Hazing radio commercial

[Pike4Life]

Several Atlanta radio stations are playing commercials for the Atlanta Hawks, the city's NBA team. One particular commercial basically supports HAZING and even makes fun of it as being something good. I couldn't imagine a GLO getting away with something like that.

Basically, the commercial has an older player who I don't know talking about the youth of the team that makes him (a 5-year veteran) the most experienced player. He goes on to say that he uses his "experience" to help the younger players -- teaching them to pack light for road games because they have to carry his bags as well; making them pick him up several hours early for practice and drive him around; and several other examples of personal servitude.

EVERYTHING he says is classifed as HAZING according to our state, university and fraternity laws and could get any GLO Chapter suspended, put on probation or even closed if we advertised actions such as this.

This brings up a MAJOR pet peeve of mine in that several public arenas such as Athletics (high school, college and pros) promote and tolerate, if not promote the HAZING of their young players and rookies by older veteran players; however, you never hear of major news stories about that.

People wonder why HAZING continues in today's GLO's, and I can tell you that one major reason is that it is an action ingrained in just about every young person who plays organized sports (male or female). When a kid's sports hero or role model publicly advocates types of hazing, how do you go back and tell them that it is wrong?

Just a soapbox of mine, sorry if it bores some of you. But does anyone have any comments?

[Hootie]

Well put! I agree 100%!

[DeltAlum]

I've always thought it is interesting that some of the oldest, most well known, toughest, and best organized hazing is done by organizations of the U.S. Government.

It's called Basic Training or Boot Camp.

The question, of course, is can military training be effective without it?

And, of course, athletics on almost any level.

[PenguinTrax]

Personally, I would write a letter of complaint to the Hawks organization and alert StopHazing.org.

Also, check into Atlanta hazing law..could be the suggestions offered in the ad violate state statute.

[Aurora]

I know what you mean. It's so irritating when people blast fraternities and sororities because "we all haze" (of course, this coming from people who have no idea of what Greek life is about) and then turn around and almost worship their local high school sports teams. At my old highschool, they had a club for the girls who lettered in sports. Well, the day before they became initiated they came to school early and the older members "dressed them up"...basically they made them wear clownish clothes, dirty hair that they would spray paint or put hair spray in it so it would stick straight up, lipstick and other paint stuff all over their faces, and shaving cream and gel on them wherever their "dresser" decided to put it. They had to wear this all day and at lunch they were made to entertain the older members (and everyone else) by running around the lunch room, doing jumping jacks, singing songs, etc. Some of the girls always laughed like they were having fun, but others obviously were not enjoying themselves. No one ever acted like there was anything wrong with this, but if a sorority were to do this they would be shut down (and so they should because this IS hazing). It's a stupid double standard! *ARG*

-stepping off my little podium-

Thank goodness I'm out of highschool!

[Texas Alum]

Basically my opinion on the double standard between fraternal hazing and military hazing has always been the same as DeltAlum's - why is it fair that the US Government and our dollars as taxpayers can support this, but that private clubs come under an inordinate amount of scrutiny?

I asked my friend's brother, who is a Navy lieutenant, about this issue over Christmas. He said that hazing in the military exists to build character, and strengthen teamwork and support.

I said that originally fraternal hazing was a practice for the same reason.

He said that in a fraternity, no-one's life depends on the character and teamwork of another.

I have to confess that I didn't have an answer. It was the first really logical response I have ever received when I pose this question.