Is Hazing making a comeback?

[AOII Angel]

Maybe I am just naive, but I felt like we had made a real dent in the amount of hazing going on in our collegiate chapters. However, lately, I feel like there are more and more incidents of hazing being reported in the media. I'm also hearing more from NPC groups about "paper" pledging. Do you think hazing is coming back, or has there been a low level of hazing continuously that we are just now starting to hear more about with internet access?

[jwright25]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

has there been a low level of hazing continuously that we are just now starting to hear more about with internet access?

This.

Plus I think groups are getting more creative with their hazing. Pushing that line further and further and being sneakier about it rather than doing it almost publicly.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I'm also hearing more from NPC groups about "paper" pledging.

wooooooooow

[Kevin]

You think it ever went away?

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Kevin

You think it ever went away?

Naively...yes! But then again, I previously only had experience with my own chapter that NEVER hazed. I take that back. A small group of initiated sisters did some silly "hazing" one year, they got in so much trouble with the chapter because of it. We had a zero tolerance policy without any input from alumnae. The chapter culture was such that we had completely abandoned any past hazing "traditions."

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I'm also hearing more from NPC groups about "paper" pledging.

What is this?

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

What is this?

There has been controversy in the NPHC community about whether or not you "deserve" to be a member of your GLO if you just signed a paper to get initiated rather than having to go through "pledging" (i.e hazing.) If you look around comments on JC about hazing, you will see multiple comments referring to this. I had never previously heard NPC groups complaining of the lack of "pledging" so I was surprised.

[fantASTic]

I think, if it is an increase in hazing, it could be as a response to the 'everything is hazing!' policies out now. Some chapters could be thinking that if you're going to get your charter pulled for a scavenger hunt, you might as well go the full nine yards.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

I think, if it is an increase in hazing, it could be as a response to the 'everything is hazing!' policies out now. Some chapters could be thinking that if you're going to get your charter pulled for a scavenger hunt, you might as well go the full nine yards.

I will never understand that logic. That's like saying, "Well, if I'm going to be arrested for smoking pot, I might as well smoke some crack."

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I will never understand that logic. That's like saying, "Well, if I'm going to be arrested for smoking pot, I might as well smoke some crack."

I think it's stupid too, but my chapter is completely non-hazing.

And...I would compare it more to zero tolerance policies at schools. Like...if you're going to get arrested for bringing a plastic knife to school to cut your sandwich, you might as well go ahead and bring the real one, right? Same punishment, even though the crime is different.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

I think, if it is an increase in hazing, it could be as a response to the 'everything is hazing!' policies out now. Some chapters could be thinking that if you're going to get your charter pulled for a scavenger hunt, you might as well go the full nine yards.

And the flip side of that would be that hazing is on the rise because more things are considered hazing.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

And the flip side of that would be that hazing is on the rise because more things are considered hazing.

Exactly. If a sorority says scavenger hunts and interviews are hazing and a chapter gets closed because of that, oftentimes all that gets to the media is "Mu Mu Mu was closed because of hazing." Joe the Plumber (lol) doesn't think immediately of a scavenger hunt, he thinks of girls beating the crap out of each other and forcing each other to drink. The confidentiality with which chapter closings are handled only perpetuates the problem. Not that I think they should put everything out there, but they have to realize if they close a chapter because of something like that "Mu Mu Mu" and "hazing" are going to come up on Google hits everywhere.

[AGDee]

In my experience in working with chapters for almost 20 years now, hazing (serious stuff, not the borderline things that didn't used to be hazing) does trend up and down. I think hazing in high schools has increased over the last several years and so that trend is following to college. I will definitely say though, that I think it's becoming more and more prevalent in the sports teams/bands or other organizations and not necessarily in the Greek system.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Hazing = the crime as defined by local laws
Pledging = pledging

lol

Sorry I can't be more precise than that.

Yes, indeed.

Originally Posted by 33girl

Exactly. If a sorority says scavenger hunts and interviews are hazing and a chapter gets closed because of that, oftentimes all that gets to the media is "Mu Mu Mu was closed because of hazing." Joe the Plumber (lol) doesn't think immediately of a scavenger hunt, he thinks of girls beating the crap out of each other and forcing each other to drink. The confidentiality with which chapter closings are handled only perpetuates the problem. Not that I think they should put everything out there, but they have to realize if they close a chapter because of something like that "Mu Mu Mu" and "hazing" are going to come up on Google hits everywhere.

Yes, indeed.

[Senusret I]

Just for clarity, pledging and hazing are two different things. Both are forbidden in my fraternity, but they will get you different sanctions.