Have we gone too far? Excessive Punishments for Small Infactions

salacity18 · #1 02-13-2009, 02:36 PM

I would like to keep NGLO names out of this post if possible, but I am an Alumnus who is concerned about NGLO giving excessive punishments.

I am against all forms of hazing, but have we stretched the definition of hazing too far? I mean there are rules and regulations and then there is hazing.

For example:

I know of a chapter who does not haze, in fact the only new member event the chapter has is new member meetings other than that they do everything with the initiated members. They got in trouble for hazing for not allowing new members to put 'where the NGLO's colors.' -- This was tradition in the chapter and the newer initiated members did not know this was considered hazing. In fact, the chapter had no 'punishment' for the new members if they did 'where the colors.' (This is not what happened but is equivalent to the real infraction; I am changing the story slightly so not pointing figures at the NGLO in case some people recognize this story.)

This chapter received full probation, meaning they would have gotten the same punishment if they had made a new member drink, party, etc.

I stand on the side that says this is not the same issue and does not deserve the same punishment.

Does that situation fit the one definition of hazing I found?

"Hazing is a ritualistic test and a task involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a gang, club, military organization or other group. The definition can refer to either physical (sometimes violent) or mental (possibly degrading) practices."