers didn't realize the possible repercussions.

Quite literally, you've been caught with your pants down. The embarrassment, disciplinary action and possible loss of your campus charter plague no one else but you.