My son is a fraternity member and he was not hazed. Neither was my daughter, but I know there are/were fraternities on her campus that did/do haze. One was closed due to a serious infraction, but some of the others overtly engage in what I'm sure they feel is "harmless" public hazing, and that does make you wonder what goes on behind closed doors. For example, one fraternity has pledges dress up in various costumes, which they wear around campus for a day or two (alligator pledge -- dresses up in an alligator costume and rides around campus stomach-down on a skateboard, gorilla and banana pledge -- gorilla pledge is supposed to try to catch banana pledge, and grandma pledge -- he passes out cookies at a table outside the library and tells everyone to study and get enough sleep, etc.). This is looked at as being funny, and no one seems to be concerned. But again, it does make you wonder what else happens....
There is a hazing hotline. 1-888-NOT-HAZE
However, when the punishment is having your chapter closed, that doesn't prompt 18-19 year-olds to make a call or report hazing. Many groups have their own hazing hotline.
The recent letter from Phi Delta Theta national director/president calls for parents to have conversations with their sons, and for advisors to be proactive and aware. I think that is a step in the right direction. Involved adults need to ask these questions and advisors need to keep tabs, educate younger members, and step in.
The Chronicle of Higher Education has published a series of articles about risk management issues associated with fraternities. Most can only be accessed with a subscription, but this is an accessible opinion piece on Colorado-Boulder's efforts to self-govern:
http://www.chronicle.com/article/Fra...1057?cid=cp141
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